Legal Resources Domestic Violence National/Global Resources

American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence

A helpful guide and database to finding local legal resources and state-by-state statutory summary charts is available on this site. The Commission was founded in 1994 to increase access to justice for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking by mobilizing the legal profession and increasing the number of well-trained and supported attorneys.

Americans for Immigrant Justice: Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking Program

Americans for Immigrant Justice’s Lucha Program has been recognized nationally and internationally since it began in 1997. Working closely with law enforcement officials, Lucha attorneys represent immigrant victims of human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. The Lucha Program addresses the needs of immigrant victims, their children, and the community as a whole. 

Battered Women's Justice Project

Since 1993 has been promoting justice and safety for victims of intimate partner violence and their families. Offers resource center covering topics such as child custody, protection orders, firearms and offender intervention, training and technical assistance, and a series of six important projects including one covering the inter-jurisdictional enforcement of protection orders. 

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

ILRC works with and educates immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to help build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. As a national expert they provide technical assistance, trainings and practice manuals on critical immigration options for vulnerable immigrants including immigrant victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other crimes. 

Legal Momentum

Legal Momentum is a national nonprofit organization that leads action for the legal rights of women. Their targeted litigation, education, policy advocacy, and research help to shape the laws and policies that affect gender equality and ensure that they are properly implemented and enforced.  They train legal professionals and advocates nationwide on the rights, protections, and services available to victims and survivors of violence through the Violence Against Women Act.  Their legal helpline provides information and assistance for those who have experienced gender discrimination or gender-based violence in the workplace, home or school at (971) 353-4251 or via email at Help@LMHelpline.org.

Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women (LRC)

The mission of the Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women (LRC) is to improve legal representation for domestic violence survivors.  Specifically, the LRC works to obtain legal representation for domestic violence survivors in interstate custody cases and to provide technical assistance to domestic violence victim advocates and attorneys in such cases. 

National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors

The National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors, formerly known as the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, addresses the unique needs of victims of gender-based violence who have been criminalized as a result of their experiences of being abused. The National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors provides specialized technical assistance, resources, and support for victims and their defense teams. Equally important, we train and build alliances among national, state-wide, and local organizations to improve justice for survivors everywhere.

Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC)

Network for Victim Recovery of DC empowers victims of all crimes to achieve survivor-defined justice through a collaborative continuum of advocacy, case management and legal services. Staff attorneys provide direct representation in civil protection orders (CPO) cases and Title IX administrative proceedings; in criminal court, they zealously defend victims’ rights throughout the entire criminal justice process. Special projects include the Victim Legal Network of DC (VLNDC), Elder Justice Initiatives (including the District’s Collaborative Training & Response for Older Victims (DC TROV) and Project and Support & Legal Advocacy for Youth (SLAY) Team. NVRDC also operates DV LEAP which makes the law work for survivors of domestic violence by challenging unjust trial outcomes; advancing legal protections through expert pro bono advocacy; training lawyers, advocates, and judges on best practices; and spearheading domestic violence litigation in the Supreme Court.

Pathways to Safety International

If you’re an American overseas, your situation is different than 99% of your fellow countrymen, and this site will be a wonderful resource for you. Among such services as case management, danger-to-safety relocation, legal consultations for mothers seeking divorce and custody, payment of initial legal retainers, housing assistance and funds to help with emergency needs such as issuing American passports, there is also a 24-hour response to emails, as well as international phone options and live chat.

Shalom Task Force

The Shalom Task Force aims to help individuals and families in the Orthodox community struggling with troubled relationships at home. They offer professional guidance to community leaders who may be approached for advice by someone in a complex, and possibly dangerous, situation, and aim to provide preventative education to young adults and community members. Their program Sarah's Voice is a legal assistance program run by a team of dedicated lawyers and advocates who work hand-in-hand to ease the process for survivors.

The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice

The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice fosters systemic change that better aligns what communities provide with what works to meet the comprehensive, self-defined needs of IPV survivors. They strive to meet this goal by developing transformative advocacy approaches that match institutional structures, organizational programs, and professional practices with IPV survivors’ lived realities.

The National Family Violence Law Center

The National Family Violence Law Center serves as the preeminent home for national research and expert support for the growing movement to better protect children in contested custody cases. It provides pioneering quantitative and qualitative research, training and education, state and federal policy development, and selective litigation.

VictimConnect Resource Center

The VictimConnect Resource Center is a business-hours call, chat, and text-based referral line. This service focuses on listening and supporting victims of crime and connecting them with local, state, and national organizations that can help them find the appropriate next step to take after experiencing a crime.

Womenslaw.org

Uniquely, this site is a treasure trove of all sorts of information, though its best attributes are related to legal matters on the topic of domestic violence, including how to stay safe, how to help others in abusive relationships, understanding federal, state and tribal laws, links to statutes, and preparing for court. You can pose your legal questions in English or Spanish through its email hotline.