Client Stories
Christine’s Story
Joseph tightly controlled Christine’s every movement. He tracked her location by phone, checked her social media postings daily, and scrolled through her phone each night. When Christine changed her phone password, he became enraged and punched her in the face, breaking her glasses. After she fled to the bathroom, he grabbed a knife and threatened to cut her in front of their two young children. He then choked her until she passed out.
Christine felt powerless. She had nowhere to go with a toddler and a baby and did not know how to make Joseph leave since only his name was on the lease. After more than a year of escalating violence, Christine decided she needed to protect her children despite her fears of becoming homeless and came to our Domestic Violence Resource Clinic for help. After hearing her story, we took her case and assigned an experienced pair of volunteer attorneys to represent her. Christine’s case was difficult as Joseph had also filed a protection order against her, falsely claiming she was the violent one. With Volunteer Legal Advocates attorneys by her side, a trembling Christine was able to testify about his abuse.
The judge agreed with Christine and granted her a protection order and full custody of the children. He completely denied Joseph’s request.
During the case, the Volunteer Legal Advocates’ Client Advocate guided Christine through the housing process, and she eventually obtained a housing voucher in her own name. She also connected the toddler to a counselor specializing in young children affected by trauma. Today, Christine and her two boys live in their own apartment and are thriving.
More Client Stories
Hear from our incredible clients below:
Abby
Abby first sought help after a judge denied her request for a protection order—despite clear evidence of abuse by her children’s father. Living in fear after repeated threats and physical violence, Abby turned to Volunteer Legal Advocates.
Our attorneys stepped in immediately, helping her gather critical documentation and ensuring her voice was fully heard in court. When her case moved to a higher court, we secured an Amharic interpreter—something Abby had never been provided before. In a powerful hearing, our team presented compelling video evidence of the abuse.
This time, the judge granted the protection order, giving Abby and her children the safety they had long needed. With that order in place, Abby can finally feel secure at home.
But our support doesn’t end there. Volunteer Legal Advocates continues to represent Abby as she seeks long-term stability through custody proceedings—so she and her children can build a safer, brighter future.
Deja
Deja’s early life was marked by uncertainty. With her mother facing untreated mental health challenges and her father recently released from jail, Deja’s godmother stepped in to provide a stable home.
The court appointed Volunteer Legal Advocates attorneys as Guardians Ad Litem to represent Deja’s best interests. They worked patiently to build cooperation between her father and godmother and navigated the sensitive dynamics of reconnecting Deja with her mother in a safe and supportive way.
After years of mediation and a lengthy trial, the attorneys’ recommendations helped shape a lasting solution. Today, Deja lives in a stable home with her father, stepmother, and siblings, while maintaining meaningful contact with her godmother and supervised visits with her mother. Deja’s journey highlights the impact Guardians Ad Litem can have in protecting a child’s well-being and ensuring every child’s voice is heard.
Carla
For ten years, Carla endured emotional abuse, physical violence, and threats to her life. When she came to a Volunteer Legal Advocates walk-in clinic, she was seeking a civil protection order (CPO) but felt overwhelmed by legal complexities and language barriers.
Our attorneys stepped in immediately. They listened to Carla’s goals—safety, custody of her child, and divorce—and got to work. Volunteer Legal Advocates provided full legal representation and connected Carla with a Client Advocate for ongoing support, including help with employment and counseling resources.
Instead of going to trial, our attorneys negotiated a strong outcome: a two-year CPO, sole custody of Carla’s child, and child support. The very next day, they stood by her in court again—this time for her divorce hearing, where she reaffirmed the custody and support secured through the CPO.
Carla left with safety, stability, and the support she needed to move forward. She later shared her deep gratitude, saying Volunteer Legal Advocates made a lasting difference in her life.
Sara
When their mother passed away after a long struggle with addiction and cancer, Sara had already been caring for two of her three younger sisters. Their father was incapacitated, and the third sister lived with a neighbor. After their mother’s death, an older brother with a history of abuse filed for custody. Concerned for the girls’ safety, the judge appointed two Volunteer Legal Advocates attorneys.
The attorneys quickly uncovered urgent needs: one sister had been expelled from school, and the youngest had become withdrawn. They helped enroll the girls in a charter school near Sara’s work, connected them to mental health support and transportation, and referred Sara for housing and public benefits assistance.
With regular school attendance, counseling, and a stable home, the girls are now thriving. Following the attorneys’ recommendation, Sara was granted custody of her two youngest sisters, and the third remains safely with the neighbor—excelling in school and finding her own path forward.
Dalia
Dalia is a thoughtful, bright teenager who lives with her mother. But behind her quiet resilience was the stress of a difficult and emotionally charged custody situation between her parents. To ensure that Dalia’s voice was heard and her well-being prioritized, Volunteer Legal Advocates’ Child Advocacy attorneys were appointed to help determine a visitation schedule that reflected her best interests.
As our team spent time learning about Dalia’s situation, it became clear that her visits with her father were a source of deep anxiety. Despite court orders, he continued to drive with Dalia even after multiple DUI arrests, putting her safety at risk. His struggles with substance use and anger often made their time together unpredictable and distressing for her. Dalia, like many teenagers, found it difficult to express her feelings directly to her father, especially when it came to setting boundaries.
Throughout the process, our attorneys worked to make sure Dalia felt supported and empowered. They listened carefully, advocated for her preferences, and ultimately recommended that she be given the discretion to decide whether—and when—she wanted contact with her father.
Now, Dalia can return to the routines and joys of teenage life—school, friends, and a sense of normalcy—without the added stress of unwanted or unsafe visits. She remains in the stable care of her mother, with the peace of mind that her voice helped shape the outcome.
Priya
When Priya’s former partner attacked her with a knife, she was hospitalized and deeply shaken. With help from Volunteer Legal Advocates, she obtained a Civil Protection Order (CPO) requiring her abuser to stay away—an essential first step toward safety.
That order gave Priya the stability she needed for two years to rebuild her life. As the expiration date approached, our attorneys returned to court to seek an extension so her protection would not lapse.
While the request was still pending, Priya’s abuser violated the CPO by confronting her in public, speaking aggressively, and then running off. Our legal team responded immediately, asking the Court to hold him accountable for the violation. At trial, Priya delivered a clear, measured victim-impact statement, describing the lingering trauma of the original attack and her renewed fear after the violation.
The judge found her abuser guilty of contempt and extended the CPO for another two years. Today, Priya moves forward with greater peace of mind, knowing her safety is protected and that her advocates will continue to stand beside her.
Mariam
Mariam came to the U.S. seeking safety after fleeing violence in her West African home country. She had survived both gender-based violence and anti-LGBTQ attacks and was referred to Volunteer Legal Advocates for help with her asylum case. Although her case was strong, Mariam faced years of delays in getting her case heard.
Our attorneys provided full legal representation and ongoing support, helping her apply for asylum, secure work authorization, access necessities, and navigate a new life. When Mariam was diagnosed with a serious illness, Volunteer Legal Advocates successfully pushed to expedite her asylum interview. We also represented her in her asylum interview, and her case was recently granted.
We continue to support Mariam by assisting her in filing applications to bring her two minor children to the U.S., as they remain in Mariam’s home country. Mariam now moves forward with hope and stability, knowing we remain by her side.
Lucia
When Lucia fled her abusive partner, she feared for her life and the safety of her two children. Her abuser had subjected her to severe physical violence and continued to harass her with explicit, threatening messages even after she left. As an undocumented immigrant, Lucia felt she had nowhere to turn.
A partner organization referred her to one of Volunteer Legal Advocates’ walk-in clinics, where pro bono attorneys provided immediate support. We took on her cases for full representation and assigned a pro bono attorney to represent her, helping her file for a protection order and divorce while ensuring language access and trauma-informed care throughout.
After a challenging trial, Lucia was granted a two-year protection order and described feeling immense relief. Today, we continue to support her through our immigration program as she pursues legal immigration status under the Violence Against Women Act. With our support, Lucia is building a safer, more stable future for herself and her children.
