Free Legal Clinics
Community & Court-Based Legal Clinics
Access to brief legal advice empowers survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to understand their rights, make informed decisions, and take critical steps toward safety and stability. Volunteer Legal Advocates operates weekly clinics across the District of Columbia and in Maryland. Our priority is reaching people where they live and work, so getting the legal help they need is never an added burden.
You’ll find us in courthouses, libraries, online, and running innovative medical-legal clinics where clients can access legal services while receiving medical care. At each clinic, survivors and caregivers receive free trauma-informed legal consultations, learn about their rights, and connect with resources for housing, employment, and public benefits.
Our clinic offerings continue to expand.
In DC Superior Court
Our Domestic Violence Protection Order Clinic (DVPOC) offers survivors appearing in court the opportunity to speak with our staff attorney in person or online in real time, helping cases move forward smoothly and swiftly. We are the only nonprofit providing this essential service. So when the judges at DC Superior Court requested that we run DVPOC more frequently, we sought funding to grow the service. Today, DVPOC is in court five days a week, ensuring that no survivor needs to face their abuser or a courtroom alone.
In Montgomery County, MD
When we realized that our weekly clinic at the Rockville Public Library was always full, we knew the community needed more resources. Launching the Maryland Family Law Forms Clinic enabled us to support survivors who needed more straightforward assistance in preparing their legal documents for court.
Our Annual Impact
INDIVIDUALS SERVED AT LEGAL CLINICS
RECURRING FREE, WEEKLY LEGAL CLINICS
LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY PRO BONO ATTORNEYS
*This project is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GG-00510-LEGA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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If you’re a survivor of domestic abuse or gender-based violence, you’re not alone.