DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

Domestic violence program:legal assistance: dcvlp Volunteer and staff Lawyers represent low-income individuals in protection order, family law, and immigration cases; advocate for victim rights in criminal proceedings against abusers; and provide representation in housing, employment and public benefits matters. Walk-in legal clinics: dcvlp Lawyers provide legal assistance at community-based clinics and at a court-based clinic. Support services: our advocates provide safety planning, trauma-informed crisis intervention, ongoing emotional support, and access to critical social services. Legal help line: our advocates respond to hundreds of callers' requests for information on victim rights, legal services, and provide referrals to partner organizations.

Immigration program:dcvlp Volunteer and staff Lawyers assist low-income victims of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence and vulnerable children with vawa self-petitions, battered spouse waivers, u and t visas, affirmative and defensive asylum claims, special immigrant juvenile status, tps, daca, work authorizations and other forms of immigration relief. Dcvlp staff also assist with enforcing victim legal rights in housing to ensure clients have adequate housing in their time of crisis. The goal is to help immigrant victims, a majority of whom are not permitted to legally work in the u.s., in achieving safety, stability, and self-sufficiency by providing comprehensive and trauma-informed legal and support services.

Child advocacy program:our court-appointed Volunteer and staff attorneys advocate for children growing up in homes with abuse, neglect, domestic violence, substance abuse and other dangerous circumstances and connect the children and their families with crucial social services. In over 95% of the cases, judges accept our attorneys' custody recommendations.