The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and…

The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $750,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA #16.524) to Community Legal Aid SoCal to provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Orange County, California. Through this 3-year Project Grant awarded on October 1, 2023, Community Legal Aid SoCal will partner with Human Options, Inc. to deliver direct legal representation, advocacy, and assistance on legal matters including divorce, child custody, protective orders, immigration, housing, and employment that impact victim safety and self-sufficiency. Pro bono attorneys will also assist survivors with domestic violence restraining order applications and hearings.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth (ages 11 to 24) victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance is assistance in: a) divorce, parental rights, child support, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, campus, education, healthcare, privacy, contract, consumer, civil rights, protection or other injunctive proceedings, related enforcement proceedings, and other similar matters; B) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-conviction matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; C) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability, regardless of court involvement; or D) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court with respect to a conviction of a victim relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking victimization of the victim. Through this new legal assistance for victims project, community legal aid socal, in partnership with human options, INC., will provide legal representation and legal advocacy to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking in orange county, california. Legal services will address multiple legal matters that impact victim safety and self-sufficiency, including divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, immigration, housing, and employment. Pro bono attorneys will also assist and represent survivors in domestic violence restraining order applications and hearings.