Provides free legal services to individuals in the D.C. Metro Area whose rights have been violated through commercial sex. The Amara Legal Center provides trauma-informed legal services for the most common legal issues associated with domestic sex trafficking: civil protection orders, child custody, restitution for losses, public benefits, expungement of criminal records, and advocacy in criminal cases.
Legal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims of abuse and others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer who you can consult with to get advice. Please note that we list the organizations by the town/city or county where the office is located – however, many offices may likely serve multiple counties. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click the blue “View All” button to look through the complete list of organizations.
American University Washington College of Law Women and the Law Clinic
The Women and the Law Clinic is made up of law students who represent clients in child custody and support, domestic violence, and child neglect cases under the supervision of their professors.
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (LRC)
Advocates for the legal and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the D.C. metropolitan region through Community Legal Education, Legal Services and Advocacy.
Ayuda
Offers holistic legal services and social services in a culturally-sensitive environment to low-income immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. They can help with family law/domestic violence issues for D.C. residents or if the abuse occurred in D.C. For Maryland residents, they provide consultations only. (They have a separate office in Virginia.) They also help with immigration legal issues. For social services, they provide crisis intervention and comprehensive case management services, assisting clients with emergency and transitional shelter, food, clothing, medical and mental health care for themselves and their children, and individual or group therapy for DC’s immigrant residents who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Bread for the City Legal Clinic (Northwest)
The Domestic Violence Community Legal Services Project, provides the legal services necessary (Civil Protection Orders, divorce proceedings, child custody, etc.) to assist low-income District residents who are experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. Also provides food, clothing, social services, medical services and counseling for qualified applicants. Services offered in Spanish.
Bread for the City Legal Clinic (Southeast)
The Domestic Violence Community Legal Services Project, provides the legal services necessary (Civil Protection Orders, divorce proceedings, child custody, etc.) to assist low-income District residents who are experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. Also provides food, clothing, social services, medical services and counseling for qualified applicants. Services offered in Spanish.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services (ILS) focuses on the provision of direct legal immigration services to foreign-born individuals and their families. Walk-ins: Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11:30 am. A $60 consultation fee is required.
Catholic University Columbus School of Law Family and the Law Clinic
Student Attorneys at the Family and the Law Clinic address immediate safety needs and assert their legal rights by obtaining emergency temporary and civil protection orders (CPO). Students also represent clients in longer-term litigation arising from their abusive family situations, including resolving complex divorce, legal separation, property and debt distribution, child custody, child visitation, and child support matters. Additionally, students are able to respond to the unique needs of immigrant victims of domestic violence, helping them to attain legal status and employment authorization through VAWA self-petitions, battered spouse waivers, and U visa applications.
D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center offers neighborhood brief advice and referral clinics and resource centers at the D.C. Superior Court that may help you as you navigate your legal issues. The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center runs the following clinics: Advice and Referral Clinic; Consumer Law Resource Center; Free Divorce Clinic; Free Child Custody Clinic; Immigration Legal Advice and Referral Clinic; Landlord Tenant Resource Center; Legal Information Help Line; Probate Resource Center; and Tax Sale Resource Center.
D.C. Employment Justice Center
Provides free legal advice for all employment law issues, including violence in the workplace. Workers’ Rights Clinic offered on the last Saturday of the month from 10am-1pm at Bread for the City (SE location): 1640 Good Hope Road, SE; every Wednesday night at Bread for the City (NW location): 1525 7th Street, NW from 6-8pm; and the first and third Fridays of every month at 2811 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE from 12pm-3pm.
D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project
Provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence in Civil Protection Order cases and related custody and divorce cases. Runs the Domestic Violence Resource Clinic to assist survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking with legal matters, housing, and case management.
Georgetown Domestic Violence Clinic
Students in the Domestic Violence Clinic represent victims of intimate abuse in civil protection order (CPO) cases.
Legal Counsel for the Elderly
Legal Counsel for the Elderly is a free service for people who are 60 or older, live in the District of Columbia, and are in need of legal assistance. Handles most types of civil (not criminal) legal matters.
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres provides direct legal services in the area of immigration law to low-income Spanish-speaking survivors of domestic violence, physical assault, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and to Spanish-speaking immigrant children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned.
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
Neighborhood Legal Services Program is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal information, advice and representation in civil legal matters to low-income District of Columbia residents including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Network for Victim Recovery DC (NVRDC)
NVRDC provides comprehensive services to crime victims (including victims of sexual assault and domestic violence) through community-based education, therapeutic and legal support in order to achieve justice and encourage self-determination. Direct services include case management with therapeutic and victim advocacy, civil legal services and criminal legal services.
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia Domestic Violence Unit
The Office of the Attorney General Domestic Violence Unit represents victims of domestic violence in Civil Protection Order cases. The office also prosecutes violations of Civil Protection Orders.
The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
The domestic violence/family law attorneys represent clients in a wide range of intrafamily matters in the D.C. Superior Court, including civil protection orders, custody, divorce, and child support. Also offer legal services for other civil legal matters such as housing and public benefits.
U.S. Attorney's Office Witness Assistance Unit
The Victim Witness Assistance Unit provides assistance to victims and witnesses of serious crime while they are involved with the criminal justice system. Unit Staff will also help victims understand how the criminal justice system works and assist with restitution and services.