Domestic Violence Clinic 541-342-6056

"The Stop Violence Against Women Project, which includes the Domestic Violence Clinic, provides civil legal representation and advocacy to low-income survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The Clinic was originally funded by a federal grant under the Violence Against Women Act in January of 1999.

"We get referrals of clients from many agencies and organizations including Womenspace, Sexual Assault Support Services, Siuslaw Outreach Services, Centro LatinoAmericano and Legal Aid.

"Third year law students work under the supervision of an attorney to represent clients with contested protective orders. Our staff attorneys represent clients in divorce, custody and parenting time matters, and other domestic relations litigation. Our staff advocates and volunteers from Womenspace and Sexual Assault Support Services provide clients with safety planning, resource referrals, information, court accompaniment, emotional support, and comprehensive assistance with the legal, medical, and social services systems.

"Our Rural Outreach Program provides specialized services to clients living outside the metro area, while our Latina Outreach Program provides services specific to Latina clients, including an attorney and an advocate who are both bilingual/bicultural. Our Sexual Assault Project provides services to victims of sexual assault. Our services are available to men and women of any age who qualify under our income and eligibility guidelines.

"We are looking for attorneys who can help on a pro bono basis with domestic violence, sexual assault and/or family law matters. We may be able to provide some training in domestic violence, sexual assault and/or family law, and other resources for new lawyers, including pro bono law clerks from the UO Law School. In addition, trained lay advocates are now available through the Eugene Human Rights Commission. The person coordinating this effort for us is Melissa Mona, (541) 485-1017, x134 or mmona@lclac.org.

Quotes from staff members at the DV Clinic about what keeps them inspired:

“The work is important and may be life-saving for the people we serve. It is a way I can feel I am making a positive contribution to my community.”

“I want to see the monolingual migrant client be able to navigate the legal system in a way that will provide safety and economic security. She is often ignored, scared and misunderstood – along with being abused. I see dire poverty in most of the cases I've advocated for. I'm inspired to uncover the most underserved client and make her story known. My mama is a migrant woman and she is my ultimate inspiration for every single thing I do.”

“For me, it is primarily the abused women who are taking a stand for theirs and their children's safety, and who are overcoming tremendous emotional, psychological, financial, logistical, and sometimes cultural and language, barriers to free themselves from abusive situations. It is also the great, funny and committed people I work with.”

~ DV Clinic Staff - February 2004