What We Do
Legal Assistance For Victims Project
What is the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Project?
- Provides legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking who cannot afford legal representation.
- Provides assistance for civil legal actions such as protective orders, family law, immigration, bankruptcy, and other civil matters relating to the client’s victimization.
- Contracts with local attorneys and language interpreters to provide services at a reduced rate, payable directly through GCADV.
- Project funding is provided through grants with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, the Georgia Bar Foundation and the Judicial Council of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts.
Consider the Fact that…
- Georgia ranks 10th in the U.S. for its rate of male homicide against women. (U.S. Census, 2000)
- One in six Georgia women ages 15-44 has been forced to have sexual intercourse against her will at least once during her lifetime. (Georgia Women’s Health Survey, 1995)
- Georgia is 8th in the U.S. for families headed by women living below the poverty line. (Victim Policy Center, 2002)
As a Result…
- Thousands of victims throughout the state of Georgia are unable to afford legal services vital to their safety and recovery.
- Many victims are forced to choose between trying to represent themselves and taking no legal action at all, leading to consequences that often impact their safety and well-being for years to come.
Making an Impact
- Since 2004, GCADV’s LAV project has provided legal assistance to over 600 victims throughout the state, enabling them to pursue legal protection from violence and legal actions crucial to their recovery.
- Through your participation in the project, you will be part of a collaborative effort to increase victims’ access to legal services and to improve case coordination among domestic violence, sexual assault, and refugee/immigrant organizations, language interpreters, and private attorneys.
- Most importantly, your work with the LAV project will help bring safety and justice to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
How Does the LAV Project Work?
- GCADV provides specialized domestic violence and sexual assault training to all participating attorneys, interpreters, and advocates.
- Victims access the LAV project through their local domestic violence and/or sexual assault program, where trained legal advocates provide case screening and referrals to the project.
- Upon case approval from GCADV, the legal advocate arranges for a local attorney and/or interpreter to begin work on the case, based on a list of participating attorneys and interpreters.
- Legal advocates provide ongoing support to the client and technical assistance to attorneys throughout the case.
- Tapestri Immigrant and Refugee Coalition provides ongoing technical assistance to attorneys and advocates for cases involving immigrant or refugee clients.
- Attorneys and interpreters submit invoices to GCADV for services provided on LAV project cases. Attorneys are paid a rate of $70/hour and interpreters are paid a rate of $45/hour.
For more information about the LAV project or to register for an upcoming training session, please contact Legal Projects Coordinator at LAV Coordinator.