Women Against Abuse Legal Center

THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER PROVIDES FREE ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEEKING LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN PHILADELPHIA.

THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN PHILADELPHIA SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER EMPOWERS WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED TO NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, COURT ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING. EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBERS WORK WITH VICTIMS TO SECURE LEGAL PROTECTIONS RELATING TO BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS, INCLUDING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE ATTORNEYS HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN NAVIGATING LEGAL SYSTEMS AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A SENSITIVE MANNER THAT EMPOWERS CLIENTS. SEVERAL ATTORNEYS ALSO BRING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF DISTINCT SUBPOPULATIONS, SUCH AS VICTIMS OF STALKING AND VICTIMS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER SERVED 3,241 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FREE REPRESENTATION OR ASSISTANCE TO 1,032 INDIVIDUALS; COURT ADVOCATES SERVED 975 CLIENTS; AND PARALEGALS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO 801 VICTIMS AT CRUCIAL POINTS OF NEED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE GENERAL FILING UNIT OF PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT, AND FOR FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDED TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO 978 CLIENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, AND PROVIDED SUPPORT TO 495 VICTIMS AT HIGH RISK OF LETHALITY, FOLLOWING A 911 CALL. IN ADDITION TO ITS DIRECT SERVICES, THE LEGAL CENTER IS ALSO HIGHLY ENGAGED IN SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK THAT WILL IMPROVE PHILADELPHIA'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY ENSURING EFFECTIVE SCREENING AND INTERVENTION FOR VICTIMS, WHILE HOLDING PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE AND OFFERING THEM ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE. LEGAL CENTER LEADERSHIP WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTOR TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS POINTS REMAINED AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO FILE FOR CRUCIAL PROTECTIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A TIMELY WAY THROUGHTOUT THE HEIGHT OF COVID-19, WHEN PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT WAS TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO IN-PERSON OPERATIONS. . WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HAVE THEM DELIVER PETITIONS TO DEFENDANTS, SO THAT OUR CLIENTS WERE NOT FORCED TO TRAVEL AND BE EXPOSED TO POSSIBLE DANGER.