What is the Arizona Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project?

The Arizona Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project is a statewide network of legal aid attorneys, volunteer attorneys, and lay legal advocates who provide free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and their children. The Arizona Bar Foundation administers and coordinates the Project.

How does the legal assistance help victims of domestic violence?

Legal assistance provided by the Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project might address a number of different civil legal issues facing a victim of domestic violence, including legal representation when obtaining a protective order, assistance in filling out forms to initiate a divorce and basic information about a victim′s rights in landlord/tenant situations. The overall goal of the Project is to promote longer-term safety and economic stability for victims of domestic violence and their children.

Who provides the legal assistance?

The legal assistance provided by the Project is available through Arizona’s three legal aid programs (Community Legal Services, DNA People’s Legal Services, and Southern Arizona Legal Aid), the legal aid agency’s Volunteer Lawyers Program and 13 domestic violence shelter and service providers across the state. Staff attorneys and paralegals in legal aid programs and lay legal advocates in domestic violence service programs often work together to provide a holistic approach to meeting a client’s need for general legal education and representation. (Providers listed here)

What types of legal assistance is provided?

Victims of domestic violence eligible for services provided by the Project may be provided a range of assistance on one or more civil legal issues. Project attorneys may provide legal advice through individual consultation and group clinics, self-help assistance in completing forms or understanding court processes, direct representation in complicated cases and/or refer cases to volunteer, pro bono attorneys for extended assistance. Lay legal advocates may provide general legal information about court processes, court accompaniment for support, and referral to free legal assistance programs and attorneys.

For more information about legal assistance for victims of domestic violence review the following links:

• Organizations funded by the Arizona Bar Foundation to provide civil legal assistance
• Volunteer Opportunities for Attorneys with the DVLAP
• Arizona Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence
• Arizona Supreme Court′s Domestic Violence Information Page

Under Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI and VII) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education prohibits discrimination in admissions, programs, services, activities or employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. The Foundation must make a reasonable accommodation to allow a person with a disability to take part in a program, service, or activity. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For example, this means that if necessary, the Foundation must provide sign language interpreters for people who are deaf, a wheelchair accessible location, or enlarged print materials. It also means that the Foundation will take any other reasonable action that allows you to take part in and understand a program or activity, including making reasonable changes to an activity. If you believe that you will not be able to understand or take part in a program or activity because of your disability, please let us know of your disability needs in advance if at all possible. To request this information in alternative format or for further information about this policy, please contact: Lara Slifko, Chief Resource Officer at (602)340-7366. Para obtener este document en otro format u obtener informacion adicional sobre esta politica, Lara Slifko at (602)340-7366.