Domestic Violence Project: Volunteers Needed to Help Victims

Interview clients, assist in completion of paperwork for restraining orders

Register now for May 13 training for new volunteers.  Guest speaker will be Hon. Marjorie S. Steinberg, Supervising Judge, Family Law, Los Angeles Superior Court.

Last year, LACBA’s Domestic Violence Project helped more than 6,000 abused clients. As staggering as the numbers sound, LACBA volunteers do make a difference every day. During the course of a three-hour shift, a single volunteer can help as many as three victims seek protection from their abusers. Volunteers interview clients and complete legal documents to obtain restraining orders, a necessary first step in handling domestic violence situations. 

The project operates at two Superior Court locations: downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena. The majority of the project’s funding comes from the Los Angeles County Bar Foundation, enabling the project to provide its services. For information about the Foundation, contact Linda Stude at lstude@lacba.org.

Become a volunteer. To become a volunteer with the project:

• No previous experience in this area of law is necessary. 

• Volunteers attend one evening training session, which provides 3 hours of CLE credit.

• Attorneys volunteer a minimum of three hours (one half-day) per month for one year; law students volunteer six hours per month for six months. The project is a joint effort with the Los Angeles Superior Court (which provides space for the project, parking for volunteers, and assistance with the volunteer trainings). 

• No ongoing representation is required.

When you become a volunteer, you can gain expertise in an area of family law. At the same time, through the commitment of new volunteers working alongside longtime project veterans, the project can continue to help protect victims and their children as well as sexually abused minors and abused elderly persons.