A majority of domestic violence survivors in New Orleans represent themselves pro se in civil court. The results can be dangerous, especially when abusers can afford lawyers but victims cannot. In family court, unrepresented survivors face daunting challenges to proving their cases, admitting evidence, and following the legal processes necessary for protection. They face the prospect of losing their requests for protective orders and even losing custody of their children.
The Clinic represents domestic violence survivors in family court proceedings that include contested trials determining protective orders and child custody, supervised visitation, divorce, child support, spousal support, order enforcement, and other legal issues essential to helping clients live safely and independently from abusers. The Clinic is sometimes able to assists clients as well on issues relating to housing, economic security, child education issues, and in criminal justice processes. Each of the Clinic’s clients is assigned a team of student attorneys, who are intensively supervised by full-time Clinic faculty with expertise in domestic violence litigation.
