Survivors Justice Center

Survivors Justice Center provides comprehensive and holistic legal services to low income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Our attorneys work with dedicated support staff and client advocates to assist survivors with their legal, emotional and economic challenges.
Survivors Justice Centeralso houses the University of Oregon School of Law Domestic Violence Clinic where law students receive training and supervision, gain experience and develop expertise in these issues and cases. Third-year law students are able to represent survivors in court proceedings under the supervision of our staff attorneys. In addition to their valuable work as clinic students, DV Clinic alumni go on to work with survivors after graduation as prosecutors, legal aid attorneys and private attorneys. Survivors Justice Centerand the UO Law School also partner to present seminars and provide training for private attorneys in domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault issues. Legal representation has been found to be the most determinative factor in whether victims are able to escape domestic violence. Yet most parties in contested protective order cases are unrepresented. A 2000 study found that low income people obtain legal assistance less than 20% of the time due to inadequate funding and that more services are needed in area of family law, particulary in child custody and domestic violence cases.
Legal services provided by Survivors Justice Centerhelp survivors achieve physical safety, emotional well-being, and economic power, thereby expanding their options and significantly lowering the incidence of abuse.

  

Addressing a Survivor's Legal Needs in a Holistic Manner

This is a paper describing the Domestic Violence Clinic, which was originally part of Lane County Legal Aid and is now operated by the University of Oregon School of Law and housed at Survivors Justice Center of Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center.

This innovative collaborative project provides holistic civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking by partnering staff and resources from Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. victim-service organizations such as Womenspace and Sexual Assault Support Services, and the University of Oregon School of Law in one location.  The Clinic is in its 11th year of operation and case statistics show our tremendous success in representing an unprecedented number of abused individuals and their children in civil contested hearings and trials and assuring that they receive other needed resources and services as well.

Newsletters

Fall 2011 Newsletter

Summer 2010 Newsletter

Winter 2009 Newsletter

Summer / Fall 2008 Newsletter

Jan / Feb 2008 Newsletter

June 2007 Newsletter
  

"Domestic violence topic of interfaith Eugene event"

An article from the Jewish Review about the fifth annual domestic violence training for interfaith clergy and social service providers, sponsored by the Domestic Violence Clinic. Approximately 80 people - half clergy, half social service providers - took part in the event at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene on Feb. 17, 2011.
  

"To Be Of Use" and "Reach Out"

Feature articles about the Domestic Violence Clinic from The Oregon Lawyer, published by the University of Oregon School of Law. Copyright ©  2001 The Oregon Lawyer. (Republished with permission.)

"Law Lessons in Life"

An article in the Oregon Daily Emerald describes the experience of University of Oregon law students in the Domestic Violence Clinic at Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. Copyright ©  2000 Oregon Daily Emerald.

University of Oregon School of Law

		The University of Oregon School of Law operates the Domestic Violence Clinic in partnership with Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center, Womenspace (a domestic violence service provider) and Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) (a service provider for survivors of sexual assault and stalking). The DV Clinic provides comprehensive legal services to victims of domestic abuse and their children while training and educating University of Oregon law students in these issues. Third-year law students enrolled in the DV Clinic earn law school credit while representing Legal Aid clients in court cases involving restraining orders and stalking orders.
The Clinic is physically housed at the Survivors Justice Center at Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center (LCLAC), in a building dedicated solely to serving victims of domestic violence, stalkers, sexual assault and their children.

Womenspace

        Womenspace has been providing services to battered women and their children for almost twenty-five years. The organization has grown from a confidentially located shelter and twenty-four hour crisis line to a multi-faceted organization that in addition to basic crisis services supports a strong, county-wide domestic violence council, a publicly located drop-in Advocacy Center, legal advocacy via a collaborative legal clinic, transitional year-long case management services, domestic violence specialists housed in local welfare and child protective service offices, three rural outreach offices, an extensive community education program offering training from the most basic to highly specialized curricula, and a host of collaborative relationships with local and federal partners.

SASS -- Sexual Assault Support Services

SASS provides 24-hour crisis and support lines, advocacy for victims of sexual assault, community education, support groups and self-defense classes.

Lane County Domestic Violence Council

The Council is a coalition of survivors, service providers, and agency staff. It was founded with the mission of creating a community forum for developing, implementing and assessing a coordinated response to domestic violence in Lane County. The Council's current mission is to reduce and prevent domestic violence through a coordinated community response.

Domestic Violence Assistance Program

        The Domestic Violence Assistance Program through the Greenhill Humane Society assists victims of domestic violence whose pets are endangered. The program provides a network of foster homes which will take any companion animal from gerbils to horses, and extends care until victims can accommodate their pet's safety either on their own or by placing their pets with friends. More information

 

Questions and Answers - Housing Rights for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Survivors

Pamphlet: Housing Rights for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Survivors (with sample letters)