WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER

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 2025, THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER SERVED 3,029 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FREE REPRESENTATION OR ASSISTANCE TO 1,401 INDIVIDUALS; COURT ADVOCATES SERVED 883 CLIENTS; AND PARALEGALS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO 1,303 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 1,021 CLIENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND PROVIDED SUPPORT TO 589 VICTIMS AT HIGH-RISK OF LETHALITY, FOLLOWING A 911 CALL.IN ADDITION TO ITS DIRECT SERVICES, THE LEGAL CENTER PIONEERS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO REACH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING: THE TELEPHONE OUTREACH PROJECT (TOP): A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGAL CENTER AND THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, TOP PROVIDES FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO HAVE CALLED 9-1-1 AND ARE AT HIGHEST RISK OF LETHALITY. "FAST TRACK" ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION PROGRAM: TO PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND REPRESENTATION FOR MORE VICTIMS, WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE HAS STATIONED STAFF ATTORNEYS IN THE TWO COURT ROOMS IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE PROTECTION FROM ABUSE CASES ARE HEARD, OPENING ACCESS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. FAST TRACK ATTORNEYS CAN REPRESENT CLIENTS ON THE SPOT, CONNECTING THEM WITH LEGAL COUNSEL DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF NEED.