National + State-by-State Legal Assistance
Services
Child sexual abuse stands as a deeply unsettling and life-altering offense. Shockingly, statistics reveal that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys undergo sexual abuse in their childhood, yet the overwhelming majority of these victims never witness legal justice unfolding in a courtroom. Among reported cases, fewer than 1 in 5 progress to the stage of prosecution, and even then, only half of those cases result in a conviction or guilty plea.
The pivotal question then arises – how can a lawyer make a difference? Attorneys specializing in child sexual abuse cases play a crucial role in aiding victims through both criminal and civil proceedings. In situations where the prosecutor fails to press charges or faces difficulties in doing so, pursuing a civil complaint may be the avenue through which the deserving justice for the child-victim is attained. Survivors or their advocates, are encouraged to reach out to a lawyer in their respective state to determine if legal representation can be a beneficial recourse for their child.
Sources courtesy of https://healingoutloudcsa.org/state-by-state-legal-help
Alaska
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)
ANDVSA’s Legal Program provides case representation and information and referral to victims who need help with civil matters including (but not limited to) family law, housing law, and consumer issues.
Arizona
Arizona Voice for Crime Victims
Arizona Voice for Crime Victims (AVCV) was the first organization of its kind in Arizona and across the county that offers hope to crime victims in the form of pro bono legal representation and social services solely for the purpose of asserting and enforcing their rights in state and federal courts.
Ph: 480.600.2661
California
Los Angeles Victim Legal Assistance Network
The Legal Collaborative for Survivors (LCS) is a Los Angeles-based network of free legal and social assistance providers that promote healing and justice to help survivors of crime rebuild their lives. LCS works with survivors of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and financial fraud to increase survivors’ access to a broad range of legal services connected with their victimization.
The Legal Advocacy Project provides free, comprehensive legal services for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors with legal issues in the areas of privacy, safety, immigration, and family law in Los Angeles County.
Victims of Crime Resource Center (Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento
The Center has operated the State of California’s confidential, toll-free 1-800-VICTIMS line since 1984. McGeorge students, under attorney supervision, provide information and referrals statewide to victims, their families, victim service providers, and victim advocates.
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center is a Colorado nonprofit law firm providing free legal services to victims of crime in Colorado through our Victim Rights Legal Services, Legal Information Network of Colorado, and Title IX programs.
District of Columbia
DC Victim Hotline
The DC Victim Hotline provides free confidential, around-the-clock information and referrals for victims of ALL CRIME in the District of Columbia.
Ph: 1.844.4HELPDC (844-443-5732)
Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC)
The Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC) is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive case management and pro bono legal services to all victims of crime in the District of Columbia.
Florida
Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV)
The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is a statewide nonprofit organization committed to victims and survivors of sexual violence and the sexual assault crisis programs that serve them. FCASV serves as a resource to the state on sexual violence issues. (Florida's Federally recognized sexual assault coalition)
Legal Aid Service of Broward County
Legal Aid Service of Broward County’s mission is to provide high quality free civil legal advice, representation and education to the disadvantaged of Broward County so as to improve the lifestyle and living conditions of the low income community and encourage self-sufficiency.
Ms. Laughlin has worked with sexual assault victims for over a decade, fighting for justice and empowering her clients. Laura is a level-headed, yet fierce advocate who vigorously fights for justice for her clients. She takes pride not just in her legal abilities, but also in helping her clients through the process of transitioning from feeling like a victim to becoming a survivor.
Ph: 215.568.3500
Fax: 215.568.3501
Email: LLaughlin@messalaw.com
Georgia
Georgia Victim Legal Assistance Network
Partners:
- Atlanta Legal Aid Society
- Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers’ Foundation
- Georgia Legal Services Program
- Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network
Wilbanks CEASE Clinic (Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation)
Our mission is to provide direct legal services to our clients in a supportive, professional environment as well as to educate and prepare the next generation of lawyers to represent survivors of child sexual abuse. As a resource center for survivors and attorneys who are seeking these claims, we form part of a movement that seeks justice for all survivors of child sexual abuse.
The University of Georgia School of Law, 225 Herty Drive, Athens, GA 30602-6012
Ph: 706.542.5191
Illinois
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)
CAASE has done its work by providing free and comprehensive legal services for survivors of sexual violation - including by representing those victimized through rape or in the context of the sex trade, within the context of the criminal justice system.
The Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
We provide legal services for: employment issues, wage theft, housing, public benefits, crime victim services, human trafficking, immigration, elder law, and domestic violence.
Ph: 312.986.4000
Cook County Victim Legal Assistance Network
Maryland
Child Justice, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Silver Spring, Maryland with an office in Baltimore, Maryland. Our vision is a future in which every child's right to safety, dignity and self-hood is honored and protected. We provide pro bono legal services to protect children “lost in the system” after exposure to family violence, physical/sexual abuse, substance addictions or neglect.
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
MVLS connects low-income Marylanders with volunteer lawyers and community partners to deliver free civil legal assistance because there should be justice for all, not just for those who can afford it.
Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center
Throughout the entire legal process, we will work with each victim, being by their side from the very start to the conclusion. Our pro bono service has been specifically designed to help those most vulnerable victims get their lives back on track.
Ph: 1.877.VICTIM1
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
The Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative — CLAVC — helps victims of crime throughout Massachusetts with their related civil legal problems — including family law, housing, immigration, disability rights, child welfare, education, consumer, identity theft, employment rights and public benefits.
Access nine CVLAC-funded, local civil aid programs here
Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts
The mission of the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts is to promote and secure equal justice and to maximize opportunity for low-income children and youth by providing quality advocacy and legal services.
The Victim Rights Law Center provides free, comprehensive legal services for sexual assault victims with legal issues in Massachusetts.
Michigan
Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Each year, we support our statewide, 73-member Coalition to aid thousands of victims through hundreds of hours of legal, technical assistance. In addition, we provide direct civil or collateral legal services to dozens of victims.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center provides pro bono legal representation to all victims of violent crimes in state and federal proceedings in New Jersey and serves as an important resource to victims, social services providers, courts, and criminal justice professionals in each of the 21 counties throughout the State of New Jersey. Go to the New Jersey Legal Assistance Page (link below) to find multiple legal agencies and firms that provide services for child sexual assault victims and their families.
Licwinko Law provides legal representation for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as well as their family members. Through trauma-informed lawyering, Licwinko Law will fight for what the survivor and survivor's family needs to heal.
New York
The Legal Project (Crime Victim Assistance Project)
The Legal Project’s Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program provides civil legal services to victims/survivors of crime in Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties, as well as victims/survivors who are incarcerated in local jails. This program is holistically-based, offering legal advice and/or representation for issues related to child sexual abuse, housing, divorce, family court, as well as many others.
New York Women’s Center for Victim Protection
The Women’s Center for Victim Protection, a project of New York Legal Assistance Group, protects the legal rights of victims of crimes of sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking in New York City.
The Safe Center LI is the only private not-for-profit service agency providing Nassau County victims of sexual assault, domestic or dating abuse, stalking, and/or elder abuse with legal consultations, representation, and advocacy through its Legal Services Center.
RESTORING HOPE FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE
Ph: 516.542.0404 (24/7 hotline)
Ohio
Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
The Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center provides free legal assistance to victims of crime to protect and enforce their rights from the time of first report through post release control. Free legal representation is also provided in state and federal court.
Ph: 614.848.8500
Oregon
The Victim Rights Law Center provides free, comprehensive legal services for sexual assault victims with legal issues in Oregon.
Oregon Crime Victims Law Center
OCVLC provides free legal representation to crime victims to help them assert their rights within a criminal case. We provide this service to all Oregon counties.
Pennsylvania
Ms. Laughlin has worked with sexual assault victims for over a decade, fighting for justice and empowering her clients. Laura is a level-headed, yet fierce advocate who vigorously fights for justice for her clients. She takes pride not just in her legal abilities, but also in helping her clients through the process of transitioning from feeling like a victim to becoming a survivor.
Ph: 215.568.3500
Fax: 215.568.3501
Email: LLaughlin@messalaw.com
Providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of Philadelphia since 1996
Sexual Violence Legal Assistance Project
PCAR’s Sexual Violence Legal Assistance Project provides free holistic legal advice and counsel, and short-term representation to victims of rape and sexual assault. The project is designed to fill existing gaps where local community legal services are unavailable and gives priority to victims of non-intimate partner sexual assault.
Ph: 717.901.6784
South Carolina
South Carolina Victim Assistance Network provides pro bono legal representation to victims of all crimes in tribal, state, and federal proceedings and serves as an important resource to victims, social services providers, courts, and criminal justice professionals in North and South Carolina.
Texas
A Legal Resource About Sexual Assault
Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA)
Ph: 1.800.991.5153 (Get free legal help)
Lone Star Legal Aid’s mission is to protect and advance the civil legal rights of the millions of Texans living in poverty in its 76 county service area by providing free advocacy, legal representation, and community education that ensures equal access to justice.
Ph: 1.844.885.7428
Sexual Assault Legal Line
Ph: 1.888.296.7273 (SAFE)
Utah
Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic provides pro bono legal representation to crime victims throughout the State of Utah.
Virginia
Washington
Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Program
Ph: 1.800.822.1067