Legal Assistance for Victims

The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid victims (ages 11 and older) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence.

Now is the time to begin planning for a successful application.

By the Numbers

“Legal assistance” includes assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in:

• family, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing matters, campus administrative, or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters
• criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim’s safety and privacy
• alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy
• post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, Tribal, or territorial court where the conviction of a victim is related to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking.

Who Should Apply?

• Legal services organizations
• Women’s shelters
• Organizations serving victims of domestic violence

Required Partnerships

Applicants must include the following partnerships:

• a nonprofit, nongovernmental, or tribal organization, or tribal government, with the mission or purpose of providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• a nonprofit, nongovernmental, or tribal organization, or tribal government, with experience and expertise in providing legal representation by an attorney to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.