Domestic abuse survivors don’t just need help leaving their negative relationships; they often need assistance with the plethora of legal documents required to protect them and their families. Documents, such as restraining orders and stalking orders, come at a cost and require legal aid that many of these survivors simply can’t afford.
The Domestic Violence Clinic at Lane County Legal Aid Service is the only local program that provides free, direct legal assistance to low-income domestic violence survivors.
“The population we serve are up against a lot of barriers, and they are high-stakes cases,” clinic Director Ann Kneeland said. “We are the only service for many of them.”
The clinic’s services include restraining orders, stalking orders, divorce and custody filings and hearings.
“Often times the abuser controls the finances,” Kneeland said. “Without money it’s hard for the survivor to present a case against the partner with more money. Often the outcome depends on how capably the argument is presented.”
She added that the survivor sometimes has emotional trauma or is embarrassed or nervous about the situation.
“They are all at turning points in their lives, finding new homes, caring for families,” Kneeland said. “We try to even the playing field.”
The clinic works in conjunction with Womenspace, Sexual Assault Support Services and the University law school, according to the clinic’s Web site. Third-year law students work with the clinic to advise clients in restraining-order and stalking-order cases.
The students can also receive court certification and may appear in court if necessary. Some of the students work on custody agreements, such as visitation and divorce cases.
Apart from the volunteer law students, the clinic has four attorneys, three advocates and three administrative personnel. Their services are offered at no cost to people who qualify, Kneeland said.
The clinic receives approximately half a million dollars each year from various organizations and various state grants – the federal Violence Against Women Act grants the clinic nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually, while the state’s Department of Justice gives the clinic $180,000 annually.
These grants cover the clinic’s expenses, including employee salaries and
litigation costs for cases. Costs for each case vary depending on the hours put into the case and the broad range of services provided.
The clinic looks at approximately 400 intake cases each year, and at least half of the cases viewed receive legal assistance, Kneeland said. Victims receive free legal planning, emotional support and social service referrals.
“Clients come in through legal intake,” Kneeland said. “If they meet financial guidelines and pass the conflict check, then we review their application with the criteria we use for all applications to decide which cases we can take.”
The law students, who average about 20 to 25 cases each semester, help shoulder the burden of the restraining- and stalking-orders work, allowing the clinic to handle more cases each year, Kneeland said.
“The law students make a very significant contribution,” he said.

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