Rachel Coalition Legal Project is dedicated to improving the lives of victims of domestic violence and their children by providing them with access to advocates, attorneys, and materials in order to enhance their safety.
Direct Legal Representation Project
Rachel Coalition has a staff attorney who provides direct legal representation and consultations to victims in domestic violence proceedings in Family Court. Our attorney assists clients who qualify for our services in obtaining final restraining orders, modifying restraining orders, and securing ancillary relief including child custody, visitation, and child support. Rachel Coalition also uses pro bono attorneys through a joint program with Partners for Women and Justice to provide direct representation to clients. In order to apply for our domestic violence legal representation/ consultation services, please contact Partners for Women and Justice at (973) 233-0111 to schedule a phone intake.
The Domestic Violence Pro Bono Program
A joint collaboration of Rachel Coalition and Partners for Women and Justice. Its purpose is to make quality legal assistance available, at no cost, to low-income women seeking protection and financial and other relief from their abusive partners. In pursuit of this goal, we recruit train and mentor volunteer attorneys to represent victims of domestic violence in Final Restraining Order (FRO) trials in Family Court. The Domestic Violence Pro Bono Program promotes empowerment of our clients by providing equal access to the judicial system for women who do not have the resources to pay for an attorney. If you are an attorney who would like to volunteer for this program which meets the pro bono requirements of the New Jersey Bar, please contact Marsha Papanek at mpapanek@pfwj.org.
Rachel Coalition Court Advocate/ Case Manager
Rachel Coalition's bilingual advocate works at the Essex County Family Court to provide crisis counseling and essential information to victims of domestic violence regarding issues of safety, community resources, and relief available to them through the legal process. Rachel Court Advocate/Case Manager assists Rachel Coalition Clients to insure they receive needed services at community organizations. In addition, our court advocate provides direct supervision to Rachel Coalition Court Volunteers.
Rachel Coalition Court Volunteer Program
Rachel Coalition trains volunteers to assist domestic violence victims in Essex County Family Court. Volunteers who are chosen for this program must first complete the Rachel Coalition 40 Hour Domestic Violence Class. As trained volunteer court advocate, volunteers will be able to explain the restraining order process to victims, provided referrals for community services, and offer emotional support. If you are interested in volunteering to be a Court Volunteer Advocate, please contact legal@rachelcoalition.org.
Rachel Coalition/Partners for Women and Justice Legal Guide: Surviving Domestic Violence: Your Legal Rights
Through the generous support of several foundations Rachel Coalition in collaboration with Partners for Women and Justice published a guide for victims of domestic violence and service providers in both Spanish and English which explains the legal process for domestic violence cases in New Jersey and provides information about safety planning and community resources. The publication is cosponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and made possible with funding from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey.
Click here to download a complete version of the Legal Handbook in English. If you would like copies of the booklet, please contact: legal@rachelcoalition.org.
Guia por Victimas de Violencia Familiar (Guide for Victims of Domestic Violence, Spanish language edition is now available).
Rachel Coalition Legislative Project
Rachel Coalition's Legal Committee is dedicated to working together with other state-wide domestic violence agencies, community and governmental agencies, and legislatures to improve the legal system for domestic violence victims and their children.
