Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic
In the Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic (FVWRC), students work towards attaining justice and safety for survivors of family violence.
Serving the unmet needs of local survivors in Western New York, the Family Violence & Women's Right Clinic seeks to fill the gap to ensure victims of violence receive the proper legal representation needed in many areas of the law, including family offense petitions, child support, custody, and visitation cases, and divorce.
Judith Olin
Director of Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic
Clinical Legal Education
All FVWRC students are included on the Clinical Legal Education Program's Student Practice Order which authorizes them to practice law under the direct supervision of clinical faculty.
Student Attorneys work in teams and are assigned multiple cases throughout the semester. Student Attorneys become versed in a number of practice-ready skills including trauma-informed client interviewing and counseling, negotiation with opposing counsel and the attorney for the child, and preparation of a variety of legal documents such as petitions, agreements, orders, and divorce documents. Student attorneys develop case theories, investigate facts and stand up in Court to argue motions and, in some cases, examine witnesses in hearings and trials.
In weekly seminar classes and team meetings with the clinical faculty, students have the opportunity to discuss their cases in detail, analyzing each step taken, and getting input from fellow student attorneys. Students in the clinic hone their practice skills through in-class simulations in interviewing, negotiation, and other litigation skills, all while they learn the interpersonal skills needed to work with survivors of family violence and gain an understanding of unique ethical issues common to this field.
2020-2022
In the first year of the pandemic, Erie County experienced a surge in requests for civil orders of protection. Clinic students joined a community collaborative response by drafting and electronically filing family offense petitions requesting emergency orders of protection. Receiving referrals from the Family Justice Center, Clinic students continue to draft emergency petitions for orders of protection.
2022-2023
The Clinic is successful in a motion to dismiss two meritless petitions against our client, filed by her former romantic partner.
Clinic students secure a final order of protection which allows only supervised visitation and orders the abusive partner to attend a DV program and receive a substance abuse evaluation.
2023-2024
The Clinic increases its representation of low-income divorce litigants with a history of family violence who cannot afford private counsel.
Useful background courses include: Family Law, Domestic Violence Law, Children and the Law.
Students in the Family or Criminal Law Concentrations may take this clinic as part of their program.
Students in the JD/MSW Program may take this Clinic as their field placement.
The Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic is proudly funded partially by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and generous donors of the FVWRC.
Professor Judith Olin and Student Attorney Shelby Majda '24 at the Tribute Garden.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 - 10th Anniversary of the Tribute Garden
Join the ECCSW to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Tribute Garden at Isle View Park. The ceremony will occur on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10am to 11:30am. The Tribute Garden was created to honor those impacted by domestic violence and to serve as a gathering place to reflect, share, and learn about the resources available to victims, survivors, and the community to stop violence. Please RSVP to Karen King by September 5, 2025 at karen.king@erie.gov
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - Domestic Violence Awareness Month at UB Bulls Game
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, student attorneys will be attending the UB Bulls home football game to promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month.