Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic Crossroads Fund

For more than 30 years, the Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic has fought for justice for victims of violence throughout Western New York and provided crucial, hands-on experience to law students. The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic Crossroads Fund supports the work of our long-standing clinic by offsetting operational expenses, allowing the clinic to focus on the unmet needs of local domestic violence survivors. 

Clinic students and supervising attorneys represent individual victims in civil family cases. While a typical Clinic client earns too much to qualify for a free, or pro bono attorney, the Clinic supports a population that is unable to afford private counsel, thus allowing the students to represent clients who would otherwise go without legal counsel.

Students work closely with staff from our community partners including the Family Justice Center of Erie County, Child & Family Services Haven House, and other victim-serving domestic violence organizations, that refer cases for legal representation.

“Having enthusiastic and energetic student attorneys represent domestic violence survivors is a “win-win.”  The students provide excellent, trauma-informed representation under close supervision to clients who greatly appreciate their assistance. Work in the Clinic enables students to hit the ground running when they enter the practice of law.” – Prof. Judith Olin, Director of the Family Violence Women’s Rights Clinic