Delaware Volunteer Legal Services

Legal Services to domestic violence victims - the Legal Services to domestic violence victims program focuses on latino population in Delaware. While domestic violence crosses all socio-economic lines, it is especially high among poverty clients. Attorney's meet with clients at the latin american community center in wilmington as well as other locations.

Legal Services for victims - the Legal Services for victoms program focuses on providing Legal assistance to victims of crime in familiy court protective order and custody matters.

Pfa pro bono program - the program consists of pro bono attorneys representing victims of domestic violence in new castle county with pfa hearings. A staff attorney and a law clerk interview victims in court on the day of the hearing and assess each request for assistance and discuss the pfa process with the victims. The staff attorney then refers meritorious cases to the pro bono attorney or dvls family law attorney for representation on that day. In addition, the family law attorney is available to offer advice and representation to other victims that might not otherwise get assistance.

Dvls is a non-profit organization whose mission is to deliver pro bono Legal Services to needy delawareans. Each client, other than victims of crime, must meet a percentage of the official poverty threshold, as defined each year by the u.s. office of management and budget - federal poverty standards (45 c.f.r. Part 1611) for income eligibility. Dvls targets those having incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. A person whose gross income exceeds 125% of the federal poverty limit, but does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty limit may in certain cases be provided Legal assistance. Certain clients, such as domestic violence victoms, those over 60 years of age and the terminally ill, face the less restrictive standard of 200% of the poverty level. In addition, dvls clients must have a meritorious civil Legal problem that is not fee generating. Cases meeting these criteria are placed with one of the agency's pro bono attorneys, staff or law students. Legal representation ranges from brief consultations to litigation. The clients dvls serves are each unique, but one characteristic they share is that they have nowhere else to turn for Legal assistance. Dvls Volunteer attorneys, staff and law students ensure that these individuals and their families receive quality Legal Services at no cost. In addition to direct representation of clients, dvls has volunteers who act as consultants and mentors for other Volunteer attorneys.

The Legal Services to domestic violence victims program focuses on community outreach in Delaware. While domestic violence crosses all socio-economic lines, it is especially high among poverty level clients. Attorney's meet with clients at the latin american community center in wilmington as well as other locations