Legal Assistance For Victims Program

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The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Comprehensive legal services extend beyond representation in emergency and non-emergency protection order hearings to address the broad spectrum of legal issues that victims encounter, including family matters such as divorce, child custody or child support, immigration, administrative agency proceedings, and consumer or housing matters.

“Legal assistance” is assistance in civil (excluding torts) or administrative matters; criminal justice investigations, prosecutions of the offender, and post-conviction matters that impact victims’ safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes that promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability; or post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, Tribal, or territorial court. All matters must be related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victimization. Intake or referral alone is not legal assistance. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(24)(C) and (D).

Eligible applicants are limited to: private nonprofit entities; publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity; territorial organizations; Indian tribal governments; and tribal organizations.

In 2024, the LAV Program gave out 54 awards totaling $39.29 million.

To view grantees under this program and others for previous fiscal years, please visit OVW's awards webpage.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20121.

Information About the ELSI Initiative

LAV supports an Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) to develop legal programs to serve victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking at organizations that do not currently offer legal representation. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, tribal governments, tribal organizations, or territorial organizations that do not currently have programs or divisions providing legal representation but propose to establish programs to provide legal services to victims. Priority consideration are given to applications for which the lead applicant is a culturally specific organization.

In 2024, the LAV ELSI initiative gave out eight awards totaling $3.14 million.