Legal Services
The Pace Women's Justice Center provides free civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse so that they can move forward with their lives. It allows our clients to gain a sense of independence outside of the justice system, which can be inaccessible to many people. Information and additional resources for the public are available. PWJC civil legal services include orders of protection, child custody and support, divorce, spousal support, powers of attorney, and other adult planning documents. We offer multi-lingual support through our Spanish-speaking staff and free interpretation services for over 230 different languages.
PWJC has programs that serve all clients, no one is ever turned away because of gender, financial means, sexuality, age, race, or immigration status. Services at our Family Court Legal Program, Walk-In Legal Clinic, and Legal Helpline are available to all regardless of financial means. While ongoing legal representation through PWJC’s Family Law Unit is determined by need-based guidelines, we also offer a Moderate Means referral program to those do not qualify.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or elder abuse please contact us at (914) 422-4069.
Walk-In Legal Clinic
Located on Pace University's Law campus, The Clinic is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The legal clinic is a resource center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Clients have access to legal help when and where they need it most. Our services are available to everyone regardless of financial means, race, gender, sexual orientation or immigration status. All services are free and confidential; multilingual services available.
Our staff can assist you by reviewing legal documents, explaining the applicable law and pointing out the legal options specific to your situation. If appropriate, we will refer you to other PWJC programs or community partners for further representation and support services.
-
Some of our services include:
- Drafting and filing family offense, custody, and child support petitions
- Skype orders of protection
- Multilingual services
- NYS Office of Victim Services information
- Through our community partners – on-site safety planning & counseling
Clinic attorneys provide counsel and advice about:
- Orders of Protection
- Custody/Visitation
- Child and Spousal Support
- Divorce
- Immigration
- Consumer Debt
- Advanced Healthcare Directives
- Powers of Attorney
- Wills
- Voluntary Guardianship
- Public Benefits
- Housing
*You may receive also a referral to PWJC’s legal programs for ongoing representation.
Family Law Unit
Our Family Law Unit provides comprehensive, free legal representation to low‐income victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault, in Westchester and Putnam Counties. Attorneys assist clients with myriad legal issues, including orders of protection, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and divorce. We also collaborate with community-based organizations to provide clients with referrals to other providers.
-
Our multilingual legal representation includes:
- family offense - orders of protection
- custody/visitation and child support petitions
- spousal support
- property issues
- divorce
- and other matters
Family Legal Court Program
Our team of attorneys, pro bono volunteers, and law students can assist you right at the Family Courts in White Plains, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. FCLP staff will guide you through the court system and provide representation for your initial order of protection. If appropriate we will then refer you to other PWJC programs or community partners for further representation and support services. No appointment needed. Funding is provided by the Westchester County Office for Women.
-
Our multilingual services can help victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse seeking assistance with:
- Drafting and filing family offense, custody, and child support petitions
- Initial court representation for emergency orders of protection & related child custody and support
- NYS Office of Victim Services information
Locations:
White Plains Family Court Legal Program
111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601Yonkers Family Court Legal Program
131 Warburton Avenue, 3rd Floor
Yonkers, NY 10701New Rochelle Family Courthouse
26 Garden Street
New Rochelle, NY 10801The Family Court Legal Program operates Monday–Friday
Walk-In Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (all courthouses are closed for lunch 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.)Funded by the Westchester County Office for Women
Elder Justice Unit
The Elder Justice Unit makes information and legal support easily available to the elderly on issues that concern their well-being and safety. The Elder Justice Unit attorneys provide free legal representation, advice, advocacy and referrals for victims of elder abuse Services are available to Westchester residents, male or female, aged 60+, who have experienced some form of elder abuse or mistreatment.
-
In addition to public benefits, housing and consumer issues, abuse cases can include:
- Financial exploitation - the illegal taking, improper use, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of another for their own benefit.
- Physical – use of physical force that results in physical pain or injury, e.g., slapping bruising, shoving or restraining by physical or chemical means.
- Neglect – Failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, healthcare or protection for a vulnerable senior.
- Emotional or Psychological – inflicting mental pain, anguish, fear or distress through verbal and nonverbal actions, e.g., by humiliating, intimidating, threatening, isolating or controlling the victim.
- Sexual – non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
- Self-Neglect – The failure of a person to perform essential, self-care tasks, which threatens his/her own health or safety.
-
Our multilingual services include assistance with:
- Orders of Protection
- Powers of Attorney
- Advanced Health Care Directives
- Voluntary Guardianship
- Wills
- Eviction Prevention
- Referrals for shelter through our partner - Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention
Legal Helpline
Our volunteer and staff attorneys provide general information to callers about their legal rights and navigating the court system. For matters regarding other legal issues, we offer referrals only. Services are available to everyone regardless of financial means, race, gender, sexual orientation or immigration status. All services are free and confidential. Multilingual services are available.
-
The issues we provide support for include:
- Child and spousal support
- Child custody/visitation
- Elder abuse
- Divorce
- Domestic violence
- Orders of protection
- Sexual assault