Lois Schwaeber, the Director of Legal Services, oversees a staff of attorneys, court advocates, law school interns, and volunteers, many of whom are bilingual. Legal consultations and representation on a limited basis, including immigration services are available to all clients of the Coalition.
Consultations- Attorneys experienced in areas of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault consult with clients about their legal rights and options, especially concerning immigration, custody/visitation, family offenses, separation or divorce, and child support.
Representation- Attorneys can provide direct legal representation and on-site advocacy in the Nassau County courts. Frequently, the abuser is the monied party and can afford to retain private counsel, while victims of domestic or sexual violence have few or no resources available. Free access to legal assistance is therefore a critical component of Coalition services.
Immigration Services- Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, elder abuse, stalking and/or rape/sexual assault frequently need an immigration attorney because of the extreme cruelty to which they have been subjected, and their difficulty in obtaining legal status. The Coalition Legal Services Center can assist battered immigrants in self-petitioning under VAWA, seeking a Battered Spouse Waiver, or filing for a U Visa as a victim of a crime who is cooperating with the authorities to prosecute her batterer.
Read More About the Coalition's Courtroom Advocacy Program
Read About New York Law on Orders of Protection, Custody, Divorce, and Immigration on womenslaw.org
