This organization is doing unique and meaningful work in California and Washington State. I am happy to continue supporting their efforts to help survivors of domestic violence.
Family Violence Appellate Project is full of staff who deeply care about ensuring the safety of survivors of gender-based violence. They are doing great work in our community!
FVAP is one of the only nonprofits that provides free expert legal representation in appellate cases. Their staff is highly skilled and compassionate.
Family Violence Appellate Project is doing amazing work to support survivors in the appellate process. They also advocate for great policies that keep individuals and families safe.
I am working on a pro bono (volunteer) basis with FVAP to assist a client appealing a trial court ruling refusing immediate relief in a domestic violence matter. FVAP provides invaluable assistance to victims of domestic violence. I have found the staff and attorneys at FVAP to be both highly knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with on this appeal.
I worked with the Family Violence Appellate Project on a pro bono appeal, and found the attorneys to be excellent, easy to work with, and dedicated to their mission. Would love to work with them again.
FVAP is the only organization of its kind - offering free, elite representation regardless of ability to pay (all cases are done for free) in appellate courts, serving domestic violence survivors. If a survivor gets a bad, or unlawful, ruling in the trial courts, appellate representation can cost tens of thousands of dollars. FVAP and its network of experienced pro bono attorneys can take on the case on behalf of the survivor, and can also seek to publish the opinion to set good law for other survivors throughout the state. The staff is trained to provide trauma-informed, empathetic service to all who reach out. The FVAP staff also help train other advocates and attorneys through the state, so there are more resources available to survivors.
FVAP's helps SO many survivors with the appellate work they do! The technical support they provide is so helpful and gives advocates so many useful tools to support their clients
FVAP is a wonderful non-profit that does impact appellate litigation at a very high level. I have worked with FVAP to advance its mission and recommend it strongly.
FVAP is doing incredibly important work, providing us attorneys on the ground with the legal authority we need to advocate for an extremely vulnerable population. They are inspiring. They also took time out of their busy schedule to provide education to our local family law committee and they have a wealth of free information on their website as well to help family law practitioners.
This organization and the group of people that make it up are steadfast in their aid to survivors and continue to make lasting change in the domestic violence space. The work this organization does is vital to those survivors seeking justice through the courts.
FVAP is a great nonprofit organization doing important work to help women and children who desperately need protection from family violence. They also throw a great "Battle of the Bands" party every year!
This organization of smart, dedicated legal eagles work tirelessly to protect victims of all identities/genders/backgrounds from the scourge of intimate partner violence. With insightful strategies about the law and society, they make a vital contribution to the betterment of our lives.
FVAP continues to do excellent legal work, providing free appeals to survivors of domestic violence. In only 9 years, it has filed over 50 appeals, won a very high percentage of them, and been responsible for over 40 published decisions in California that clarify and strengthen the laws benefitting domestic violence survivors and their children. By co-counseling with attorneys outside FVAP, this non-profit leverages its ability to take on many cases simultaneously while maintaining very high quality of work.
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This agency opened its doors in summer 2012, and in 6 short years, has been responsible for 32 published appellate decisions in California, a remarkable achievement. Each of the decisions is citable and used by advocates, survivors of abuse, attorneys and judges, and helps end the epidemic of domestic violence. The cases deal with restraining orders, custody, spousal support, and immigration matters affecting survivors of domestic violence and their children. The agency also provides a great deal of free technical assistance on family law matters to attorneys, advocates, and self represented people all over California. It has become a major player in the legal services and domestic violence communities, and is a huge asset.
I am continually in awe of the important work FVAP does to protect our most vulnerable community members and help set legal precedents to protect future survivors of domestic abuse.
Sadly, I went from being just a donor to needing their help for a family member. I am grateful for the critical services they provide.
As an advocate, I truly appreciated and learned from the many webinars out on by FVAP. I have also suggested them as a resource for our DV survivors numerous times. They are a wealth management f information and support.
I volunteer for this organization and have assisted with doing closed captioning for their educational efforts as well as assisting with an annual fundraising event. I am so honored to help such a worthwhile organization in helping others and leading the way with getting verdicts overturned thereby creating case law that in turns helps other down the road. In all my interactions and observations of people involved you can see the high level of passion about what this organization does, and the impact it has on those affected by family violence. If you want to get involved with an organization or providing funding i can't think of a better one! Through my day job I'm given the ability to direct nominal grants and FVAP is always my choice. Having come from a home that experienced violence it makes be proud to give back!
I have worked with FVAP on numerous appellate cases over the years. They are incredibly talented and dedicated people who are doing amazing work on behalf of domestic violence survivors. Through their skilled advocacy working together with pro bono counsel they recruit, they have won countless important victories in court that have shaped the law in California to ensure that survivors' rights are respected and protected. From top to bottom, FVAP is outstanding organization!
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FVAP is a fantastic organization making a monumental impact in shaping California law to better protect survivors of domestic violence. In just a few short years, FVAP and its pro bono counsel partners have won so many landmark appellate victories that it can feel like every leading appellate decision in the books is an FVAP case. And yet, FVAP is not just about making good law, but about helping individual survivors. Every member of the FVAP team with whom I have worked has been remarkably caring and dedicated to doing right for FVAP's clients. It's a wonderful, remarkable, inspiring group of great people.
This extraordinary organization not only provides top-notch pro bono appellate representation to domestic violence survivors but uses the savvy of its staff and large network of volunteers to ensure that the best possible legal precedent is available to help the many survivors it can't help directly.
FVAP does an important service to victim/survivors of violence by supporting both appeals of their cases as well as working to get model judicial outcomes published for use in future cases.
This organization makes a significant difference for victims of DV. I keep track of their outcomes and I am constantly in awe of their work, as their decisions have changed case law and practices that are shocking even exist and rooted in the system. All my interactions with this organization has shown me that it is made up of talented and passionate individuals who care about making a difference and have found an effective avenue to do so. My hope is that they keep up their great work and continue growing to take on more cases and lobbying for much-needed changes in our court system!
Immediately upon contacting FVAP I was treated with responsive, thoughtful and supportive care. As a protective parent who was needing appellate help, I am grateful this project exists!
FVAP has been an incredible partner in advocating on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse. Their staff are professional and knowledgeable. We could not do the work we do without FVAP!
I am a Certified Family Law Specialist with over 21 years of experience in family law. Virtually every time I come across a challenging issue relating to Domestic Violence, I go directly to the appellate cases published by the Family Violence Appellate Project for guidance. I am now in the midst of an important appeal involving the rights of a domestic violence victim and her child, and FVAP has agreed to serve as Amicus Curiae. I cannot say enough about how Jennafer and the teams of passionate lawyers she recruits makes a difference in the lives of victims, children and lawyers throughout California trying to help them.
I keep close track of the amazing appellate cases they present. Extremely helpful to pass on to local attorneys, working with battered women in court. And in supporting victims.
Especially in this time of uncertainty, FVAP has continued its amazing and impactful work to help establish a precedent for survivors of domestic abuse. The dedication and effectiveness of the organization even in these trying times prevail for the clients that they serve. I am honored to be a part of furthering their successes.
FVAP is an amazing organization that achieves fantastic results for survivors of domestic violence and reaches out to survivors and the legal community in numerous ways.
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FVAP is a really unique organization that focuses on the bigger picture of creating laws that can support and protect all survivors, rather than taking on individual cases with individual facts and issues. This is what draws in and interests people when I tell them about the organization.
As a law student, I utilized Family Violence Appellate Project's online resources and the cases FVAP litigated and/or got published in order to inform my domestic violence advocacy. FVAP's resources were instrumental in helping clients obtain favorable orders in their family law cases.
I later served as one of FVAP's law clerks during the summer of 2020. FVAP was a wonderful place to work! Its staff were supportive and compassionate. They were also incredibly flexible and gracious as we all navigated working remotely while sheltering in place.
Overall, FVAP is a vital organization that helps its clients; supports its workers; and benefits litigants, attorneys, and legal advocates in general.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a summer working with the amazing team at FVAP serving families throughout California who have experienced violence. As a law clerk, the attorneys at FVAP went above and beyond in ensuring I gained experience and knowledge about the world of appellate level domestic violence cases. FVAP is an extraordinary organization full of amazing people who are working all angles to provide quality services to their community.
I have been continuously impressed with the Family Violence Appellate Project. The organization's commitment to helping domestic violence survivors and their children appeal dangerous trial court decisions is incredibly important, and the organization's leadership is dedicated and tenacious in carrying out that mission.
Since its inception, FVAP has provided unique relief to survivors when they lost hope in the system. New Advocate, Attorneys and Judges have so much to learn from these Appellate cases. At our agency, we follow the learning and training regularly and inform partners whenever opportunity arises.
Thank you FVAP for the amazing work!
I am an attorney advocating for survivors of domestic abuse in both emergency and long-term family law matters. FVAP is critical to my practice. I am better prepared in court not only because of FVAP’s arsenal of powerful cases, but also because their attorneys and staff are there at the ready when I need them, offering advice and strategy when I ask for it, and always with the utmost professionalism and grace. Thank you, FVAP!
I have had the privilege of serving on FVAP's Board, which has given me a front row seat to the tremendous impact the organization has on the lives of survivors of domestic violence. FVAP takes on cases that change the law in California to support survivors. But it does so much more. It is reaching into the most vulnerable corners of California to offer a path for change and hope to survivors who are otherwise marginalized. It helps them assert dignity, stay in their homes and protect their children. One of the things that touches me most is when our client become our donors. They are the testament to the value of our mission. When I hear the courage in their voices and see the resiliency of their lives, I am most grateful to be a small part of the life-changing organization.
I volunteered with FVAP as an attorney on one of their cases. Not only was the experience incredibly rewarding, but it is also important work. The staff is incredible to work with and very dedicated. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again, and would encourage others to do so.
I've been on the Board of FVAP for over a year now, and I continue to be blown away by the passion and the work put forward by everyone involved to further the rights of domestic violence survivors. I feel lucky to be a part of the organization.
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FVAP does outstanding legal work to support DV survivors and their families. FVAP advances the legal framework addressing domestic violence by appealing trial court decisions on behalf of survivors and their children. In that process, FVAP not only helps to create new law, but also helps to supports and protect countless individual survivors. I'm honored to work with this organization.
FVAP is such an amazing organization. In its relatively short lifespan, it has already secured many important appellate decisions that have helped and will continue to help domestic violence survivors. In addition, its trainings, outreach, and education work is making a huge difference beyond the appellate sphere. I feel so honored to be on its Board and work with its amazing director, attorneys, staff, and volunteers.
I have worked with Family Violence Appellate Project as a volunteer attorney and can wholeheartedly say it has been the best experience of my law career thus far. The entire staff, not just the attorneys, are singularly committed to reducing the prevalence of domestic violence in our state and our country. They fight tirelessly on behalf of under-served populations to ensure that even the most marginalized in our communities have access to high-quality legal representation. FVAP engages in impact litigation and technical assistance to other attorneys, righting the missteps of the courts in ways that have far-reaching ripple effects on the law, but more importantly, on the lives of individuals. As a young attorney, the passion and mentorship I have found there have inspired me to make this kind of work a cornerstone of my practice. I can't thank them enough!
I am a law clerk at Family Violence Appellate Project, and am absolutely in love with this organization. The passion, dedication, and overall love for humanity that i have seen in my short time at this organization is unparalleled! I am so proud to be a member of this team and i would refer anyone here in a heartbeat!
I worked with FVAP as a lawyer and did several pro bono cases with them. Their staff was awesome and their cause is worthy. I believed in the organization and its people so much that I joined the board!
FVAP is deeply committed to helping its clients and all survivors of domestic violence in California. The organization is constantly looking for new ways to deliver services and expand its offerings to assist as many clients as possible and make a lasting impact to improve the legal landscape for survivors of domestic violence facing family law, juvenile dependency and housing issues.
The organization is respectful of employees and volunteers. It offers a welcoming and supportive environment to those who wish to help the agency further its objectives.
FVAP does fantastic work representing domestic violence survivors on appeal, creating important favorable precedents in a space where the law has been underartuculated, in large part because domestic violence survivors often lack the financial means to pursue appellate relief when trial courts error. I very much appreciated the opportunity as a volunteer attorney to assist FVAP in the case screening process.
I have served as a FVAP Board member since it's inception. I am in awe of this life-saving organization that our staff has built. Domestic violence is pernicious in part because it endangers people in the most intimate parts of their lives. Abusers often continue to abuse in Court. But FVAP gives survivors the strongest possible voice in California's appellate courts and is changing the law, not for our clients alone, but for survivors across California and for generations to come. Each survivor who secures a protective order or keeps custody of a child is lifted up and made powerful by this organization, especially because they know they are not alone. The outreach we now do to help our most vulnerable clients access housing and build safe, hopeful lives humbles and inspires me. I feel very honored to be a part of FVAP and a witness to our clients' amazing bravery.
I am proud to volunteer with FVAP. The dedication and skill of the small but mighty staff is truly awe-inspiring. This is the only nonprofit of its kind in California dedicated to ensuring that wrongly-decided cases in a trial court do not leave domestic violence survivors without recourse and the protection they are entitled to under the law.
FVAP does phenomenal work for domestic violence survivors and their families. The organization plays a huge role in advocating for strong protections for these survivors and their families in California. Their staff is excellent.
FVAP is a truly groundbreaking organization that works tirelessly to further the rights of domestic violence survivors and their children. The courtroom injustices survivors face at the trial level are often shocking yet widespread. FVAP is a pioneer in fighting such injustices at the appellate level, to not only change the lives of those individual survivors, but create legal precedent to enable thousands of survivors across the state to benefit from their work. The staff and leadership are absolutely committed to their unwavering goals, and put forth only the most quality legal work. Thank you, FVAP, for all you do!
FVAP is doing important work to make sure the CA law helps domestic violence survivors protect themselves and their children from harm
FVAP changes the lives of domestic violence survivors and their children and their work is unmatched by any other organization. I am honored to volunteer and be part of the work of this organization.
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It's an honor to volunteer for an organization that makes so many positive changes in the lives of domestic violence survivors.
FVAP successfully won an appeal to empower California courts to protect California victims of domestic violence and abuse (including online harassment) through restraining orders even when the abuser is out of state.
It is nothing short of impressive that FVAP is producing such results in winning appeals compared to the statewide standard. I also love the fact that so much of their efforts are put towards training and representation in order to help break the cycle and foster a new generation of awareness towards this serious issue. To top it off, they are also the only organization that provides free appellate legal representation to domestic violence survivors in the state.
Thank you FVAP for your work on this important issue!
FVAP is the only organization of its kind pursuing appellate impact litigation to benefit survivors and sufferers of domestic violence. The dedication of FVAP's staff and the commitment of its private sector partners are inspiring, and having had an opportunity to represent one of FVAP's clients, I can easily understand why--the impact is truly felt in the community. It is an honor to be involved with this important organization.
Staff and volunteers work together to provide legal services to those who cannot afford them. FVAP is very well run and effective.
This organization serves the victims of domestic violence on appeal, and there's no other organization that does it in California. Such an important function.
FVAP is an amazing organization with a proven track record of success for its clients and family violence survivors throughout California. The results speak for themselves: the 77% success rate on affirmative appeals; the perfect record when defending decisions on appeal; and 20 published opinions and counting. Their brilliant staff and pro bono partners are reshaping California law for the better.
I chose to volunteer @ FVAP expecting to learn more about how Appellate courts work, I gained that knowledge plus much more. FVAP is an organization that is truly committed to advancing the interest of domestic violence survivors including the most vulnerable victims: children. The agency not only works with survivors directly but is invested in making legislative changes that decrease the likelihood for injustices at the trial court level and most importantly risk of continued abuse/harm to survivors. I was fortunate to be accepted as a volunteer and look forward to continued involvement with the agency in my future career developments.
FVAP provides first-class legal services to DV survivors and their children. Its staff truly cares about the work and always try to make an impact on not only individuals but also the legal communities. The precedents they fought to set enable trial lawyers to defend DV survivors on more issues concerning their daily lives.
The Family Violence Appellate Project offers such an incredible service not only to survivors of domestic violence, but all within our community. Through their incredible appellate work, they have brought real change to our community. Too often judges have a lack of understanding and knowledge regarding domestic violence and had limited direction from case law and the Legislature of how to handle these situations. Through their successful appeals, FVAP has been able to bring real change to how domestic violence cases are handled.
We are so lucky to have access to FVAP! Their dedicated staff of caring, compassionate and truly exceptional attorneys and advocates are like none other. I hope that they are able to continue their extremely important work for the community and the future.
FVAP is a unique and excellent non-profit doing superb work in helping a vulnerable population--DV survivors and their families--with much-needed appellate legal assistance.
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Family Violence Appellate Project is an amazing organization that helps many! They support the local community and reach out to those in need! They help survivors get safety,support , and information that they need. Their last fundraiser was an amazing event at the El Rey Theater that raised a lot of money and support!
I spent a night volunteering to help FVAP. It was great experience, and one which I would do again. The best part of the experience (besides helping this cause) was the attitude of the organizers at FVAP. They acted like a team, not just an organization. They were positive, and took the initiative to lead volunteers and the group.
I was so excited to be made aware of FVAP through my employer's volunteer network. We provide volunteer services for non-profits and I am very active in the volunteering space. I have participated in the FVAP Banding Together to End Domestic Violence event for 2 years now and plan to continue to do so. The organization goes above and beyond to reach those in need and provide much needed services that victims would otherwise be unable to afford which could gravely impact their situations and circumstances. I can only pray that FVAP can expand to help even more individuals who are victims of domestic violence here in Southern California and I am willing to help in anyway possible to realize that possibility. What a great movement to be a part of and the staff representing this amazing non-profit is an absolute joy to work with. Keep up the good work!!!
FVAP works tirelessly to help domestic violence victims obtain justice. They are extremely dedicated and work long hours to serve as many victims as is possible.
FVAP is such an important organization, truly and tangibly affecting and saving the lives of domestic abuse survivors.
FVAP is able to create real systemic benefits for families by appealing lower court decisions that abused parties would be unable to appeal on their own, winning, and getting the final decisions published. This is a very impactful charity helping people who both need and deserve it.
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FVAP is one of the most effective and needed legal aid organizations I've supported. First, they address the gap in legal precedent for family law cases. This gap is primarily caused by a lack of resources for victims of family violence, which leads to bad decisions that can't be appealed for economic reasons. FVAP helps individuals get the outcomes they deserve while also getting these appellate decisions published, helping others in similar situations avoid needing a costly appeal.
I remember one of the early cases FVAP took on dealt with a judge who determined a father had physically abused his daughter, but that same judge ordered the daughter to go to reconciliation therapy with the abusive father against her will. These types of decisions need to be appealed, and FVAP is the only California organization I know of making sure that they are.
FVAP is an amazing team of courageous people, who helped with my Appeal Case G049854 as an amicus curiae. They helped win our appeal to help us, as well as get our decision published to help others not go through what we have suffered .
FVAP has changed the face of domestic violence litigation in California, creating a library of cases to support survivors in protecting themselves and their children. The service FVAP provides is invaluable.
I'm not a lawyer (I don't even play one on TV) but I've read some of their cases and the resulting decisions, and it's clear that FVAP is doing a lot of good in protecting victims of domestic violence.
FVAP is an amazing organization that is changing the laws in California, ensuring that the state court judges follow the law to protect survivors and their children.
FVAP serves a huge unmet need for numerous Californians and is addressing the larger systemic issues in our legal system that allow DV to persist. I have been so moved by their work and am extremely impressed by the impact they have made in their few years of existence. They play a critical role in the mission of ending family violence and supporting survivors of abuse.
This organization does incredible work! This appellate work is vital to ensure the safety of domestic violence survivors in California.
The work done by the fierce advocacy of FVAP is making a tremendous difference in the lives of family abuse survivors.
The Family Violence Appellancy Project is action in response to critical need. The influence of its co-founder Nancy Lemon on domestic violence prevention laws throughout the world is legendary. Now, with this project, the Judiciary will benefit from guidance of appellate law. What could be simpler yet more pressing. This organization is one of a kind - a forerunner - a brilliant concentration of the best talent on the planet.
When people hear about aid and support for victims of domestic violence, they usually think of hotlines, shelters, etc. While such support is vital and will always play an important role, most people are not aware that the work FVAP performs is far reaching and fundamental because it addresses part of the problem and solution ... the judiciary system.
The Family Violence Appellate Project is a critically important organization that provides a unique service to society: working through the appellate process to reform the law in a way that not only helps individual clients who are victims of domestic violence but also shapes the law prospectively for future cases. The attorneys and staff at FVAP are sophisticated, knowledgeable experts in this field who are committing their lives to an excellent cause.
I volunteered with this fantastic organization. They provide a meaningful service to individual clients, build positive legal precedent for all victims of domestic violence in California, and fill a huge void in domestic violence advocacy. This organization should exist in every state.