Legal Education Advocacy Program (LEAP)

If victims of violence don’t understand their legal options, they may feel compelled to return to their abusers. At URI, we educate residents about their legal rights and have immediate access to the legal support and services they need to achieve and maintain their independence.

If victims of intimate partner violence don’t understand their legal options, they can feel compelled to return to their abusers. At URI, we educate residents about their legal rights and have immediate access to the legal support and services they need to achieve and maintain their independence.

This program was made possible in part by a grant from The New York Bar Foundation.

For victims of domestic violence, safety is always top of mind: Where can I take refuge beyond the reach of my abuser? How can I keep my children safe? Only after they are out of danger can a survivor begin to think about cutting all the other ties that bind them to their abusive partner.

Recognizing the myriad legal issues our clients face, URI established the Domestic Violence Legal Education and Advocacy Program (LEAP) in 2006. LEAP provides individualized on-site comprehensive domestic violence legal aid and support on issues such as child custody and visitation, child support, divorce, orders of protection, and debt issues. Services range from writing and filing affidavits, locating individuals willing to submit statements on behalf of survivors, and filing immigration petitions. LEAP also provides legal and rights-based training for residents and staff.

Immigration issues are among the most common our LEAP team assists with as undocumented survivors have particularly complicated circumstances. As most undocumented survivors are scared to have any contact with the legal system, LEAP bridges that gap to keep their families together and safe.

LEAP is a part of the Crime Victims Legal Network to enhance our services to crime victims. Learn more about the online resource at NY Crime Victims Legal Help.

LEAP in Action: A Case Study

Ms. R. entered into shelter with her two children after suffering years of psychological and physical abuse. Ms. R. and her two children were undocumented and her husband had used her immigration status to control her. As a result, she was fearful for her future, deeply hurt and traumatized. When Ms. R. met with LEAP, she learned that she and her children were eligible to apply for lawful residency because she was a survivor of domestic violence. LEAP supported Ms. R. through the legal process in challenging her denial of public assistance and helped her obtain an attorney to fight for her benefits. Thanks to LEAP, Ms. R. went from a situation in which she and her children were undocumented with no money and no permanent housing, to having a work permit, a steady source of income through public assistance, and a housing voucher.

URI serves all survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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