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September 18th 2006 • Printer version $250,000 federal grant saves
law school's Domestic Violence Clinic
The Lane County Domestic Violence Clinic, which had been teetering
on the edge of closure this year, received good news on September 15
with the announcement of a $250,000 federal grant. The funds give the clinic some
breathing room, said Merle
Weiner, a UO law professor and one of the founders of the clinic.
 "Because
of our domestic violence clinic, many abuse victims in this county can
get free legal help when they need it. This grant secures the clinic
until at least 2008 and allows us time to raise funds this service
desperately needs for the long term, " Weiner said.
Since 1999, the clinic has provided legal services to low-income
victims of domestic violence and their children. Third-year UO law
students, two supervising attorneys, and several advocates represent
more than 400 clients each year who seek physical protection, child
custody, exclusive use of their residence, and emergency support.
The legal clinic is a collaboration of the University of Oregon School of Law, Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center, and two Eugene/Springfield nonprofits: Womenspace and Sexual Assault Support Services. It is part of the local Stop Violence Against Women Project. The clinic has received federal grants since it was founded
eight years ago. The new grant will make up half of the clinic budget.
The rest must be raised through other grants and private donations.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Legal Assistance to Victims grant
program awarded the funding again this year, but warned that continued
help is not guaranteed.
In a 2003 study published in Contemporary Economic Policy journal, researchers found that, in counties where battered women can
easily find legal help for protective orders, custody, divorce, child
support and public assistance, there is a significant, negative
effect on the overall incidence of domestic violence.
-Eliza Schmidkunz |
Newsroom
