Family Violence Appellate Project

Giving survivors a second chance at justice

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Volunteer

Join the movement to end domestic violence. Family Violence Appellate Project is dedicated to representing domestic violence survivors in civil legal appeals cases for free.

Pro-Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

We need your help! We cannot take cases without the volunteer support of pro bono attorneys. You do not need to have any prior knowledge of domestic violence law. You supply the energy, we supply the expertise. Opportunities are numerous and allow pro bono attorneys to engage in limited and defined projects with a clear timeline and few out-of-pocket costs:

Appeal analysis

FVAP receives many referrals for cases and partners with pro bono lawyers to analyze the cases for possible appeal. This involves analyzing the record and the legal issues to determine if the case is a strong candidate for appeal, i.e., if the record was sufficiently preserved, the legal merits of the appeal, and the pros and cons of appealing the case. Pro bono attorneys’ work includes reviewing and analyzing the record, conducting legal research into the merits of the appeal, and drafting a memorandum analyzing the strength of the case for appeal. Attorneys who screen a case will have the first choice at handling the appeal if FVAP decides to move forward.

Co-counseling appeals

Pro bono attorneys can act as lead counsel on appeals, with FVAP and another attorney from a law firm as co-counsel. This includes assisting with researching and writing the appellate briefs and possibly performing oral argument before a 3-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, as agreed between FVAP and co-counsel. FVAP will provide assistance with case strategy, drafting and research as needed, reviewing draft briefs, and preparing for oral argument. In the event your day-to-day responsibilities or your in-house legal department does not allow for you to take a primary role in researching and drafting briefs, you may also review and comment on briefs drafted by co-counsel.

Moot court

To help our co-counsel attorneys prepare for oral argument, FVAP organizes two moot court sessions shortly before the argument. We need attorneys who are not working on the case to assist us by reading the briefs and acting as “judge for a day” by asking the arguing attorney tough questions at our moot court sessions.

Case publication

We are seeking teams of 3-5 volunteers to staff our impactful Case Publication Program for 3 months at a time. This includes reviewing the unpublished decisions from the California or Washington Courts of Appeal each day (approx. 1 hour/day). If you find a case involving domestic violence that may merit publication, you would write a short memo analyzing which criteria of the publication rule it fits. This includes researching whether other similar cases have been published and analyzing why this case is unique. FVAP will review the memorandum, and if we determine to go forward, FVAP will work with you to draft a letter to the appellate court requesting publication (a mini legal brief of 3-5 pages), and to garner co-signers from the domestic violence community to join the request. Letters requesting publication are due within 20 days of the date of decision.

Amicus briefs

FVAP also submits amicus curiae briefs in cases important to our mission. Pro bono attorneys have the opportunity to take the lead in drafting amicus briefs, with FVAP providing strategic support and input on social science literature and reviewing draft briefs.

Legal research and writing

FVAP periodically has legal research questions arise and asks pro bono attorneys to perform research and draft a short memorandum.

All of our pro bono attorneys receive a comprehensive training manual covering the basics of domestic violence and family law and California or Washington appellate procedure and access to FVAP’s legal resource and social science libraries. FVAP attorneys who are subject matter experts co-counsel with pro bono attorneys and are are always available to answer questions and provide support.

In addition to the above, attorneys are welcome to volunteer for FVAP’s non-legal volunteer needs.

Non-Legal Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative assistance with cases

If your schedule does not allow substantial involvement in an appeal, we sometimes have discrete administrative projects that arise in connection with a case, such as retrieving court records.

Volunteer at Battle of the Bands

You are welcome to volunteer your time for one night at FVAP’s annual Battle of the Bands fundraiser in September in San Francisco.

Photographers and Videographers

FVAP needs volunteer photographers and videographers each year at Battle of the Bands and other events; to record and edit a promotional video about our work; and to record and edit informational videos about the legal process to help domestic violence survivors navigate the system.

Interpreting/Translating

Many of FVAP’s clients do not speak English as their first language. If you are bilingual in another language, we welcome you to interpret for us so FVAP can effectively communicate with our clients, or to translate written documents and website content into other languages.

Captioning

FVAP has an ongoing need for volunteers to help us caption our recorded trainings to make them accessible to Deaf and hard of hearing domestic violence survivors and advocates throughout the state. FVAP posts our training videos online, for free, for domestic violence survivors and advocates to use. This opportunity involves watching the videos and making corrections to the auto-captioning created by YouTube.”

Data Entry

FVAP’s small administrative staff often needs assistance with data entry to track people who come to our trainings.

Donor Stewardship

FVAP appreciates our donors and tries to thank them as meaningfully as possible. We can use volunteers to help hand-write thank you notes and hand-address envelopes.

Students

Learn more about student involvement at FVAP

Student involvement is a core component of our mission. As a student intern, you will receive substantive legal aid mentorship and work experience. 

Student Interns may participate at FVAP:

  • As a spring, summer, or fall intern.
  • And if your school allows, intern for academic credit.

View Current Opportunities for Students

Online Volunteer Sign-Up Form