Pro bono work takes many forms. We are here to help you take your first (or tenth) case representing a victim directly.  However, pro bono opportunities are not limited to direct representation of crime victims in the criminal justice system.  Your help is also needed to serve as local counsel, conduct legal research, and represent crime victims in related civil proceedings.  You don't need experience with victim law to help. NAVRA and NCVLI will train you to represent crime victims.

• NCVLI legal staff can provide you with technical assistance via legal research, writing, and strategic support.
• Enhanced NAVRA membership provides you with access to a searchable database of legal briefs and memoranda with many samples addressing key issues in victim law litigation.
• NAVRA membership provides you with access to victim law case summaries organized by issue and jurisdiction.
• NCVLI and NAVRA offer practical skills and other trainings relating to victim law.

Please consider providing pro bono help to a crime victim this year.  NAVRA is here to help!

The Need for Pro Bono Assistance

In 2014, U.S. residents age 12 or older reported experiencing an estimated 5.4 million violent crimes and 15.3 million property crimes.[1] The vast majority of these crime victims did not have access to individual legal representation to enforce their rights in the criminal justice system. You can help by providing pro bono assistance to a crime victim. There are many ways to assist a crime victim, including providing legal assistance:

• to ensure that a domestic violence victim’s confidential counseling records are not released to the defendant;
• to ensure that a murder victim’s family can attend the trial of the person accused of the crime;
• to ensure that a child victim of sexual abuse has a support person with him or her in the courtroom;
• to ensure that a victim impact statement and sentencing memorandum are prepared and submitted to the court on behalf of the family members of a victim of a drunk driver; and
• to ensure that an elderly assault victim will be ordered restitution sufficient to cover medical bills and other expenses resulting from the assault.

[1] U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Criminal Victimization, 2014 Bulletin available online.