VICTIM LEGAL NETWORK OF DC (VLNDC)
Finding the right legal help shouldn't be another challenge.
VLNDC helps survivors of crime in DC understand their legal options and connect with legal services through a network of community partners.
Prefer to Call? Call VLNDC at (202) 629-1788
WHAT IS VLNDC?
Make one phone call to connect with 25+ legal services organizations.
Legal issues can affect many parts of your life, and finding the right help isn't always easy.
The Victim Legal Network of DC (VLNDC) is a program of Volare that helps survivors of crime understand their legal options and connect with legal resources in Washington, DC.
Through a network of legal service organizations, VLNDC helps survivors navigate a wide range of legal concerns. Our Attorney Navigators work with survivors to identify their legal needs, discuss possible options, and connect them with organizations that may be able to help.
You don't have to know what kind of attorney you need before reaching out.
How VLNDC Can Help
Understand Your Legal Options
Our Attorney Navigators can help you identify legal issues, understand possible next steps, and receive legal information or advice on certain matters.
Find Legal Resources
Survivors may face legal concerns involving housing, family relationships, immigration, employment, public benefits, financial matters, or other issues. VLNDC can help identify organizations that work in these areas.
Connect With Legal Service Providers
When appropriate, VLNDC can help connect you with organizations in our network that may be able to provide legal assistance. Each organization determines whether it can accept a referral.
Explore Other Options
If a network organization cannot assist with your legal issue, our Navigators may be able to identify other resources or possible next steps.
Who Can VLNDC Help?
VLNDC assists survivors of crime who have legal issues connected to Washington, DC.
Generally, VLNDC can help when:
Your legal issue involves a court or government agency in Washington, DC; or
You live in DC and need assistance with an immigration-related legal issue.
You do not need to have reported a crime to the police to contact VLNDC.
Not sure whether you qualify? You can still reach out to discuss your situation and learn whether VLNDC may be able to help.
What to Expect When You Contact VLNDC
Tell Us About Your Legal Needs
Complete our intake form or contact VLNDC by phone. You can share information about your situation and the legal concerns you would like help addressing.
Explore Your Options
If your legal issue may be appropriate for a referral, your Navigator can explore whether an organization in the VLNDC network may be able to assist.
Not every legal issue can be referred, and a referral does not guarantee that an organization will accept your case or provide representation.
Our goal is to help you better understand your options so you can make informed decisions about what comes next.
Connect With an Attorney Navigator
A Navigator will review your request and contact you to learn more about your legal needs. Depending on your circumstances, the Navigator may provide legal information, certain legal advice, or assistance identifying possible resources.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for survivors of crime
FAQs For Survivors of Crime
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VLNDC Navigators provide legal advice on protection orders and crime victims’ rights, offer information on various legal issues in Washington, DC, and connect crime survivors with legal services from VLNDC member organizations, which may include advice, brief service, or representation.
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Legal advice from VLNDC’s Attorney Navigators is always free. If referred to a VLNDC member organization, they will inform you of any potential fees for their services. Most are nonprofits and offer free services, though some may charge low fees.
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If you are not sure if what you experienced is a crime, you can call VLNDC and explain your situation. VLNDC also helps family members of homicide victims, and parents or guardians of survivors of crime. VLNDC does not require a police report to support you.
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Any information you submit to VLNDC via our “Get Help” form or over the phone is confidential. That means that we won't share any part of our conversation with anyone else unless we have your permission, or we are required to by a court order.
If you sign a consent form, that allows the VLNDC Navigator to share your information with VLNDC member organizations and/or other organizations you choose. When we refer your case to a VLNDC member organization, they will only see your name, date of birth, and address, and the name, dates of birth, and addresses for other parties in your case until they complete a conflict check. Once the organization confirms that they do not have a known conflict of interest, they will then be able to see further details about your case.
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VLNDC can only assist with legal issues where the decision maker (judge, agency, etc.) is located in Washington, DC, or where you have an immigration need and live in DC.
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VLNDC Navigators can make referrals to VLNDC member organizations for cases involving anti-stalking orders, civil protection orders, consumer protection, crime victims’ rights, custody, divorce, education, employment, housing, identification documents, immigration, probate/estate planning, public benefits, tax, and more.
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VLNDC’s member organizations do not typically handle criminal defense, personal injury cases, civil lawsuits for pain and suffering, medical or legal malpractice, real estate cases, or cases involving employment-based visas.
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You may contact VLNDC staff by emailing info@vlndc.org and we will be in touch with you shortly.
for survivors of crime
Get Help Through VLNDC
You don't have to navigate legal questions alone.
If you have experienced a crime and have a legal issue connected to Washington, DC, VLNDC may be able to help you understand your options and identify available resources.
Speaking with a Navigator does not guarantee that you will receive legal advice or representation, or that your case will be referred to VLNDC network member.
The information requested below will remain private and will only be used for receiving VLNDC services.
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No tienes que resolver tus dudas legales sin apoyo.
Si has sido víctima de un delito y tienes un asunto legal relacionado con Washington, DC, VLNDC puede ayudarte a comprender tus opciones e identificar los recursos disponibles.
Hablar con un asesor no garantiza que recibirá asesoramiento o representación legal, o que su caso se remitirá a un miembro de la red VLNDC.
La información solicitada a continuación permanecerá privada y solo se utilizará para recibir los servicios de VLNDC.
vlndc benefits for member organizations
Any legal service organization that provides free or low cost representation in DC can apply to become a member.
local partnerships
Through participating in the network, member organizations have opportunities to connect with other legal service providers and learn about their services.
increased service access for clients
VLNDC streamlines access to relevant legal services by reducing client effort and minimizing referrals to organizations unable to help. Member organizations save intake time through detailed case summaries and can rely on VLNDC to coordinate further referrals when needed.
responsive trainings & technical assistance
As members of VLNDC, member organizations have access to trainings by VLNDC Navigators on intake skills, and to trainings by other network member organizations on a variety of legal topics. Staff at VLNDC member organizations can also contact VLNDC Navigators for technical assistance regarding legal resources available for unique or difficult referrals.
access to vlndc’s legal map
VLNDC Attorney Navigators have created and make daily updates to a “map” of VLNDC member organizations’ service areas, eligibility criteria, capacity updates, and points of contact. Staff at VLNDC member organizations can access the map online as a benefit of VLNDC membership.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for legal service providers
FAQs About VLNDC Membership
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There are no costs associated with being a member of the network.
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Any legal service organization that provides free or low cost representation in DC can apply to become a member by contacting info@vlndc.org.
The organization does not need to identify as an organization that serves victims of crime.
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No. The network does not guarantee that a client will receive services, but we do request that members diligently and thoroughly consider all network referrals for legal advice or representation. We understand that not every case is ripe for legal representation and must be evaluated on an individual basis.
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If you are unable to accept a case and this is communicated to the Navigator, the Navigator will review the intake and determine if another member can assist the survivor. If there is no other suitable referral, the Navigator shall provide the survivor with out-of-network services that they may contact on their own.
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VLNDC was founded through Grant No. 2014-XV-BX-K010, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The project is currently funded through grants from the District of Columbia Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) and the DC Bar Foundation.
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You may contact VLNDC staff by emailing info@vlndc.org and we will be in touch with you shortly.
MEMBER organizations
Directory of Network Member Organizations
If you are a legal services provider interested in joining the network, let us know!
Advocates for Justice and Education
Amara Legal Center
American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
Ayuda
Bread for the City
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
Children’s Law Center
Christian Legal Aid of DC
D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
DC Affordable Law Firm
First Shift Justice Project
Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Legal Counsel for the Elderly
Mother’s Outreach Network
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
Rising for Justice (formerly DC Law Students in Court)
Tahirih Justice Center
The Safe Sisters Circle
Tzedek DC
Volare (formerly Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC))
Volunteer Legal Advocates (formerly DC Volunteer Lawyers Project)
Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Whitman-Walker Health