Creating no wrong doors to justice and recovery for crime survivors in Washington, DC.

WHAT IS VLNDC?

We envision a future where crime survivors can receive legal services for all their legal needs.

VLNDC is a network of legal service providers in DC that provide legal assistance to survivors of crime in DC. With a network of over 27 different legal service organizations, VLNDC provides survivors support with a wide variety of issues including (but not limited to) family law, immigration, debt collection, housing, protection orders, and crime victims’ rights. When a survivor contacts VLNDC, we strive to connect them to any member organizations that may be able to assist them with their pending legal needs. If we’re unable to assist, we provide the survivor with other resources to explore.

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 numerous opportunities to connect to other legal service providers and learn about their services.

increased access to services for clients

VLNDC reduces the time and steps for a client to reach available and relevant legal services. While representation is not guaranteed, the VLNDC intake and referral process reduces the likelihood that a client will contact an organization that cannot assist with their immediate legal needs. At the same time, member organizations save intake time by receiving robust case summaries for each VLNDC referral received, and by having the option to entrust VLNDC with facilitating client referrals to other organizations.

responsive trainings

Through the VLNDC partnership, members have access to trainings from other network members and national crime victims’ rights organizations on a variety of topics applicable to our work.

national collaborations

Washington, DC was one of ten jurisdictions funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime for the purpose of creating holistic victim services networks. Members of VLNDC have the opportunity to collaborate with the National Crime Victims Law Institute, the technical assistance provider on the project, and the other networks to share successes, lessons learned, and strategies for ongoing network concerns.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for legal service providers

FAQs About VLNDC Membership

  • There are no costs associated with being a member of the network.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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 service 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

  • Community Family Life Services

  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

  • DC Affordable Law Firm

  • DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

  • 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

  • Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

  • Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

  • Whitman-Walker Health

  • Volare (formerly Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC))

for survivors of crime

Get Help

If you have been harmed by a crime and have a related Washington, DC legal issue that you would like to consult with an attorney about, VLNDC can help.

Please complete the questions below and a VLNDC Navigator will contact you. After you speak with the Navigator, they will identify possible resources for your legal issue and, if appropriate, will try to connect you to a legal office in our network. 

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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Si ha sido víctima de un delito y tiene un problema legal relacionado con Washington, DC sobre el que le gustaría consultar con un abogado, VLNDC puede ayudarle.

Complete las preguntas a continuación y un asesor de VLNDC se comunicará con usted. Después de hablar con el asesor, identificarán posibles recursos para su problema legal y, si corresponde, intentarán conectarle con una oficina legal en nuestra red.

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.