Legal Services and Advocacy
Life Span approach to ending domestic and sexual violence is a nationally recognized model that provides safety, empowerment and a lasting solution.
Center for Legal Services and Advocacy
Our legal program is staffed by a diverse staff of 14 attorneys, four paralegals and four criminal court advocates who have expertise and years of experience in contested family law cases, and criminal court advocacy, distinguishing our program from any other in Illinois. We operate a number of innovative and collaborative programs specifically created to reach underserved populations. Representation and advocacy is provided across Cook County, including Chicago, Rolling Meadows, Skokie and Markham courthouses, and is available in Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Telagu, Russian, and Bengali.. Life Span assists with the following:
- Divorce
- Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time
- Child and Spousal Support
- Orders of Protection – link to order of protection page
- Civil No Contact Orders
- Other Family Law Cases, including post decree matters and appellate work
- Immigration Assistance –link to Immigration page
- Legal Advocacy in Criminal Court
- Legal Advocacy with Issues Stemming from the Sexual Assault
- Crime Victims Compensation Act (CVC) Advocacy
- Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) Advocacy
- Illinois Safe Homes Act Advocacy
Criminal Court Advocacy
Criminal court advocates assist domestic violence victims who seek criminal orders of protection and criminal prosecution of their abusers, accompanying victims to court and providing support throughout the process. We offer this service at the Chicago Domestic Violence Courthouse, the Rolling Meadows Courthouse and the Skokie Courthouse.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE END HERE
Multi-disciplinary Team Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Collaborations (MDTS)
Life Span partners with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago Police Department, Family Rescue, and Cook County Department of Probation to implement a proactive response to domestic violence incidents in the CPD’s Area South where there may be an elevated risk for harm or death. Our Sexual Assault MDT includes the prosecutor, CPD, and probation, as well as Rape Victim Advocates, and provides a similar focused response to sexual assault crimes in the CPD’s Area North.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE END HERE