Get Help Donate All Issues Our Programs Latest Updates SEXUAL VIOLENCE From immigration to intimate partner violence to worker’s rights, sexual violence is too often part of the story. Experiencing sexual violence (e.g. rape, forced sexual experiences, sexual abuse as a child, sexual assault in the military, sexual harassment etc.) is often traumatic. A traumatic event may be a shocking, scary, life- threatening, or dangerous experience that affects someone emotionally and physically. The reaction to trauma—and/or need to escape the danger of sexual violence—can lead to a range of issues that require a lawyer’s help. Civil legal redress can range from an immigrant seeking safety through asylum laws to a veteran needing legal assistance to challenge an “other than honorable” discharge related to sexual trauma they experienced in the military to a worker seeking justice from a sexual assault that happened on the job. #TimesUp NYLAG was one of the first legal services organization to receive #TimesUp funding to represent workers earning a low wage who were sexually harassed. Services Our lawyers stand with all survivors, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, in their pursuit of safety and justice. We continue to grow and evolve in our understanding of trauma and aim to offer trauma-informed legal services to survivors. Here is how our lawyers can help: Helping immigrants apply for asylum and petition for immigration relief to protect a survivor of sexual violence Assisting survivors with crime victim compensation claims to seek reimbursement for medical and counseling expenses, lost wages, and other costs they incurred as a result of their victimization Filing sexual harassment claims to combat discriminatory work environments Assisting survivors of sexual trauma in the military get the benefits they deserve and upgrading their discharges if needed Working with survivors of intimate partner violence to obtain orders of protection, custody of children, and other remedies through family court in recognition that sexual violence is often a tactic used by abusers against their partners Need free legal services or financial counseling? WE CAN HELP Help us provide free legal services to survivors of sexual violence. DONATE NOW NYLAG is part of the solution to end sexual violence: Domestic Violence Awareness Month | ReThinkAccess ReThinkSystems November 5, 2021 The last 18 months have exacerbated many barriers that survivors face when attempting to access justice. Many of the survivors we have spoken to during the pandemic have complained of increased barriers, including lack of language access, lack of access to technology and childcare, and heightened mistrust of the legal system and the police. Read More » NYLAG Names Sirrah Harris as the First-ever Director of Outreach and Access to Justice Programs April 16, 2021 We are proud to announce Sirrah Harris as our first-ever director of outreach and access to justice! Learn more about Sirrah’s impactful seven-year tenure at NYLAG and how her new role will advance our mission. Read More » Testimony: VA’s Increasing Shift to Independent Contractor Exams Harms Trauma Survivors March 24, 2021 NYLAG’s Samantha Kubek challenges the inadequacies of the Veterans Affairs’ independent contractor examinations, particularly for veterans suffering from mental health concerns. Read More » SEE ALL POSTS Help us provide free legal services to children and adults in need of a lawyer. DONATE NOW Join our mailing list. Get action alerts, updates, and special invites. SIGN UP Careers Contact Us Newsroom Privacy Policy Whistleblower Policy Terms & Conditions Follow Us Copyright 2021 NYLAG | All Rights Reserved English