Legal Services

JusticeMatters provides trauma-informed legal services that protect children and help survivors of human trafficking, and other traumas, rebuild their lives.

Our Approach

We believe that how we provide legal assistance – not just the legal services themselves – holds potential to promote restoration. Since 2011 we have been at the forefront of efforts to integrate principles of trauma-informed care in the legal profession – safety, trustworthiness, transparency, collaboration, empowerment, and choice. This commitment shapes every aspect of our work, from initial communication with a potential client through case close.

Our Services

We offer a holistic assessment of each client’s needs through a biopsychosocial-spiritual screening tool. This tool gives our clients the opportunity to request referrals for support from other service providers should they desire legal or non-legal services outside our scope, enhancing the effectiveness of the legal services we provide.

Our legal team equips our clients to access justice, overcoming legal barriers to freedom and flourishing. We assess and address each client’s range of legal needs and provide services in the following focus areas:

  • Family Law, specializing in child custody for kinship caregivers.
  • Humanitarian Immigration Law and Removal Defense, including Asylum/Withholding of Removal, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), T Visas, U Visas, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitions.
  • Victims’ Rights Representation

We offer referrals for legal assistance outside our scope of services, such as:

  • Accessing benefits
  • Accessing education
  • Addressing the consequences of a criminal record
  • Obtaining civil remedies
  • Obtaining/maintaining housing

We actively collaborate with numerous public and private agencies that assist our clients with non-legal needs, from emergency shelter and safety planning to stable housing, behavioral health services, and employment. Together, we support our clients in pursuing their personal goals for the future.

Our overarching goal is to provide preventive and restorative legal services that strengthen protective factors and reduce our clients’ vulnerability to future exploitation.

Request a Legal Consultation

Notice of Nondiscrimination Rights and Protections to Beneficiaries

JusticeMatters operates its program, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. No person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any of our programs.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write Office of Civil Rights, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (OCR), 810 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531 or call 202-307-0690 (Voice) or 202-307-2027 (TDD/TTY). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may also contact OCR through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (TTY), 877-877-8982 (Speech) or 800-845-6136 (Spanish).

Complaints alleging discrimination can also be filed with the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission by writing to the NC Governor’s Crime Commission 1201 Front Street Raleigh NC 27609, calling 919-733-4564, and/or submitting the form located at: https://www.ncdps.gov/documents/files/102a-discrimination-complaint-form.