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
- Humanitarian Immigration Law
- Victim-Witness Advocacy
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.
Pro Se Center
JusticeMatters offers a Pro Se Center in the Durham County Courthouse to serve individuals with issues related to child custody, increasing access to legal services and alleviating burdens on court personnel. Through the Center, our family law team provides limited legal representation in the form of one-time consultations to self-represented (“pro se”) individuals. The Pro Se Center was launched in 2017 through a grant from the NC Bar Association Foundation and is sustained by funding from the NC Governor’s Crime Commission and individual donors.
Location and hours: The Pro Se Center operates in the Family Court Suite at the Durham County Courthouse from 9:30am-1:30pm on Tuesdays, with some exceptions.Consultations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Consulado General de México Legal Clinic
JusticeMatters offers a Family Law Clinic in partnership with the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh to serve Mexican citizens who have survived crime in the United States and face legal issues impacting the safety and wellbeing of their children. Through the Center, our family law team provides limited legal representation in the form of one-time consultations. The Clinic was launched in 2018 and is sustained by funding from the NC Governor’s Crime Commission and individual donors.
Location and hours: Please contact the Consulado General de México en Raleigh to obtain current information. Consultations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
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/