Legal Advocacy

Manavi’s Legal Advocacy Program

Founded in 1997, Manavi’s legal advocacy program emerged as a result of the unmet needs of South Asian survivors seeking legal services. Today, Manavi has its own in-house attorney and a legal advocate to provide direct legal services and representation to survivors. Manavi provides culturally specific legal services to South Asian survivors of gender-based violence in New Jersey.

Manavi’s Legal Advocacy includes the following services:

Legal Services and Representation

Manavi has a full-time in-house counsel who provides legal services and representation to survivors for legal cases in New Jersey family courts. South Asian survivors face unique barriers in seeking legal services. Manavi’s in-house counsel and legal advocate can provide support for survivors on cases involving restraining orders, divorce, meditation, annulments, child custody, child support, child visitation rights, and other issues arising out of domestic violence or any form of gender-based violence.

Legal Clinics and Referrals

Manavi provides legal clinics for survivors to have an initial free consultation with an attorney on a range of immigration legal issues including, but not limited to, derivative or sponsored visa, VAWA Self Petition, U and T visa, EAD, transnational abandonment, and gender-based asylum. Manavi’s advocates also provide support with interpretation and translation services to deliver legal information in South Asian languages for survivors. In addition, Manavi works in collaboration with Legal Services in New Jersey and the tristate area to provide survivors with legal support through referrals.

Court Accompaniment Services

Many South Asian survivors have a language barrier and therefore have difficulty in navigating the legal system and the court proceedings. Our advocates are able to accompany survivors to court to offer support and resources during the legal process.

If you have any additional questions about Manavi’s legal advocacy program, or any of the other services we offer, please call us at our 24/7 hotline: 1-(732)-435-1414.

Additional Legal Aid Services in NJ

From New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Criminal Process: If you or someone you know has questions about the criminal charges or the process, please feel free to contact your local Victim Witness Advocate at the Prosecutor’s Office. For a listing by county, please click here: County Prosecutor’s Offices Victim Witness Advocates
Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO): If you have filed a TRO or criminal charges against your harm doer, you may be eligible for benefits through the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. To learn more about eligibility and benefits, please click here: https://www.njoag.gov/vcco/vcco-victims/
Address Confidentiality Program (ACP): It is a “statewide program administered by the Division on Women that provides survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and reproductive health patients and providers with a legal substitute address for interacting with all state and local government agencies, in addition to a confidential mail forwarding service.” Please find more information here: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/women/acp/

Other Services