About Us
Our Mission: Partners empowers low-income victims and survivors of domestic violence to build safe and secure futures for themselves and their children by providing equal access to justice. We offer quality legal assistance in domestic violence and family law matters.
Partners is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to making a difference in the lives of domestic violence and sexual violence victims through legal representation, advice and counseling sessions, and by advocating for procedural and legislative change to benefit victims.
Partners began in 2002 when two colleagues, Jane M. Hanson and Grace Lozito, recognized there was a lack of legal services available to domestic violence victims. Now, nearly two decades later, over 4,000 victims of domestic violence have benefited from Partners’ services.
What We Do
Partners is here to support and guide domestic and sexual violence victims through the legal system and help them establish safety and stability for themselves and their children.
Domestic and/or sexual violence victim represented by an attorney is 10 times more likely to get a protective order than a victim without an attorney.*
Fighting for Justice
Partners offers free legal help to low-income victims. We help domestic violence victims secure restraining orders and sexual violence victims secure protective orders. We also assist with child and spousal support, visitation and custody, as well as post-judgment relief matters. Our legal assistance includes extensive advice and counsel and assistance with preparation of court papers for self-represented victims or representation by a pro bono attorney or by a Partners staff attorney.
Advocating for Victims
At Partners, we work to reduce the barriers victims face in securing court-ordered protection. We recognize that it is especially difficult for self-represented victims who may have limited experience with the procedural or substantive law that applies to domestic and sexual violence court proceedings. Guided by the unique perspective of our attorneys and client advocates who directly represent domestic and sexual violence victims in court, we fight to advance policy and procedural changes that improve access to the courts for everyone regardless of race, gender or financial circumstances.
Who We Serve
Our clients are low-income victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Counties We Serve
We serve clients with hearings in Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, and Union County Courts.
Partners for Equity
Partners is committed to an inclusive culture that fully represents all backgrounds and viewpoints. We strive to ensure every person who engages with Partners feels respected, valued, and experiences a true sense of belonging.
Partners is committed to centering its work in equity to achieve justice and safety for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, especially those from historically excluded communities. We support survivors in their pursuit of justice. We aim to eliminate systemic racism, bias, and structural inequities in any form. We believe our highest purpose is creating equity and that change starts with us.
