Texas Advocacy Project provides FREE legal services to victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

In 1982, a group of young lawyers came together to form Texas Advocacy Project (The Project). The Project began as a hotline, operated out of Austin, Texas, with three volunteer lawyers cramped into a single small office, answering calls and sharing the daily administrative duties. Soon after publicizing its toll-free number, The Project was deluged with calls from women in abusive situations, trying to understand how the legal system could help them escape. Although originally operating as a general legal hotline, one thing quickly became clear: Domestic Violence was the main reason women in Texas were calling for legal help. So The Project set out to develop the specialized legal expertise we would need to provide that help. Over the next ten years, the Project grew and expanded its range of legal services, in addition to the hotline. We knew there was an urgent need across the state, and in the early 1990's, with the help of our collaborative partners, we began to meet that need in a new way. We put together a talented team of well-trained lawyers and started taking on clients. Today, we have nine areas of programming, helping thousands of Texans all over the state at no charge. With specialized knowledge in domestic violence legal issues, and a victim-empowering philosophy, the agency has evolved into a critical player in providing services to battered Texans. As the years progressed we adapted this expertise to include victims of sexual assault and are now able to run five separate hotlines; the Family Law hotline, Sexual Assault Hotline, Family Violence Hotline, Technical Advocacy Hotline and the Teen Justice Hotline.

Now in our 33rd year of service, Texas Advocacy Project is a non profit law firm working directly with victims, shelters, law enforcement agencies, and courts across Texas to deliver effective legal services to Texans in need. Our services are free of charge and provide the type of long-term solutions which break the cycle of violence for thousands of Texans each year. We accept clients without regard to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or county of residence. Further minimizing barriers to legal services, we have English and Spanish-speaking attorneys and utilize a language interpretation service available around the clock, allowing us to give legal advice in over 170 languages. The Project also employs a service for deaf callers. 

Legal help is one of the only services directly related to the national decline in domestic violence. Obtaining a protective order, for example, makes it 80% less likely the victim will be assaulted again. There are other non profit organizations out there providing legal services. But Texas Advocacy Project focuses only on cases involving domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We specialize in helping victims who can't find help from traditional non profit service providers; they either don't qualify because of income requirements or the service providers are out of their reach because of cultural, language or geographic barriers. The Project offers a broad spectrum of legal services through the following programs: Free Legal Lines, Protective Order Packets, Emergency Protective Order Program, Assisted Pro Se Program, Teen Outreach, and Technical Advocacy. We encourage you to click on the links under "Programs and Services" to learn more about each of these programs in further detail. The goal of all Project services is to allow victims to become survivors by putting long-term solutions to work in their lives. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you in an unhealthy dating relationship?

Do I need to be trained to become a volunteer?

Do you have testimonials or comments from former clients?

Does dating violence happen in homosexual relationships?

How can I help a friend in an abusive dating relationship?

How can I help prevent my teen from experiencing dating violence?

How can I request an Emergency Protective Order?

How can I stay safe from an abusive dating partner?

How can I volunteer?

How can my teen stay safe from an abusive dating partner?

How do I make a donation to support Texas Advocacy Project?

How do I talk to my teen about dating violence?

How long does an Emergency Protective Order last?

How often does teen dating violence happen?

If I apply to be a volunteer, will a background check be performed?

Is teen dating violence similar to adult domestic violence?

Is there ever a time when the court says an Emergency Protective Order must be given?

More Signs That Your Teen is a Victim of Dating Violence

What are my teen’s rights at school regarding dating violence?

What are my teen’s rights at school regarding sexual harassment?

What are the facts and statistics about Teen Dating Violence?

What are the signs of dating violence?

What does an Emergency Protective Order prohibit an offender from doing?

What if my teen doesn't want to talk to me?

What is a Dating Violence Protective Order?

What is a Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order?

What is an Emergency Protective Order?

What is dating violence?

What is Teen Dating Violence?

What is the difference in dating violence for boys and girls?

What is the process for becoming a Referral Attorney?

What services can I expect when I call the Legal Lines?

When and where does the abuse happen?

Where can I find out more information about Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week?

Where else can I get help?

Where else can I learn about Teen Dating Violence?

Who can I call about Teen Dating Violence?

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