Civil Legal Assistance for Victims of Crime (CLAVC)

Civic Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (CLAVC) is a statewide initiative designed to help victims of crime who face civil legal needs resulting from their victimization. The Children’s Law Center is the only organization in Massachusetts with a CLAVC team solely dedicated to assisting child-age victims and survivors.

Our CLAVC team provides representation, counsel, and advice in the areas of education, immigration, and in actions seeking protection orders and limited family law matters (excluding divorce and related custody proceedings) such as guardianships of minors and incapacitated persons over the age of 18.

The CLAVC team also provides trainings to community providers and agencies working with indigent youth in the Commonwealth.

To be eligible for help from the Children’s Law Center CLAVC Team, a child must

be under the age of 22 (with limited exceptions);
be a victim or survivor of crime;
- The crime does not have to:
  - have been reported to law enforcement
  - have been prosecuted, or
  - have occurred in the United States
- The definition of crime for this program includes but is not limited to domestic violence, bullying, harassment, and some instances of community violence.
have a civil (non-criminal) legal problem that is a result of that crime; and
live in Massachusetts.

Clients served by the CLAVC program are not subject to CLCM’s income eligibility limits.