Services

Individual Support

We support women who are navigating the family law process through the trauma of abuse. Abuse does not end at separation and the family law process adds a new element of abuse and fear. We hope to help women become more effective in this process by;

Providing her with an opportunity to discuss her situation, needs and goals;
Providing her with an overview of the family law process;
Helping her to set realistic goals;
Helping her to set priorities;
Helping her to prepare for lawyers appointments and court appointments;
Providing accompaniment to lawyer appointments and court appointments within the Durham Region and to provide an opportunity to debrief afterwards;
Providing information about safety planning and community referrals;
Providing information and support with regard to trauma and abuse recovery.

Pro Bono Summary Advice Clinic

Pro Bono Summary Advice Clinic Pilot Project funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario and The Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Pro Bono Summary Advice Clinic provides Luke’s Place clients, who are un represented and cannot afford a lawyer, with the opportunity to receive summary advice from a Family Law Lawyer with the support and accompaniment of her Legal Support Worker.

While the clinic does not provide legal representation, women can receive summary advice, assistance with legal documentation and court preparation.

Summary advice is a professional opinion, based on the facts of a specific legal situation. Lawyers at the clinic can also provide procedural information, such as when and how to serve documents, and understanding the rules governing family law.

Family Law Networking Group

Receive information and share experiences with other women in a facilitated peer support group.

Resource Library

Extensive print and video resources.
Resource material on family law, parenting after separation, effects of abuse on children resources.
Resources available for loan to women, children and community professionals supporting abused women.

Community Education

Luke’s Place offers training with regard to the unique issues woman abuse survivors face through the family law process. This training is based on "After She Leaves: A Resource Manual for Staff and Volunteers Supporting Woman Abuse Survivors Through the Family Law Process." Each training is individualized to meet the needs of participants and is updated regularly.

Luke’s Place also offers training to accompany the Emergency Motions Toolkit.

Luke's Place has proved training and education at provincial and international conferences, as well as to, shelter workers, transitional support workers, probation and parole, legal aid workers, supervised access centres, Victim Witness Assistance Program, Victim Services and to many volunteers.