Program Description: The North County Restraining Order Clinic (NCROC), operated by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP), provides emergency legal assistance to victims of abuse seeking restraining orders. This grant aimed to expand NCROC’s capacity by hiring a staff attorney and a bi-lingual administrative assistant to provide additional support in the clinic. In addition, they would also be using the funds to enhancing volunteer recruitment and training.

Results/Challenges: This grant allowed the SDVLP to hire a “floater” attorney to provide the required additional support at NCROC, as well as update the NCROC training manual to be used by new volunteer attorneys interested in helping victims of abuse at the clinic. With these improvements, SDVLP was able to share several notable accomplishments such as:

• Increased Client Services:The clinic served 2,273 clients in 2024 (93 more)
• Volunteer Growth:Volunteer attorney hours increased by 155 hours last year.
• Client Satisfaction:Clients were overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing staff professionalism, clarity, and compassion.
• Court Collaboration: Continued strong partnership with the San Diego Superior Court ensured effective coordination of services and space for the clinic. Regular stakeholder meetings & focus groups help to continuously refine clinic operations.

Future Sustainability: SDVLP has diverse funding streams, and its program is resilient. Innovations such as remote volunteering, launching an e-filing instructional webinar, and  cross-training family law attorneys to support clinic operations ensure the continuity of services.