Our SAFE unit consists of staff attorneys, legal advocates and program specialists who care and fight for our clients who would otherwise be forced to navigate the complicated and adversarial nature of the court process alone. We provide family law services such as divorce, which also can encompass child custody, child support, spousal support, division of property and debts to domestic violence survivors and community members. In addition to divorce, our SAFE unit also does civil harassment and elder abuse restraining orders. Often, clients don’t seek the help they need because of the stigma regarding domestic violence and divorce. For the clients that we serve, there is often an added layer of cultural and linguistic difficulty in seeking help. In most Asian languages, there isn’t a direct translation for abuse or domestic violence. Survivors need to grapple with naming their experience and understanding what it means. Even after acknowledging or learning that they have been abused, they must also have courage to recognize they are in a cycle of abuse and want to get out of it. In addition to the cultural and language challenges, sometimes the process itself can be so intimidating that it pushes survivors into secondary trauma and back into the cycle of abuse. It is important for our clients to know and feel that they are not alone, so that they are not derailed in pursuit of the healing and justice they deserve. With our in-language helplines, our clients can speak to someone in their native language. This is the first step in helping our clients to feel safe, seek the assistance they need, and better their situation. Community members can call our helplines for assistance. CBOs, such as South Asian Helpline and Referral Agenda (SAHARA), Korean American Family Services (KFAM), and Center for Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) also refer their clients to us for legal services while they provide the social services. Recently, courts have been referring cases to AJSOCAL because we are able to provide culturally-informed, in-language services. In addition to working with CBOs, we also work with pro bono partners through our Pro Bono Advisory Council (PBAC) and volunteers. Pro bono partners gain trial experience and expand their practice, we are able to serve more clients, and our clients get the help they need. Through PBAC, we have developed long-standing relationships with lawyers and their law firms. Long-time supporter and PBAC Co-Chair, Steve Yoda has been a resource for our organization with his extensive knowledge of family law. Katrina Espina said “He’s a big deal. I’m excited to work with him and to hear that he was named partner for his firm. There are not a lot of Asian American family law lawyers and name partners too.” Although this work can be relentless, it is also rewarding. We get to represent the best people going through their very worst. We help them feel seen, regain their voice, and their power.