Business Details
26 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Family Law Support for Women & Children
Founded in 2000, Luke's Place is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety and experience of women and their children navigating the family law system after fleeing abusive relationships. As Canada's only stand-alone family law support center for abused women, we provide direct legal and emotional support to hundreds of Durham Region residents annually while sharing expertise through training, research, and advocacy. Our services include free legal clinics, safety planning, court accompaniment, and resource materials, all delivered by specialized staff and trained professionals.Recognized with multiple provincial awards, including the Attorney General's Victim Services Award of Distinction, we combine frontline service delivery with systemic advocacy to address gender-based violence. Our team collaborates with academics, legal professionals, and policymakers to reform family law practices and ensure women's voices shape justice system improvements. With over two decades of experience, we maintain strict confidentiality and prioritize trauma-informed approaches across all programs.
Services
Legal Clinic
Advocacy Services
Training Programs
Resource Room
Legal Information Sessions
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- Specialized in family law support for abused women since 2000
- Award-winning trauma-informed service delivery model
- Free legal clinics staffed by experienced family law attorneys
- Proven advocacy record influencing provincial and national policy
- Comprehensive safety planning integrated with legal services
Associations and certifications
- Attorney General's Victim Services Award of Distinction
- Law Foundation of Ontario's Guthrie Award
- Law Society of Ontario's Laura Legge Award
What people say
Lifesaving support
Compassionate staff
Expert legal guidance
Trauma-informed care
Accessible resources
Services
Legal Clinic
Our Legal Clinic connects women to free family law attorneys for summary legal advice through video conferencing or telephone consultations. Lawyers provide guidance on parenting arrangements, child support, restraining orders, and court procedures while ensuring trauma-informed support. The service includes document preparation assistance and court process navigation for women across Ontario.
Advocacy Services
We advocate for policy reforms at local, provincial, and national levels to improve family law responses to intimate partner violence. Our advocacy includes parliamentary committee submissions, law reform coalitions, and collaboration with justice stakeholders to implement systemic changes that prioritize women's safety and children's well-being in legal proceedings.
Training Programs
We deliver accredited training programs for legal professionals and service providers on handling family law cases involving intimate partner violence. Our curriculum covers trauma-informed practices, safety assessment techniques, and legal strategies to protect survivors throughout the judicial process, with both in-person and online delivery options.
Resource Room
The Family Law Resource Room provides a secure workspace with computers, legal research materials, and specialized software for women preparing court documents. Staff assist with form completion, evidence organization, and virtual court attendance while offering access to comprehensive guides on family law procedures and safety planning.
Legal Information Sessions
We offer virtual workshops covering family law fundamentals, including parenting arrangements, financial statements, and court preparation. These sessions combine legal education from practicing attorneys with practical safety planning guidance, providing participants with workbooks and tools to navigate the legal system independently.
People
Donna Babbs
President & Secretary
Family law lawyer with two decades of volunteer service at Luke's Place. Founding member of the Legal Advisory Group and co-creator of initial funding proposals. Provides pro bono legal expertise and strategic guidance for organizational development.
Nada Johnson
Director
Social worker and nonprofit governance expert specializing in violence against women services. Brings frontline experience supporting abused women to board-level decision-making, focusing on safety protocols and systemic advocacy strategies that align with survivor needs.
Lais Gomes
Director
Legal researcher with international experience in gender-based violence policy. Contributes global perspective to legislative reforms, including Criminal Code amendments addressing femicide. Combines academic expertise with lived experience in advancing women's rights through legal system changes.
Questions
What services does Luke's Place offer for women dealing with family law issues?
We provide free legal clinics, court accompaniment, safety planning, resource materials, and virtual workshops to help women navigate family law processes after experiencing abuse.
Are services available outside Durham Region?
Yes, our Legal Clinic serves women across Ontario through virtual appointments, and our online resources are accessible nationwide for family law guidance.
How can I access emergency legal support?
Durham Region residents with emergency court orders can contact our office directly for immediate assistance with return court date preparations and limited legal representation.
Do you offer language interpretation services?
Yes, we provide free language interpretation to ensure accessibility for all women seeking our family law support services.
How does Luke's Place contribute to systemic change?
We advocate for law and policy reforms through parliamentary submissions, coalition building, and collaboration with justice stakeholders to improve responses to intimate partner violence in family courts.
