This semester, I returned to the Sanctuary for Families’ Uncontested Divorce Project (UDP), where I assist survivors of domestic violence in divorcing their abusive spouse. I was inspired by the work I did for them in my 1L year, where, for the first time in my law school career, I felt like my work was relevant and needed. Receiving the news that our client’s divorce had been finalized was a moment of immense gratification and honor, and I’ve been chasing that high ever since. I’m very much looking forward to returning to the project and assisting another client gain legal and financial independence.

Volunteering for Sanctuary for Families has also made me reflect on some bigger issues in our country. In a political and social atmosphere growing increasingly hostile towards women, it’s hard not to feel powerless, discouraged, and defeated. Rights that were once guaranteed now feel uncertain. Women and girls’ lives are actively at risk. It’s easy to wonder what one person can realistically do.

My involvement with a direct advocacy organization like Sanctuary for Families has helped restore a sense of control and agency in the face of the dire realities that many women and girls live under. While I don’t yet have the power to change legislation or influence the direction of our current administration, directly empowering other women through my work reminds me that I can have a positive impact on a woman’s life. This feeling is incredibly invigorating and energizing in our current climate.

There’s also something deeply grounding about contributing to a cause during law school. Many law school classes focus on providing a theoretical, academic overview of legal doctrine, where practical applications of the law aren’t always clear. The law school environment can often be demoralizing, political, and needlessly competitive. Many law school students have a future-oriented perspective, striving to obtain post-graduate roles and opportunities rather than focusing on what they can do in the present. However, it’s imperative as law students to be aware of our power and privilege to make a real difference in the world. Many legal organizations serving underrepresented and vulnerable communities need all the help they can get, relying heavily on competent, empathetic and socially-conscious law students to advance their mission.

Giving back to women’s causes can be a great opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of law school and remind yourself of why you decided to become a lawyer in the first place. Even if your ambitions aren’t in the public interest field, gaining practical experience as a law student can make you a more conscientious, personable, and skilled attorney. Practical experience is highly valued by employers and can give you a competitive edge in the job market.

With the conclusion of football season–which often sees spikes in incidents of violence against women across the country–and as we look ahead to Women’s History Month in March, there’s no better time to support other women. Below are a few organizations doing vital work for diverse communities of women nationwide:

Sanctuary for Families — New York, NY

Focus: Survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and gender-based violence

Provides direct legal services, advocacy, and counseling. Law students often volunteer through partnerships with their law schools on projects like the Uncontested Divorce Project.

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center — Lame Deer, Montana

Focus: Native American women and tribal communities

Works to end violence against Native women through legal reform, research, and training. Opportunities include research and policy support.

Tahirih Justice Center — Washington D.C., with offices in Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, and San Francisco

Focus: Immigrant women and girls fleeing violence

Provides legal services in asylum, trafficking, and family law. Volunteers support legal research, case preparation, and advocacy.

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice — New York and Washington D.C.

Focus: Latina and immigrant women’s health and legal rights

Combines policy advocacy, legal work, and community education.

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum — Washington D.C.

Focus: AAPI women’s economic security and civil rights

Works on workplace protections, immigration, and reproductive justice.

Women’s Community Justice Association — New York, NY

Focus: Formerly incarcerated women and their families, criminal legal reform, reentry support

Provides advocacy, court support, and reentry services for women impacted by the criminal legal system, led by formerly incarcerated women.

Legal Momentum — New York, NY

Focus: Gender equality and workplace rights

The nation’s oldest legal defense fund for women, offering research and advocacy opportunities.

SisterSong — Atlanta, Georgia

Focus: Reproductive justice for women of color, bodily autonomy, policy advocacy

Advocates for bodily autonomy and reproductive rights through policy work, education, and movement building

Equal Rights Advocates — San Francisco, CA

Focus: Pay equity and workplace justice

Combines litigation and direct legal services to advance workplace equality.

Texas Advocacy Project — Austin, TX

Focus: Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking

Provides free legal services to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.

As law students, we have a unique and powerful privilege–access to legal education. Knowing how to navigate the legal system can help another woman secure safety, independence, and dignity–not months or years ahead, but now. In an increasingly demoralizing social and political climate, contributing to women’s causes can give you the agency to maintain a healthy mindset and keep marching ahead.

Su Aray is a first-generation Turkish-American and law student at Cardozo School of Law, where she serves as a Student Fellow at the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences at University College London where she participated in competitive debating, representing UCL at the 2020 World Universities Debating Championship. Born and raised in Turkey, then Germany, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Su identifies as a “third-culture kid,” relating to many different cultures and perspectives.