Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic

August 2025 - On August 10, 2025 the Buffalo News published a piece submitted by Professor Judith Olin, director of the Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic in the Another Voice column. The piece titled "Don't blame bail reform for judicial mistakes" discusses the recent domestic violence homicide committed by Ricky Crouch, a convicted murderer.  Some have argued the homicide was a result of the NYS bail reform law.   Olin instead proposes that the judicial system should be held accountable.   Olin points out the lack of mandated training in domestic violence for all judges who hear such cases and states that "All judges who hear domestic violence-related cases must receive regular annual training in domestic violence and treat these cases with the seriousness they deserve." 

Article: "Don't blame bail reform for judicial mistakes"

November 2024 & April 2025 - On November 13, 2024, and April 30, 2025, the University at Buffalo School of Law Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic in partnership with Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. for an event that will inform attendees on how to pursue an uncontested divorce on their own.

Included in the event:

• Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. will give a presentation regarding uncontested divorce in New York State and how to pursue an uncontested divorce on your own. 
• Staff Attorneys and Student Attorneys from the Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic will provide information and support to attendees. 
• Forms required for an uncontested divorce will be provided. Support for completion of forms will be available to attendees during the event.

These events were held at the Buffalo Downtown Central Library.

November 2024 - Clinical Professor and Director of the Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic, Judith Olin, and Student Attorney Jahna Mott, discuss how the 2024 Domestic Violence Summit became a critical platform for bringing together community members, experts, and service providers to help strengthen the network of support for survivors on the Baldy Center Podcast.

October 2024 - The Domestic Violence Summit occured at Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 8am to 4:30pm in the Campbell Student Union. It featured Panel Discussions and Domestic Violence Experiential Training. 

This event was sponsored by Child & Family Services, Buffalo State University Social Work Department, and the University at Buffalo School of Law Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic.

Article: A unified front on domestic violence

Baldy Center Podcast: Episode 44: Judith Olin and Jahna Mott '25, discuss the outcomes of the 2024 Domestic Violence Summit

August 2024 - Testimony on the Lack of Affordable Visitation Options at Interagency Gender-Based Violence Policy Listening Session. 

February 2024 - Student Attorneys Elif Ersan, Alexis Ackerson and Tyler Kiblin give a presentation on teen dating violence to high school students at the Buffalo Seminary.

May 2023 - Student attorneys with Assemblymember Karen McMahon are introduced on the legislative floor at the annual Domestic Violence Day of Action in Albany.

April 2023 - Student Attorney Julia Merante explains her research on Erin’s Law at the annual UB Celebration of Student Excellence awards poster presentations. Former clinic student attorney Julia Merante’s memo on the history of mandatory teen dating violence prevention legislation provides a sophisticated analysis of Erin’s Law, a child sexual abuse prevention statute mandating education for pupils in K-8 grades, and how New York’s law falls short compared to other states.  [Download Erin's Law Memo]

February 2023 - Student Attorneys Lindsey Pastuszynski, Mykala Pierce and Shelby Majda give a presentation on teen dating violence at the annual Healthy Relationships Summit organized by the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women.

May 2022 - Clinical faculty and student attorneys met with a delegation of officials from Kazakhstan to discuss the work of the FVWRC, and system response to family violence. 

April 2022 - The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic (FVWRC) celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 1, 2022 with a full day conference, entitled “Pearls of Wisdom:  30 Years of UB Law Clinics Confronting Family Violence in Western New York and Beyond.“ Keynote speaker Professor Joan Meier spoke about her groundbreaking study on child custody outcomes in cases involving parental alienation and abuse allegations.  Local distinguished judges, attorneys, academics and victim advocates spoke in three panels including working with underrepresented populations who are survivors of family violence.   Student attorneys created poster presentations on Clinic projects, and shared their expertise with conference attendees.