Ascend Justice
Ascend Justice is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization providing free, holistic civil legal representation across Orders of Protection, family law, immigration, DCFS defense, economic justice, and incarcerated survivor practice areas to survivors of gender-based violence and families in the child welfare system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ascend Justice does
Ascend Justice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that delivers free, holistic civil legal representation to survivors of gender-based violence and families involved in the child welfare system. Founded in 1982 as a program of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, incorporated in 1989 as Pro Bono Advocates, rebranded as the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic in 2005, and merged with the Family Defense Center in 2019 to form the current Ascend Justice entity, the organization operates across six core practice areas: Orders of Protection (with an embedded walk-in clinic inside the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 W Harrison St), Family Law and Divorce, DOJ-recognized Immigration Services, Family Defense/DCFS cases, Economic Justice, and the Incarcerated Survivors Program launched in March 2021 in partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections and Cook County Jail. A second office at 177 N State St hosts the longer-term representation practices. Client Support Coordinators provide cross-practice emotional and logistical support, and services are delivered bilingually in English and Spanish via walk-in, phone hotline, and online intake.
The organization's go-to-market is community- and event-led rather than commercial: clients are acquired through courthouse walk-ins, the 312-239-0413 remote OP hotline, the 312-971-5932 general intake line, an online intake form, and a referral network that includes the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence shelters (Anew, WINGS, Apna Ghar, Sarah's Inn, SHALVA), and correctional institutions. Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible donations, individual giving programs (Sustainer Circle monthly gifts, Leadership Circle annual gifts of $1,000+, IRA qualified charitable distributions, tribute gifts), corporate and foundation grants, matching gift programs, and event revenue from the Celebration of Courage gala and Trivia Night. Major Am Law firms (Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden, McDermott Will & Emery, Jones Day, Dentons, Baker McKenzie, Seyfarth Shaw, Winston & Strawn) supply recurring pro bono attorney capacity and event sponsorship. Technology footprint is limited to case management, hotline operations, and remote hearing facilitation; no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or commercial integrations are offered. Governance sits with a Board of Directors and a Young Professionals Board, with Margaret Duval serving as Executive Director since 2012 and a four-person Managing Director team leading the practice divisions.
Ascend Justice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascend Justice
- Legal name
- Ascend Justice
- Website
- https://ascendjustice.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ascend Justice is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization providing free, holistic civil legal representation across Orders of Protection, family law, immigration, DCFS defense, economic justice, and incarcerated survivor practice areas to survivors of gender-based violence and families in the child welfare system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascend Justice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Aid Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)
Keywords
Where Ascend Justice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ascend Justice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly Sustainer Circle membership and Leadership Circle annual gifts of $1,000+. Donations are tax-deductible.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Direct financial support, grants, and event sponsorships from corporations and foundations. Includes matching gift programs from employers.
- Event Revenue: Ticket sales, raffle tickets, and underwriter donations at the Celebration of Courage and Trivia Night events.
- Planned Giving: IRA gifts for supporters 70½ and older through qualified charitable distributions, and commemorative/tribute gifts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free Legal Services - All Programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Ascend Justice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascend Justice provides free, holistic legal services to survivors of gender-based violence and families impacted by the child welfare system across multiple practice areas including Orders of Protection, family law (divorce, custody, visitation, child support), DOJ-recognized immigration services (U Visa, VAWA, asylum), family defense/DCFS cases, economic justice (employment, housing, consumer debt), and services for incarcerated survivors. The organization operates an emergency walk-in clinic inside the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse and a State Street office for longer-term representation, with Client Support Coordinators providing cross-cutting emotional and logistical support.
Product overview
Ascend Justice offers a holistic suite of integrated legal services for survivors of gender-based violence and families impacted by the child welfare system. The organization operates as a unified legal services practice comprising the Order of Protection Clinic (emergency walk-in services at the Domestic Violence Courthouse), Family Law and Divorce services, Immigration Services (DOJ-recognized provider), Family Defense/DCFS case representation, Economic Justice services, and the Incarcerated Survivors Program. Client Support Coordinators provide cross-cutting emotional and logistical support across all practice areas. The advocacy division focuses on systemic reform and policy change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Order of Protection Clinic Emergency legal services for survivors of gender-based violence seeking Orders of Protection or Civil No Contact Orders. Located inside the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse, it offers walk-in services on a first-come, first-served basis Monday-Friday starting 8:30 AM, plus remote hotline and remote hearing facilitation. Volunteer attorneys work with staff attorneys to provide brief services, legal advice, and representation at the emergency stage of litigation.
- Immigration Services Department of Justice-recognized immigration legal services for survivors of gender-based violence, including U Visa, VAWA self-petition, Battered Spouse Waiver, asylum, and non-detained removal defense. Documents outcomes including U-Visa approvals with fee waivers.
- Divorce and Family Law Services Free legal representation in Dissolution of Marriage cases, child custody arrangements, parenting time, visitation, and child support for survivors of gender-based violence.
- Family Defense / DCFS Cases Legal services for families under DCFS investigation, including ongoing investigations, safety plans, intact services, administrative expungement appeals of indicated findings, and civil rights cases. Includes federal civil rights and class action litigation that has reformed Illinois DCFS rules, policies, and practices.
- Economic Justice Services Free legal assistance with employment law, housing law, consumer debt issues, and crime victims' compensation applications for survivors of gender-based violence.
- Incarcerated Survivors Program Civil legal services for survivors of gender-based violence who are currently or formerly incarcerated in Illinois Department of Corrections or Cook County Jail facilities, including parenting time/visitation, divorce, guardianship, child welfare cases, and orders of protection assistance.
- Client Support Coordination Emotional support and logistics assistance provided by Client Support Coordinators to help individuals and families through challenging legal processes, including safety planning and connections to community resources.
- Advocacy & System Reform Coalition building and policy advocacy to reform how survivors of gender-based violence and their families are impacted by the child welfare system and broader legal systems, including federal civil rights and class action litigation.
Companies that use Ascend Justice
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ascend Justice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ascend Justice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Illinois Department of CorrectionscoreCollaborative partnership to provide civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence incarcerated in Illinois state correctional facilities. Ascend Justice attorneys work within the correctional system to address legal needs of incarcerated survivors.
- Cook County JailcorePartnership to provide civil legal services to survivors of gender-based violence held in Cook County Jail. Attorneys facilitate access to legal remedies for incarcerated survivors.
- Kirkland & Ellis LLPflagshipMajor pro bono partner providing volunteer attorneys for case representation. Kirkland & Ellis attorneys assist with Order of Protection, family defense, and other legal matters. Firm sponsors Ascend Justice events and provides significant volunteer hours.
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPflagshipPro bono partner hosting annual Trivia Night event at their office. Attorneys volunteer for case representation and provide financial support through event sponsorship.
- McDermott Will & Emery LLPcorePro bono partner providing legal representation for clients including family defense matters. Successfully represented Selena in DCFS appeal case.
- Jones DaycorePro bono partner with attorneys engaged in representing Ascend Justice clients. Firm provides financial sponsorships for events.
- Ackerman LLPcorePro bono partner collaborating on DCFS cases including Kristen's case to reverse custody decisions.
- DentonscoreMajor event sponsor for Celebration of Courage gala. Pro bono attorneys support client representation.
- Baker McKenziecoreEvent sponsor for Ascend Justice fundraising events. Pro bono legal support.
- Seyfarth Shaw LLPcoreEvent sponsor for Celebration of Courage and Trivia Night events.
- Winston & StrawncorePro bono partner where Managing Director Sara Gilloon previously practiced general litigation including political asylum case.
- Illinois Domestic Violence HotlinecoreReferral partner for survivors seeking help; hotline at 1-877-863-6338 connects callers to Ascend Justice services.
- Anew: Building Beyond Violence and AbuseminorPartner domestic violence shelter; mutual referrals for survivors needing legal services.
- WINGSminorPartner shelter organization; referrals for legal services.
- Apna GharminorDomestic violence services organization; referral partner.
- Sarah's InnminorDomestic violence services organization; referral partner.
- SHALVAminorDomestic violence organization; referral partner for legal services.
- Loyola University Chicago School of LawcoreAcademic partner where Managing Director Sara Block serves as Academic Director for Child and Family Law Programs. Law students serve as interns in various divisions.
- DePaul University College of LawcoreAcademic partner where Angelica Gonzalez Lopez previously served as adjunct professor. Hosts immigration and detained clinics for law students.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ascend Justice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice: Chicago-based nonprofit using legal and policy advocacy to advance equity for vulnerable populations; comparable in mission-driven, pro-bono-supported legal services model and system reform focus.
- Legal Aid Chicago: Chicago's largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents; directly comparable in providing free legal aid to low-income individuals in family law, domestic violence, immigration, and housing matters across Cook County.
- Apna Ghar: Chicago-based organization providing domestic violence services to immigrant and refugee communities; overlapping client base with Ascend Justice's immigration practice and direct referral relationship.
- Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse: Chicago-area domestic violence shelter and service provider with mutual referrals to Ascend Justice; operates in overlapping geography serving the same client population with complementary non-legal services.
- Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Project (DV LEAP): National nonprofit providing direct legal services and impact litigation for domestic violence survivors; comparable in serving DV survivors with pro bono attorneys and federal class action reform work.
- Sarah's Inn: Oak Park/Chicago-area DV service organization; functions as a referral partner to Ascend Justice and serves overlapping survivor populations in suburban Cook County with advocacy and shelter services.
- WINGS Program: Chicago-area domestic violence services organization providing shelter, counseling, and referrals; comparable in serving DV survivors in the same metro region and referring clients for legal services.
- Sanctuary for Families: New York-based nonprofit providing comprehensive legal and social services to survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related gender-based abuse; closest functional analog outside Chicago with similar multi-practice legal model.
Broad incumbents
- Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Statewide coalition coordinating DV service providers across Illinois including legal services; broader umbrella organization providing training, policy advocacy, and funding that supports member agencies serving survivors.
Regional players
- Connections for Abused Women and Their Children (CAWC): Chicago-area DV shelter and service provider; comparable in serving DV survivors in the same metro with shelter, counseling, and advocacy services that complement legal representation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ascend Justice social profiles
Digital presenceAscend Justice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascend Justice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Ascend Justice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascend Justice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ascend Justice
What does Ascend Justice do?
Ascend Justice provides free, holistic legal services to survivors of gender-based violence and families impacted by the child welfare system across multiple practice areas including Orders of Protection, family law (divorce, custody, visitation, child support), DOJ-recognized immigration services (U Visa, VAWA, asylum), family defense/DCFS cases, economic justice (employment, housing, consumer debt), and services for incarcerated survivors. The organization operates an emergency walk-in clinic inside the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse and a State Street office for longer-term representation, with Client Support Coordinators providing cross-cutting emotional and logistical support.
Is Ascend Justice a public or private company?
Ascend Justice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ascend Justice founded?
Ascend Justice was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ascend Justice based?
Ascend Justice is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ascend Justice make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants, event Revenue and planned Giving.
Who are Ascend Justice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Legal Aid Chicago, Apna Ghar, Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Project (DV LEAP), Sarah's Inn, WINGS Program and Sanctuary for Families. Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is listed as a broad incumbent. Connections for Abused Women and Their Children (CAWC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Ascend Justice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascend Justice.
What industry is Ascend Justice in?
Ascend Justice's product category is Legal Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.