A woman is abused every nine seconds in the United States, and more than 52,000 calls were made to Georgia domestic-violence crisis lines in 1996, according to state statistics.

The Protective Order Project, a non-profit organization paid for by the University law school’s Civil Clinics program, is working to reduce these numbers.

The project offers free legal assistance to indigent victims of family violence and helps them obtain restraining orders.

Melanie Winskie, a graduating University law student from Savannah and volunteer for the project, said she values the experience she has gained working with victims of domestic violence over the past two years.

"I just really liked the fact it was dealing with victims of domestic violence," Winskie said. "This provided free legal help for people who really needed it."

Learning to interview clients and learning the proper format for legal documents were among the benefits of volunteering for the project, she said.

"It’s a really rewarding experience," Winskie said. "It helps you relate to real problems."

Vanessa Webber, director of the project, said it receives more than 500 calls a year from abuse victims.

"We get calls constantly from all around Northeast Georgia," Webber said. "There is definitely a need."

The program, started in 1994, has been giving students experience in the legal profession since its inception.

"Students take part in every area," said Alexander Scherr, director of the Civil Clinics program. "This is a valuable educational experience."

The program, open to second- and third-year law students, uses 10 to 15 students who are certified as lay advocates – case assistants – and has only one certified attorney on its staff. The law students interview clients over the phone and schedule an appointment for case review, Webber said.

Second-year law students work as case assistants and are authorized by the Georgia Family Violence Act to prepare and obtain restraining orders.

Student volunteers from the project also accompany the victims to a hearing, where a judge decides whether to issue a restraining order.

The order immediately can ban the abuser from the victim’s residence, transfer custody of children and enforce child and spousal support.

"The day we see the victim we can get them temporary protection," Webber said.

The restraining order lasts for 30 days or until the second hearing, where a judge may extend the order for a maximum of six months.

In the second hearing, both the victim and the abuser appear in court and are given an opportunity to be heard.

The second hearing is often difficult for the victim because he or she must explain how the abuse occurred while having their abuser present, Scherr said.

Third-year law students, accompanied by a licensed attorney, represent the victim in the second hearing.

"Third-year students have the opportunity, under Georgia law, to practice law under the supervision of an attorney," Scherr said.

He said the project helps create a more positive image for attorneys.

"Too often people view lawyers as greedy, self-serving pariahs," Scherr said. "This gives students a feel for what it’s like to serve the public interest."

Clarke County Superior Court Judge Steve Jones called the Protective Order Project’s work "fantastic."

He said the work done by the project was valuable since obtaining a protective order is complicated.

"You could be a college graduate and not know how to do it," Jones said.

The project helps stop abuse in the home and prevents abusers or victims from getting killed.

If the violence isn’t stopped, it may escalate or the victim may attempt to retaliate against the abuser.

"It keeps the situation from getting out of hand," Jones said.

Scherr agreed the program is effective and said local courts "have been quite good with prosecuting these crimes."

"We are working with people who couldn’t get an attorney otherwise," Webber said.

"And the office’s location is in a confidential location in Athens for the protection of victims and staff."

She said the majority of their clients are women, but male victims of spousal abuse and children abused by their siblings also make up the program’s clientele.

In cases involving children, Webber said it’s difficult to prove to a judge that abuse actually occurred and to encourage children to come forward with that information.

"There is a fine line," Webber said, "between what is reasonable discipline and what leads to abuse."