MISSION:
The Amara Legal Center provides free trauma-informed legal representation, access to support services, and advocacy for a more equitable legal system for individuals impacted by sex trafficking or involved in sex work in the DC-metro area.

VISION:
We envision a society where our clients are free from stigma, violence, oppression, exploitation, and criminalization.

Amara works to ensure our clients are able to live self-determined lives. Our greatest strength is our commitment to a client-centered approach, allowing us to offer excellent legal representation that is culturally humble and trauma-informed.

Racism underpins the systemic inequality our clients face. Our clients come from marginalized communities yet are overrepresented among victim and offender populations.

We are determined to shape policy that creates a more equitable justice system in which poverty is not criminalized and victims’ services are readily accessible.

Amara’s service model takes into account a client’s well-being, not just legal outcomes. Our attorneys are trained in providing trauma-informed legal services and are devoted to providing comprehensive support, making sure that our clients know they are not navigating their cases alone.

Amara aims to reduce harm to our clients and their communities by working to:

Amara’s client-centered approach uplifts the voices of both sex workers and trafficking survivors to guide us in our decisions.

We are proud of our collaborative efforts and have developed valuable partnerships with a diverse range of organizations.

Amara’s staff is culturally humble and committed to creating a safe environment for our diverse client population.

Amara’s client-centered approach uplifts the voices of both sex workers and trafficking survivors to guide us in our decisions.

We are proud of our collaborative efforts and have developed valuable partnerships with a diverse range of organizations.

The Amara Legal Center was founded in September 2013 by a group of active D.C. citizens. This group included lawyers, social workers, business leaders, and community organizers. The group formed a board of directors, a group of volunteers, and a base of financial supporters.

Amara began its work by advocating for policy changes that impact survivors of sex trafficking and raising awareness on the issue of domestic sex trafficking in the D.C. metro area. In the spring of 2014, Amara began to take clients for a variety of legal services. Amara now serves clients in D.C., Maryland, Virginia and provides referrals to partner organizations throughout the U.S.