The Jane Doe Legal Network assists women who have experienced violence to meet their legal needs. We are operated by Pivot Legal Society, a legal advocacy organization located in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Jane Doe serves women and girls whose lives have been impacted by violence and/or abuse. We understand that violence against women can take many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, financial and spiritual. We also understand that violence can happen in many different settings, including intimate relationships, within an extended family, as a child, in the workplace, by a person who holds a position of authority over you, like a landlord, a police officer, a teacher, or an employer. At Jane Doe, we also provide legal advice to women who have fled their home country because of violence and abuse, where they could not get effective protection from their government.

Why are we called Jane Doe?

The name Jane Doe is used in legal proceedings as a placeholder name to represent an anonymous or unknown woman. We have adopted this name to highlight three issues. First, violence against women happens in all types of relationships, in all cultural and socio-economic groups, and at all ages. Second, violence against women is a societal problem rather than a personal issue. Third, the name signifies our commitment to ensuring that women who have experienced violence have access to confidential legal support.