Lisa S. Vara

Lisa S. Vara serves as Lecturer in Law and Adjunct Faculty at Columbia Law School, Columbia University, while directing the Matrimonial and Economic Justice Project at Sanctuary for Families' Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services since 2018.

Education:

• J.D., University of Michigan Law School (Editor, Michigan Journal of Race and Law; Member, Latino Law Students Association)
• B.A. in International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests: Vara specializes in Family Law with deep expertise in Domestic Violence Law and International Family Law. Her work addresses complex divorce proceedings, post-judgment enforcement, and Family Court litigation for gender violence survivors, including transnational custody cases. She advocates for equitable asset distribution, child/spousal support, public benefits access, and protective orders while developing enforcement mechanisms for financial awards. Her practice bridges housing law, immigration considerations, and public benefits systems to ensure survivors' immediate safety and long-term economic stability.

Scientific Awards:

• Rising Star recognition by New York Law Journal (2017)
• Pro Bono Excellence Award from LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (2019)

Advising and Professional Leadership: Vara trains and supervises pro bono attorney teams handling complex matrimonial cases, creating successful outcomes through strategic litigation and policy advocacy. She leads systemic reform initiatives targeting court procedures and legislative gaps affecting domestic violence survivors.

Labs and Institutional Affiliations: As Director of the Matrimonial and Economic Justice Project, Vara oversees multidisciplinary teams of Matrimonial/Housing Lawyers and Public Benefits Advocates within Sanctuary for Families' Center—the nation's largest legal services program for gender violence victims, handling criminal, civil rights, trafficking, and immigration cases while driving court system reforms.