I have a civil (non-criminal) legal matter I’m dealing with but can’t afford an attorney. Where can I go to get free legal help?
According to attorney Joanna Plichta at Foster Pepper PLLC, the King County Bar Association maintains many helpful pro bono programs accessible to low-income residents with civil problems. While the KCBA does not help sue another person or company (one exception to this rule is if an employer does not pay an employee for hours worked), it does provide invaluable client-focused legal services which help residents understand their legal rights under Washington law. Here is a short list of programs that are available to low-income residents:
The Family Law Mentor Program represents clients in contested dissolution or paternity cases where the children are at risk because of domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, or alcohol/drug abuse. Please call (206)267-7010 to learn more.
Housing Justice Project Volunteer attorneys give advice, negotiate, and provide limited representation to tenants facing eviction. Please call (206)267-7090 for more information.
Kinship Care Solutions Project provides free legal representation to relatives and other caregivers seeking custody of children at risk. Please call (206)267-7010 to learn more.
Legal Services for the Homeless. Volunteer attorneys provide advice at shelter-based legal clinics and representation for civil legal cases. Please call (206)267-7010 for a screening interview.
Neighborhood Legal Clinics. The Clinic provides individual meetings with volunteer attorneys for up to 30 minutes of FREE legal advice and consultation in primarily civil issues (not criminal). Clinic issues include family law, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, real estate, employment, contracts, consumer disputes, immigration, estate planning, criminal records, and more. Please call (206)267-7010 for an appointment.
The Newcomers Resource Project serves low-income immigrant, refugee and newcomer residents of King County, regardless of immigration status, by providing direct representation by volunteer attorneys for civil legal issues. Please call (206)267-7027 to be screened for eligibility.
Self-Help Plus assists low-income to modest-means income clients with uncontested Dissolution of Marriage, Child Support Modification, Parenting Plan Modification and Establishing a Parenting Plan when Paternity has been established in cases. Please call (206)267-7080 to learn more.
Volunteer Attorneys for Persons with HIV/AIDS provides civil legal representation, advice, and education to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in King County and Washington State. To learn more, please call (206)267-7025.
Volunteer Legal Services provides direct representation by volunteer attorneys to low-income, King County residents in a broad array of civil legal issues including bankruptcy, criminal records, housing, predatory lending, debt defense, special education and more. Please call (206)267-7010 to learn more.
Answers are intended for general information only and are not intended to take the place of the advice of your own attorney. Ask a Lawyer is in partnership with the Access to Justice Institute at Seattle University and at Foster Pepper PLLC. Got questions? E-mail [email protected].