Resources for low-income
and moderate-income
clients
The following contains a list of programs throughout the state of Washington that may
be able to assist you with your legal needs. Programs listed may charge a fee for
services. Some programs may no longer be operational.
Use with Caution: This information, related materials, links, and resources for is
provided for informative purposes only. We do not warrant the information provided
with regard to accuracy or any other purpose. No endorsement is intended, nor does
the information contained herein constitute legal advice or legal opinions. You are
responsible for ensuring your own legal and ethical compliance. Information on this
page does not modify the rules, statutes, and regulations set by the federal
government, state legislature, Washington Supreme Court, or the Bylaws and policies
of the WSBA, or confer any additional rights.
GENERAL RESOURCES
CLEAR
Coordinated Legal Education Advice & Referral, run by the NW Justice Project
• Phone: 1-888-201-1014 (Mon-Fri, 9:15AM – 12:30PM)
• Online application: nwjustice.org/clear-online
• Must be under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
CLEAR Senior
• 60 years old or over
• Phone: 1-888-387-7111 (Mon-Fri, 9:15AM – 12:30PM)
• No income limits
CLEAR Crime Victim (CLEAR CV)
• For clients who have a civil legal issue caused by a crime
• Crimes include DV, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault, hate crimes,
trafficking, ID theft, kidnapping, stalking, criminal harassment, etc.
• Only crime-victim service providers can make referrals, such as a DV advocate.
• No income limits
Self-help legal info
• www.washingtonlawhelp.org
(info in 23 languages other than English)
• https://legalvoice.org/resources/ (family law, DV, consumer & debt, etc.)
• Solid-ground.org (Information and resources for tenants and homeowners)
Court forms
• www.courts.wa.gov/forms
County Bar Associations
• http://www.wsba.org/Legal-Community/County-Bar-Associations
211: Statewide information in local community resources of all types.
• Call 211 or visit www.win211.org
.
Volunteer Legal Programs
• VLP provides legal representation for low-income clients. Most clients are referred
to VLP from CLEAR.
• King County: https://www.kcba.org/?pg=Free-Legal-Assistance
Lawyer Referral Service: A LRS connects clients with attorneys who charge regular rates.
• King County: https://www.kcba.org/?pg=Hire-a-Lawyer
. For more info,
email LRS@KCBA.org or call (206) 267- 7010 between 8:30AM and
4:30PM Monday through Friday
• Clark County: http://www.ccbawashington.org/
. For more info, call
(360) 695-5975.
• Kitsap County Bar Association: www.kitsapbay.org/directory
• Mason County: http://masoncountybarassociation.com/.
• Pierce County Bar Lawyer Referral Service: tpcba.com/?pg=lawyer-
referral-service (253-383-3432)
• Snohomish County: http://www.snobar.org/LRS/lrsform.html, or call
(425) 388-3018.
• Southwest Washington Lawyer Referral Service: 360-695-0599 (Cowlitz,
Skamania, Wahkiakum, Lewis)
• Spokane County: http://www.spokanebar.org/online-referral-service
• Tacoma-Pierce County: https://www.tpcba.com/public/lawyer-referral-
service/, or call (253) 383-3432.
• Thurston County: http://thurstoncountybar.com/attorneys/
.
• San Juan County: Send an email to [email protected].
•
FAMILY LAW RESOURCES
Courthouse facilitators per county:
• http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/?fa=court_dir.facils
• Information on fees & costs, how courthouse facilitators can help, etc. at
http://www.courts.wa.gov/committee/?fa=committee.home&committee_id=108
Family Law Clinics:
• King County:
o http://www.kcba.org/pbs/NLC.aspx
. To make an appointment, call
(206) 267-7070 Tuesday through Thursday from 9AM to 12PM.
Clients can get a free 30-minute consultation with a lawyer who
will offer legal advice (on civil issues), help with paperwork, and
provide resources. A lawyer might also refer a client to
Volunteer Legal Services for legal representation.
o Eastside Legal Assistance: https://elap.org/legal-clinics
• Snohomish County: https://snocolegal.org/family-law/
• Thurston County: https://tcvls.org/
• Clark County: https://ccvlp.org/about/programs/
• Tacoma: http://www.tacomaprobono.org/
• Spokane: Self Help Family Law Center: https://familylaw.spofi.org/
Child support calculator:
• http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/ : This is the ‘official’, government-run calculator
• https://www.alllaw.com/calculators/childsupport/washington: An alternative
calculator
• https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/understanding-the-wa-state-child-
support-schedule: Offers detailed information on how child support is calculated
Domestic Violence Advocates
Statewide:
• https://www.wscadv.org
• DV Hotline: 1-800-562-6025
King County:
o DAWN –South King County: https://www.dawnrising.org/
o LifeWire-Eastside and North King County: https://www.lifewire.org/
o Eastside Legal Assistance: https://elap.org/legal-clinics/
Grays Harbor County:
o Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor: (360) 538-0733 or (800) 818-
2194
Pierce County:
o Crystal Judson Family Justice Center: https://www.familyjusticecenter.us/
o YWCA-Pierce County: 24/7 hotline- 253-383-2593
Spokane County:
o YWCA-Spokane County: https://ywcaspokane.org/programs/help-with-
domestic-violence/
o Other resources: https://covid.srhd.org/topics/domestic-violence-
resources/resources
Snohomish County:
o Resources: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/434/Helpful-Resources
Skagit County:
o Skagit Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services:
https://www.skagitdvsas.org/
Whatcom County:
o Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County:
https://www.dvsas.org/
Affordable Legal Services in Family Law by a Legal Technician
A limited license legal technician, also known as a legal technician or LLLT, is licensed by
the Washington Supreme Court to advise and assist people going through divorce, child
custody, and other family law matters in Washington. While they are not attorneys, they
can provide limited legal services in family law by consulting with and advising clients,
completing and filing necessary court documents, and assisting pro se clients at certain
types of hearings and settlement conferences.
They also help with court scheduling and support clients in navigating the legal system.
LLLTs are well trained, experienced, and competent licensed legal professionals who
may be able to provide you with the legal help you need. If you cannot afford a lawyer, a
legal technician might be an affordable option for your family law matter.
Search the WSBA legal directory for a LLLT near you:
https://www.mywsba.org/personifyebusiness/LegalDirectory.aspx
VETERANS
• WA Attorney General Office: Legal Assistance for Veterans and Military
Personnel
o http://www.atg.wa.gov/legal-assistance-veterans-military-personnel
o Includes an extensive list of legal services/information resources
• National Veterans Legal Services Program
o https://www.nvlsp.org/what-we-do/lawyers-serving-warriors/
o Offers pro bono legal help to veterans attempting to file disability
claims.
• WA Veteran’s Will Clinic
o http://www.wavetswillclinic.com/about
o “Offers free estate planning documents to veterans of the US Armed
Forces through annual pro bono clinics in locations across the state of
Washington.”
• The Veterans Consortium—Pro Bono Program
o https://www.vetsprobono.org/apply/
o Offers assistance with filing for discharge upgrades and filing appeals to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims.
CONSUMER PROTECTION RESOURCES
Debt & CH 7 bankruptcy
• King County: Call (206) 461-3200 to be screened for eligibility and get help.
Services include: (1) direct representation and (2) a debt education workshop. To
sign up for the debt education workshop, call (206) 267-7095.
http://www.kcba.org/pbs/NLC.aspx
Debt & bankruptcy legal clinic:
• King County: To make an appointment, call (206) 267-7070 Tuesday through
Thursday from 9AM to 12PM. http://www.kcba.org/pbs/NLC.aspx
Self-help info on bankruptcy:
• http://www.washington-bankruptcy.com/index.html
Court forms: bankruptcy & garnishment
• http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=4
Northwest Consumer Law Center
• Sliding scale fee starting at $125/hr.
• Flat rates for bankruptcies depending on client income.
• Will also consider student loan issues and auto-related issues.
• Primarily in western WA.
• Intake email: admin@nwclc.org
• Client intake number: 206-805-1722
• Toll-free number: 1-888-805-1722
Non-profit organizations & small businesses:
Washington Attorney Assisting Community Organizations at www.waaco.org
Better Business Bureau
• BBB serving Alaska, Central Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Washington, and Western Wyoming
o https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-great-west-pacific
o Phone: (206) 431-2222
HOUSING LAW RESOURCES
Housing Justice Project (for low-income tenants facing eviction)
• King County:
o Can help tenants respond to eviction summons with a Notice of
Appearance.
o Provide representation to low-income tenants facing eviction who have a
filed eviction case.
o Note that they can only provide an attorney if your case is filed with the
court.
o https://www.kcba.org/?pg=Housing-Justice-Project
Must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• Seattle
o Teanant Resource Line: 206-580-0762
Right to counsel for anyone below 80% of the Area Median Income
(approx. 500% FPL)
• Snohomish County:
o https://snocolegal.org/legal-help/#hjp
• Pierce County:
o https://tacomaprobono.org/hjp/
Tenant’s Union Hotline
• Hotline number: 1-206-723-0500.
• Free advice by phone on a wide range of housing and LL/T issues.
County Housing Resources
• Call 211 or go to www.win211.org
• Conduct an internet search for “housing resources,” “Community Action
Program,” or “Salvation Army” in the client’s county.
Home Foreclosure Legal Aid Project
• Information on foreclosure processes and alternatives i.e. mediation at
http://www.wsba.org/Legal-Community/Volunteer-Opportunities/Public-Service-
Opportunities/HFLAP- Portal/Home-Foreclosure-Legal-Aid-Project/Home-
Foreclosure-Legal-Aid-Project-Homeowner-Information AND
http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/homeownership/#.Ugm6QBZK5G4
• NJP Foreclosure Prevention Unit: 1-800-606-4819
o Call if you have a sale scheduled within two weeks, a legal dispute with
your loan servicer, or any foreclosure-related legal issue.
o They accept people with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty line.
• Housing Counseling (HUD) Agency: 1-877-894-HOME (4663)
o Free counseling on housing issues
o Call if you need assistance with applying for loan modification or finding
resources for foreclosure prevention.
Washington Law Help Rental and Eviction Assistance- Statewide
o https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/eviction
Eviction Defense Screening Line
o 855-657-8387 or apply on-line at https://nwjustice.org/apply-online
o For tenants below 245% of the federal poverty level
