CLEAR Legal Aid Advice and Referral: Operated by Northwest Justice Project, CLEAR provides free legal advice to low-income residents of Washington, and referrals to legal aid organizations throughout the state. Assistance is available through the On-line referral or the telephone Hotline at 1-888-201-1014.
CLEAR*SR: People 60 and older (regardless of income) ca call CLEAR*SR for assistance and referrals at 1-888-387-7111.
Washington Law Help: An on-line resource for information and do-it-yourself guides for a wide range of civil legal issues. Available for free to everyone.
The Administrative Office of the Courts has a state-wide directory to courts and court programs including Courthouse Facilitators and Dispute Resolution Centers. All mandatory Family Law forms are also available for download on this site.
Washington State Bar Association’s Moderate Means Program is a free referral panel designed to connect clients whose income is within 200–400% of the Federal Poverty Level to lawyers who offer legal assistance at a reduced fee.
Columbia Legal Services provides legal advocacy and representation to low-income Washington State through four projects focused on specific areas of the law:
1. The Basic Human Needs Project works to ensure that the laws and rules of Washington guarantee a “safety net” of rights and benefits for all Washington State residents living in poverty.
2. The Children & Youth Project works to improve the lives of children and youth who are low-income, at-risk, homeless, or in foster care, through community education, research, policy advocacy, and litigation.
3. The Institutions Project represents people confined in Washington’s jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, mental health facilities, and facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Our representation focuses on institutional conditions of confinement, discrimination, sentencing and placement, alternatives to institutionalization, and access to courts, as well as issues related to rehabilitation, reentry, and reductions in recidivism.
4. The Working Families Project advocates on behalf of our client communities for safe and fair employment practices, economic opportunities, and reduced barriers to financial security.
Referrals to Columbia Legal Services are made through the CLEAR line, above.
Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division provides information on a wide range of topics of interest to consumers, including identity theft, debt management, refund rights and scams that target elderly individuals. Call 1-800-551-4636 or 1-206-464-6684.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington handles civil liberties and civil rights matters that happen in the state of Washington. The ACLU-WA works on a wide range of issues involving equal treatment for all, fair treatment by government, privacy, and personal freedoms, such as speech, religion, and reproductive choice. These broad categories include discrimination based on race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability, police misconduct, personal privacy, the rights of students and young people, and other civil liberties.
Call 206-624-2180 or submit a complaint online.
Domestic Violence Resources:
AARDVARC: An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection assists efforts to aid and support those trying to remove themselves from abusive situations and build healthier, stronger lives. For individuals, AARDVARC provides general educational and reference material as well as a comprehensive nationwide directory of services for “one stop shopping”. The website includes contact information for local domestic violence programs across the state.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. Call 206-587-4009 or 1-800-445-5771.
Please also refer to the County-by-County resource guide, as well as the resource guides under the subject-matter pages.
Athena's Guide 