Law Advocates

TO PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL AID THROUGH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS TO WHATCOM COUNTY RESIDENTS AT OR BELOW 200% FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS.

LAW ADVOCATES OPERATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN PURSUIT OF ITS VISION OF: A COMPASSIONATE AND JUST SOCIETY WHERE LEGAL AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, IN EQUITABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, TO ACHIEVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.THESE SERVICES INCLUDE FULL REPRESENTATION, LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION, AND LEGAL ADVICE. THE PROGRAMS OPERATED INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:KINSHIP CUSTODY CLINIC: THIS CLINIC ENSURES CHILDREN'S NEEDS ARE MET WHEN PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEM. LAW ADVOCATES AND OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL MEET THIS NEED WITH A COMMITTED AND COMPASSIONATE LEGAL TEAM TO HELP CAREGIVERS NAVIGATE THE COURTS IN GUARDIANSHIP CASES. WILLS CLINIC: IN OUR WILLS CLINIC, OUR DEDICATED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS DRAFT SIMPLE WILLS AND POWER OF ATTORNEYS FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE SENIORS, WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR TERMINALLY ILL. IN 2023, WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS. WE ESTABLISHED A TWO-PART WILLS CLINIC IN KENDALL, LOCATED EAST WHATCOM COUNTY, SOLIDIFYING A PARTNERSHIP WITH EAST WHATCOM REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER (EWRRC). STREET LAW: STREET LAW (LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC) RETURNED TO IN-PERSON SESSIONS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BELLINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY. WITH DEDICATED VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS ADVISING ON FAMILY, LANDLORD-TENANT AND GENERAL LEGAL MATTERS, LAW ADVOCATES WITNESSED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN BOTH ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS SERVED.IN COLLABORATION WITH WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGES PARALEGAL PROGRAM, STREET LAW AT WCC RESUMED ITS OPERATIONS. THIS PARTNERSHIP FACILITATED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO 91 CLIENTS THROUGHOUT 2023, FURTHER EXTENDING OUR REACH AND IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.CONSUMER DEBT CLINIC: LAW ADVOCATES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT (NJP), OPERATED A CONSUMER DEBT CLINIC AT THE WHATCOM COURTHOUSE. HELD TWICE MONTHLY, THIS CLINIC OFFERS CONSULTATIONS AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING ISSUES SUCH AS DEBT COLLECTION, GARNISHMENT, MEDICAL DEBT, AND CHARITY CARE. YOUTH SERVICES CLINIC: LAW ADVOCATES, IN COLLABORATION WITH NORTHWEST YOUTH SERVICES (NWYS) OPERATES A VITAL SERVICE AT GROUND FLOOR, NWYS DROP-IN CENTER, PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL AND DEMONSTRATING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF UNSTABLY HOUSE OR HOMELESS YOUTH.ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDING VALUES: RACIAL EQUITY: WE RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORICAL AND INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM IS ONGOING IN OUR SOCIETY, THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL AND ONGOING INSTITUTIONALIZED DISCRIMINATION TARGETS OTHER MARGINALIZED AND MINORITY COMMUNITY GROUPS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, PEOPLE WITHDISABILITIES, NON-HETEROSEXUAL AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THIS DISCRIMINATION IN LAW.ADVOCATES' STRATEGIC PLANNING, POLICY- AND PRIORITY- SETTING PROCESS AS WELL AS LISTENING TO AND COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE LEGAL SERVICES MOST CRITICALLY NEEDED BY THOSE MOST IN NEED OF LEGAL HELP.EMPOWERMENT: "JUSTICE FOR ALL" REQUIRES ACCESS, KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM, AND DIRECT ACTION. WE SUPPORT AND EMPOWER CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES WITH HOPE, PRACTICAL INFORMATION, AND TOOLS TO DEAL WITH HOUSING, SOCIAL SERVICES, DEBT, ABUSE, WORKPLACE, AND FAMILY ISSUES TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IS A RECOGNITION THATDECISIONS AFFECTING OUR CLIENT COMMUNITIES MUST BE MADE BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS RATHER THAN BY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.EDUCATION: WHEN SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO INTERPRET LEGAL INFORMATION, WE SHOW CLIENTS HOW TO NAVIGATE PATHWAYS TO JUSTICE AND RELIEF. WE CHAMPION CLIENTS AND THEIR NEEDS WITH DIGNITY, HOPE AND PERSEVERANCE. WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON MATTERS THAT AFFECT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.ADVOCACY: FREE OR ACCESSIBLE LEGAL SERVICES ARE CRITICAL PATHWAYS TO JUSTICE. OUR VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL LAWYERS AND STAFF EMPOWER PRO SE CLIENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND REMEDIES TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, ADVOCATE SKILLFULLY TO CHANGE SITUATIONS OF VIOLENCE, DEBT OR UNJUST CONDITIONS IN THE HOME, AT WORK, SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY.SERVICE: PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND DIGNITY ARE STRONGEST WHEN COMMUNITIES UPHOLD THEM ACTIVELY. WE CONNECT QUALITY LAWYERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WHATCOM COUNTY WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO UPHOLD THE PROMISE OF EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.