Chinese Information and Service Center, Asian Bar Association of Washington, and Asian Counseling and Referral Service partner with the King County Bar Association to provide a free legal clinic. Pro bono attorneys work with staff and volunteer interpreters to give consultation and legal advice around family law, immigration law, landlord-tenant disputes, employment law, and other areas. As of 9/2024, most consults are virtual but in-person appointments may be available if needed (more information provided to clients during intake phone call). Call (206) 957-8544 for an appointment. Appointments are typically Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM. International District Legal Clinic Chinese Information and Services Center 611 S Lane St. Seattle, WA 98144

For divorce, child custody and child support matters, the Court Facilitator is available to assist parties without an attorney to process their own paperwork, understand procedures and schedule court hearings. The Facilitator can assists in pro se divorces, child support modifications of parenting plans, contempt orders (visitation, child support, maintenance), temporary orders, and facilitates the process of people without attorneys through the court system (in domestic cases only). The Facilitator is not an attorney, may not give legal advice and may not accompany client to court.

Offers a free PowerPoint presentation for self-represented parties in nonparental custody actions.   Presentation is designed to give users an overview of a nonparental, or 3rd party custody, court case. The presentation goes over how to start a case, how to serve the necessary parties, and how to finish the case.   Presentation is not intended for people who would like to get custody of their own children.

Offers legal representation in cases with a likelihood of success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBT) and people with HIV or AIDS.   Pursues litigation in all areas of the law that affect LGBT individuals and people with HIV/AIDS, including: -  Marriage & Family -  Workplace equality and employment discrimination -  Immigration -  Health Care, including discrimination and breach of confidentiality -  Fair Courts -  Government and police misconduct   Provides targeted advocacy and outreach for: -  Teens & Young Adults -  Transgender individuals -  Seniors -  Those with HIV or AIDS -  Latinos -  Those experiencing discrimination rooted in intersecting identities such as race or class   Offers resources, publications and information about related issues when unable to provide representation and to support self-advocacy.

Provides free 1-hour appointments with a family law attorney for advice and consultation on family law legal issues. Attorneys at the clinic do not provide full representation or represent clients in court.

Provides Legal information on the following topics: Divorce, Parenting Plan Modification, Paternity, Third-Party Custody and Protection Orders. Also provides services for Land Lord/Tennant Issues, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bankruptcy, and Will preparation

Services are provided by trained professional mediators who volunteer their time. Services include: - Face to Face Mediation - Coaching for problems - Some simple negotiation over the telephone TYPES OF PROBLEMS THE CENTER WILL HANDLE: - Divorce mediation - Parenting Plan mediation - Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) - Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, etc.) - Real estate or personal property - Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc.) - Employer/employee grievances - School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents - Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans - Other domestic problems not involving violence or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance TYPES OF PROBLEMS NOT HANDLED: Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits (criminal defenses, will preparation, etc.); issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse; or problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager. Other Services Provided: - Offers workshop of varying lengths to organizations, businesses, and groups on a range of topics including: conflict resolution, negotiation, communication, conflict styles, and dealing with difficult people. - Victim Offender Meeting Program: Brings together victims of juvenile crime with the offenders to talk about the impact of the crime and for the youth to make amends. - Assists senior citizens to resolve disputes with family members, businesses, landlords, neighbors and others through mediation. - Parent Youth Mediation Service: Allows parents and teenagers or pre-teens to sit down together to talk about how things are going within the family and develop agreements on behaviors, level of independence, respectful communication and consequences. Co-mediators assist the mediating parties.

The Courthouse Facilitator program at Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk’s Office provides assistance to Family Law and Adult Guardianship clients who are not represented by attorneys.

This program provides intensive assistance with the preparation of parenting plans for parents facing domestic violence.

Provides financial assistance for eligible families providing kinship care. Examples of items that qualify for financial assistance are listed below:   -  Food, clothing, transportation, household items -  Legal custody filing fees -  School uniforms, supplies, field trips, band instruments -  Sports and youth activities registrations, fees, uniforms, tutoring -  One-time help with rent or utilities to prevent eviction or shut-off

In partnership with Opportunity Council, LAW Advocates provides information about the procedures and issues involved with obtaining a non-parental custody order for a relative or unrelated person (often grandparents, aunts/uncles, or family friends). A family law lawyer will assist clients with court documents and instruct them in representing themselves in court to obtain a non-parental custody order.

Assists with the following areas of family law:   -  Divorce, legal separation, invalidity, annulment -  Family law motions -  Child support modifications and adjustments -  Establishing parenting plans -  Parenting plan modifications -  Non-parental custody -  Temporary orders -  Restraining orders -  Guardianships    Provides information on how to begin certain family law actions, necessary forms and where to get them, as well as court rules and procedures.   Can explain legal terminology and will review documents for completeness, once they are filled out, but cannot fill out papers or tell clients how to fill them out. Limited referrals for legal consultation for low income pro ses.   Does not provide legal advice. Cannot assist with the following issues:   -  Adoptions -  Juvenile dependency -  Eviction -  Traffic citations -  Will and probate matters -  Bankruptcy -  Name changes -  Criminal charges   Drop-in child care provided by the Children's Home Society at the Regional Justice Center for parents while they appear in court.

Qualified individuals will receive a legal consultation with a volunteer attorney regarding civil legal matters. Volunteer attorneys provide legal advice, direction, paperwork review, and assistance completing legal documents. Assists with the following legal matters: - Walk-In Clinic every Wednesday, 2-4pm - Family law - Employment - Wills and estates - Consumer and bankruptcy - Housing: helps with eviction and landlord/tenant information

Provides resources and one-on-one advocacy for non-custodial fathers seeking to establish, re-establish or maintain positive relationships with their children.   Offers guidance and assistance to fathers who are in arrears on their child support obligations. Provides assistance in obtaining legal documents for parenting plans and visitation. Cannot accompany clients to court proceedings. Offers informal counseling to help fathers make wise decisions. Provides help with connecting to other resources.

Provides mediation services for developing parenting plans, work place issues, custody, support and property division.

Offers legal representation for issues that affect large numbers of women or set legal precedents in the Pacific Northwest. Services are available only for selected cases in areas such as:   Discrimination in employment: -  Employment discrimination or other adverse employment actions against survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking -  Refusal of employer to provide leave to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking -  Change in terms of employment based on status as a parent or caregiver -  Change in terms of employment based on pregnancy -  Employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression   Discrimination in schools, including athletic equity and schools' mishandling of sexual harassment or sexual assault.   Family law: -  Discrimination against DV survivors by CPS: Children removed from a parent's care based on allegations that the parent failed to protect children from domestic violence by the other parent -  Refusal of court to order abuser to surrender weapons in a DV Protection Order case or appeals filed by an abuser ordered to surrender weapons -  Abusive litigation against survivors of domestic violence -  Alleged father seeks parental rights for a child conceived as a result of sexual assault -  Parental rights terminated due to parent's incarceration   Nonconsensual pornography AKA "revenge porn": Cases in which private, intimate images of a person are distributed without her or his consent   Anti-LGBTQ discrimination, such as: -  Unfavorable treatment of LGBTQ parents in family law cases -  Denial of insurance coverage for transgender persons  Denial of access to health care, including: -  Reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, or emergency contraception -  Health care for LGBTQ patients -  Health care or other services for incarcerated women

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Operates a legal clinic providing free one hour consultations with an attorney for victims of domestic violence with family law issues. Clinic is virtual Clinic attorneys can: - Determine whether the client has a legal problem - Suggest possible options - Help answer papers, summons and requests - Provide appropriate referrals Neighborhood legal clinic attorneys are specialized in areas of family law. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters. Domestic Violence and Family Law Clinic

Services are provided by trained professional mediators who volunteer their time. Services include: - Face-to-face mediation - Conflict coaching for problems - Some simple negotiation over the telephone TYPES OF PROBLEMS THE CENTER WILL HANDLE: - Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) - Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, eviction prevention due to COVID, etc. ) - Real estate or personal property - Foreclosure mediation - Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc. ) - Employer/employee grievances - School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents - Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans - Other domestic problems not involving violence, restraining orders, or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance. TYPES OF PROBLEMS NOT HANDLED: - Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits, criminal defenses, will preparation, etc. - Issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse - Problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager. All clients must be able to keep agreements made

Mediation is one way that people can resolve their conflicts and still maintain or improve the quality of the relationship with the other person. In a family, a business environment, or in small towns, this can be especially important.   What you can expect in a mediation session:   Trained certified mediators to guide you through the mediation process and the expectation of the mediation   To keep the communication productive and focused on the issue the mediator will outline what it means to mediate in good faith   Time to tell all parties your story, how you feel, and how you would like to resolve the issues   Time to listen and hear the other parties’ stories, how they feel, and how they would like to resolve the issues   Work together to outline a list of items you would like resolved   Talk to each other and come to mutually agreeable solutions    Design your own settlement agreements that are long lasting   Mediation sessions can last up to 3 hours, and parties can schedule multiple session based on their own needs.    Parenting Plan Creation and Parenting Plan Modifications In the state of Washington, parents are required to have a "Parenting Plan" before a judge will grant a divorce.  In Mediation the parents can work together in the best interest of the children, work through historical issues, and work towards healthy communication and respectful relationship.  Additionally, parents will have the opportunity to design their parenting plan that looks to the future; identifying potential changes in their lives: i.e. new partners, residential transfers, children's changing needs.    When parents' communication is ineffective, children suffer in school, in peer relationships and in self-esteem. Unresolved conflict is expensive.   Business Mediations are an effective and efficient process to help resolve employment disputes. A neutral mediator can assist parties in reaching a voluntary, negotiated agreement. Choosing mediation to resolve employment disputes promotes a better work environment, reduces costs and brings satisfaction for both the employer and the employee.   According to Halvorson Human Resources, the cost of turnover ranges from approximately 3 months pay for an hourly worker to $145,000 for a hi-tech employee.  Conflict is expensive.  PDRC offers the following meditations: Family, Divorce, Parenting Plans, Foreclosure, Neighborhood, Workplace, Business, Landlord/Tenant

Provide information and support in regard to criminal and/or civil legal matters. Advocates are not attorneys and cannot represent in court, however they can help navigate the legal system and provide support and accompaniment through processes such as protection orders, divorce proceedings and parenting plans.

Provides legal advice and representation in family law issues for potential clients who live or work in Seattle, work with a DV agency located within Seattle, recently fled Seattle, or are cooperating with law enforcement in Seattle, who are survivors of domestic violence and telephone advice to advocates working with survivors of domestic violence. Clients gain access to the program through referral by a domestic violence advocate. Printed materials regarding legal rights, responsibilities and procedures may also be available in various languages.

Operates legal clinics where free 30-minute legal consultations are available for individuals who are not already represented by an attorney. As of 9/2024, most clinics are operating via phone with limited in-person availability in Kent (details provided when a client schedules an appointment). Wait times are often several months for Family Law Clinics. Clinics focus on more complex family law issues including any case involving children or debt/asset division between parties. If needed, a client may be referred to further legal services. Attorneys at the clinic can: - Determine if a client has a legal problem - Explain legal rights and responsibilities - Suggest steps that might be taken to solve the problem, including self-help strategies - Refer clients needing specialized legal help to law-related agencies Clinic attorneys DO NOT represent a client in court or prepare court papers.

Provides mediation and group facilitation as an alternative to the court system for resolving conflicts quickly and economically which include divorced parents, family relationships, and neighbors.   Mediation is a process and appointments are booked a few weeks out. Also provides mediator training. All parties must be willing to participate.   More types of mediations the center can accommodate:    - Parenting Plan Modifications  - Parent-Teen Mediation  - Landlord Tenant (sometimes)  - Dissolutions (Divorce) - Workplace conflicts  - Commercial  - Contract  - Probate  - Property Claims  - Real Property  - Personal Injury  - Bar Complaints.

Provides dispute resolution by means of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and training. Types of disputes include but are not limited to: landlord/tenant; consumer/merchant; parent/teenager; employer/employee; neighbor/neighbor; family; divorce; parenting plans/property division; small claims court cases; and non-violent criminal cases.

Provides legal information and advice for the following issues depending on attorney availability:   -  Auto accidents - Birth injuries -  Consumer law - Criminal defense -  Family law -  Finance -  Immigration -  Landlord-tenant law -  Medical negligence -  Personal injury -  Property law -  Worker's rights/wage claims