Neighborhood Legal Clinics

If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our volunteers page for more information.

WHO WE SERVE

Neighborhood Legal Clinics (NLC) serve King County residents or Washington State residents with legal issues in King County. NLC has no income restrictions.

WHAT WE DO

NLC provides individual meetings with volunteer attorneys for up to 30 minutes of FREE legal advice and consultation in primarily civil issues (not criminal).

Issues that may be addressed include:

Family law topics including domestic violence, divorce, issues for unmarried parents, child support, custody and parenting plans
Debt and bankruptcy
Landlord/Tenant questions
Real estate
Employment and wage claim issues
Contracts, warranties and/or consumer disputes
Immigration
Wills, estate planning, probate, living wills
Welfare benefits – terminations and overpayments
Criminal records

“General” clinics are staffed by attorneys who field all types of legal questions and are listed at the second half of the chart below.

“Specialty” clinics serve specific cultural communities or specific legal issues. They are listed at the first half of the chart below.

American Sign Language interpreters provided when requested. Foreign language interpreters provided pending availability of funds.

The attorney you meet with may not have expertise in the area of law you need. They will make every effort, through the reference and law books at the clinic, to answer your questions correctly.

WHAT WE DO NOT DO

NLC attorneys will not represent clients in court or “take your case”.
No legal advice is given over the telephone.
NLC attorneys are not available for hire. If you wish to hire an attorney for representation, please contact Lawyer Referral Service at 206-267-7010.

NLC is a limited legal service and should not be considered a substitute for representation.

WHERE, WHEN, and HOW TO REACH SERVICES

Specialty Legal Clinics
For an appointment at a Specialty Legal Clinic, see the specific clinic below. Legal advice is not given over the phone.

Family Law Clinics

For an appointment, call (206) 267-7070 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Monday—Thursday

Domestic Violence Family Law Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 6:45-9:00 p.m.
Clients call (206) 783-2848 for screenings on Wednesdays between 1-3 p.m. only

Cross Cultural Family Law Clinic
Open Mondays, 5:15-8:30 p.m.
Appointment referrals accepted from all domestic violence advocates and community agencies. Clients may not call directly.
To make referral, call (206) 464-1519 x232

Elder Law Clinics
In Seattle: Open 1st & 3rd Fridays, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
In Kent: Open 2nd & 4th Fridays; 1:00-3:00 p.m.
For an appointment, call (206)448-5720 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday—Thursday

Debt and Bankruptcy Clinic
In south Seattle: Open Mondays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
In downtown Seattle: Open Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
For an appointment, call (206) 267-7070 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Monday—Thursday

Immigration Legal Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
For an appointment in any language, call Monday-Friday at (206) 587-4009 x7

Bilingual Spanish Legal Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Senior Services, 2208 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 at Seneca in Belltown
Walk-in clinic: first 8 clients served; hours strictly enforced. Spanish-speaking interpreters provided.

International District Legal Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 5:45-7:45 p.m.
For an appointment, call (206) 695-7639

Korean Legal Clinic
Open alternating Thursdays & Saturdays 6:00-9:00 p.m. Thursdays; 9:30-12 noon Saturdays
For an appointment, call (206)784-5691. Korean-speaking interpreters provided.

General Legal Clinics
For an appointment at any general clinic listed below, call (206) 267-7070 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Monday—Thursday. Legal advice is not given over the telephone.

Central Legal Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 6:45-8:45 p.m.

Country Doctor Legal Clinic – on Capitol Hill
Open Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Downtown Legal Clinic
Open Thursdays, 12 noon-2:00 p.m.

Eastside Legal Clinic – in Bellevue
Open Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Federal Way Legal Clinic
Open Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Greenwood Legal Clinic
Open Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Lake City Legal Clinic
Open Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Southeast Legal Clinic – In Rainier Valley
Open Mondays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Southwest Legal Clinic – In Delridge Neighborhood
Open Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Vashon-Maury Legal Clinic
Open 1st Thursday of the month, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

West Seattle Legal Clinic
Open Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m. - closed 3rd Tuesday of each month

HOW TO PREPARE

Decide on the desired outcome or goal.
Schedule an appointment at a Neighborhood Legal Clinic.
Write a list of specific questions for the attorney.
Bring to the clinic appointment:

Agreements or contracts (signed or proposed)
Written rules or policies
Court orders
Court papers served on you or that you filed with the court
All letters or emails to and from person or business with whom you have the disagreement
Specific paperwork related to the case. For example, employee handbook, parenting plan, child support order, protection order, lease, rental agreement

Organize any paperwork from most recent on the top to oldest at the bottom.
Identify all deadlines.
Tell the legal clinic volunteer about these deadlines.
Be prepared to tell the history of the legal issue to the legal clinic volunteer.

The purpose of the Neighborhood Legal Clinic program is to offer free, limited legal advice and referrals to King County residents who might otherwise have no access to the legal system. It is a goal of the program to make the clinics accessible regardless of a person’s disability or lack of fluency in spoken English.