Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) provides direct representation to clients with select civil legal issues through volunteer attorneys. VLS maintains a panel of attorneys who work with specific populations of low-income people, including people with HIV/AIDS, homeless people, immigrants, refugees, and people with limited English regardless of immigration status.
WHAT WE DO
Direct Representation
Volunteer Legal Services provides direct representation by volunteer attorneys to low-income clients with select civil legal issues.
VLS screens cases for financial eligibility and legal merit. If found eligible, the program attempts to find a volunteer attorney to handle the case for free.
Case Types:
VLS also holds the Make Change! Debt Education Workshop, which takes place monthly. Make Change! a free two-hour class will help you to address the following topics:
1. Assessing your debt situation
Options for resolution
Available resources
2. Dealing with debt collectors
Your rights
Negotiating
Can they take my income?
3. How to respond to a collection lawsuit
Garnishments – the proper process
When do I need an attorney? Clinics? Direct Representation?
4. Should I file bankruptcy?
The consequences
The protections
Preparing to see an attorney for bankruptcy
To register for a Make Change! workshop, please call (206) 267-7095.
WHAT WE DO NOT DO
WHERE, WHEN, and HOW TO REACH SERVICES
To be screened for eligibility, call (206) 461-3200 or simply dial 211 from within the Washington State.
For help with vacating your criminal records make an
appointment with the Neighborhood Legal Clinics in order to be screened
for eligibility.
HOW TO PREPARE
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Decide on the desired outcome or goal
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Identify all deadlines
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Tell the intake screener about these deadlines
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Be prepared to tell the history of your legal issue to the intake screener over the phone