If you receive a phone call today from an individual who cannot afford an attorney, but who has a legal problem outside of your area of practice, would you be able to refer the caller to the appropriate agency? Do you know who to call if you want to gain experience and fulfill your ethical obligation to provide service to the community?

The King County Bar Association provides volunteer-based, client-focused legal services primarily to low-income residents of King County who would not otherwise receive legal assistance.

The King County Bar Association’s involvement in organized pro bono activities dates back to 1939 with the formation of the Legal Aid Bureau.

The more recent pro bono work began in 1974 with the founding of the Neighborhood Legal Clinics by the Young Lawyers Division. In 1978 a Pro Bono Committee was formed which resulted in the establishment of Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) and Self Help Plus as staffed programs in 1982.

There are currently nine King County Bar Foundation programs for low income clients-Volunteer Legal Services (VLS), Housing Justice Project, Self Help Plus, the Family Law Mentor Program, Volunteer Attorneys For Persons With HIV/AIDS (VAPWA), Legal Services for the Homeless, the New- comers Resource Project, Kinship Care Solutions Project, and the Neighborhood Legal Clinics.

These programs are part of the King County Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and are managed through a contract by the King County Bar Association. Direct oversight is provided by the Community Legal Services, Neighbor-hood Legal Clinics, and the Homeless Task Force committees.

The programs receive funds from the Legal Foundation of Washington (IOLTA), American Bar Association, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the PRIDE Foundation, Public Health-Seattle & King County, King County Bar Founda-tion, City of Seattle, Northwest Justice Project, KCBA Young Lawyers Division, and KCBA general funds. More information on each of these programs may be found at www.kcba.org.

Volunteer Attorneys for Persons with HIV/AIDS (VAPWA) is a group of over 220 attorneys who have a particular commitment and sensitivity to individuals impacted by HIV in our local communities, and who have expertise in areas of concern to such individuals. VAPWA provides pro bono, reduced fee, and regular fee referrals to HIV positive individuals with certain legal problems in Washington. In addition to legal assistance, VAPWA attorneys provide legal education to individuals and community organizations.

Potential clients or attorneys wishing to volunteer should contact Alfred McGugin, VAPWA Program Manager, at (206) 267-7025 or send an email to CLS@KCBA.org.

Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) provides direct representation to low-income King County residents with a broad range of civil legal problems, including consumer finance, bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, estate planning, special education, guardianship, and tort defense. VLS screens clients for eligibility, merit and program priorities, and then matches the clients with volunteer attorneys. Services are provided pro bono to King County residents earning less than 150% of the poverty level.

Potential clients may be referred through the KCBA Lawyer Referral Service at (206) 267-7010. Attorneys wishing to volunteer should contact Leah Dursch, Program Manager at the King County Bar Association at (206) 267-7100 or send email to CLS@KCBA.org.

Legal Services for the Homeless pairs law firms with homeless shelters in King County and offers direct representation to residents in shelters who would otherwise have very limited access to legal services. Firm volunteers visit their paired shelters at least once a month to meet with residents and discuss any legal concerns. These firm attorneys represent clients whose concerns are of legal merit. To reach shelters not paired with a law firm, the project utilizes a panel of volunteer attorneys to provide direct representation.

Client appointments are made through shelter staff. If you’d like to volunteer, you may call Victoria Cherniak, Program Manager, at (206) 267-7027 or email CLS@KCBA.org with homeless in the subject line.

The Newcomers Resource Pro-ject provides access to legal services for newcomers, immigrants and refugees, regardless of immigration status, through legal clinics, legal education workshops and direct representation. In order to provide effective programs, the project builds partnerships with area agencies and organizations that serve newcomer communities. Interpreters are provided for all services.

Potential clients and volunteers may contact Victoria Cherniak, Program Manager, at (206) 267-7027 or send email to CLS@KCBA.org with newcomers in the subject line.

The Family Law Mentor Program provides pro bono representation for low-income clients in contested dissolution of marriage or parentage cases where children are at risk because of domestic violence, child abuse, drug/ alcohol abuse, or other factors. Volunteer attorneys new to family law receive free training, a comprehensive practice manual, and a Mentor attorney for support throughout the case. Clients may be referred through Lawyer Referal at (206) 267-7010. To volunter contact Kim Lloyd-Todaro, Managing Attorney, at (206) 267-7100 or email CLS@KCBA.org.

The Housing Justice Project (HJP) provides assistance to tenants who would otherwise appear pro se at their eviction Show Cause Hearings. Attorneys volunteer once a month at the King County Superior Courthouse for approximately three hours each morning. HJP provides tenants with a range of services, including information and educational materials, legal advice, negotiation, limited representation and referrals. This program is available to north King

County and Seattle residents on the third floor of the King County Courthouse and to south King County residents on the first floor at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, Monday through Friday from 8:00-10:30 a.m.

No appointment is necessary. Attor-neys wishing to volunteer should call Merf Ehman at (206) 267-7019 (Seattle) or Judy Lin at (206) 267-7023 (Kent), or email CLS@kcba.org.

Kinship Care Solutions Project provides pro bono legal representation to relatives and others seeking legal custody of children who are not their own. Potential clients and volunteers may contact Judy Lin at (206) 267-7023.

Neighborhood Legal Clinics provide free half hour consultations with volunteer attorneys at 25 legal clinics throughout King County. The clinics also refer clients to other programs and services. Clients should call (206) 267-7070 to schedule an appointment. Volunteers should contact Cathie Caldwell at (206) 267-7029 or by email at CLS@KCBA.org.

Financial contributions to help support these programs can be sent to the King County Bar Foundation, 1200 Fifth Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98101, or call (206) 267-7100.