For client information, please visit Community Legal Services’ Free Legal Assistance page.
Volunteer Application
Program Overview
Legal Services for the Homeless (LSH) provides legal assistance through legal clinics and on-going representation to those who are homeless, staying in shelters, or living in transitional housing.
The legal clinics are shelter-based and each is sponsored by a firm. At the legal clinics, LSH volunteers provide legal advice and referral to shelter residents on a wide range of legal issues. Each legal clinic is a unique partnership between the firm and shelter.
For clients with civil legal needs beyond the scope of the clinics, LSH volunteer attorneys provide on-going legal assistance in the following areas:
- Bankruptcy – Chapter 7 only
- Consumer
- Criminal Records Vacation
- Debt Defense
- Defense to Lawsuit
- Employment
- Estate Planning and Wills
- Family (limited availability)
- Housing
- Public Benefits
- Real Estate
- Special Education
- Uncontested Guardianship
Volunteer Positions, Expectations, and Commitment
Direct Representation Volunteers
Volunteer attorneys take cases for on-going assistance in the legal areas listed above. Attorneys should already be familiar with their preferred legal practice area. Extensive training and mentoring are not available at this time. After eligible clients’ cases are screened for legal merit, volunteer attorneys are contacted for potential placement and may choose to take the case or not. Cases vary in length and difficulty. Volunteers must be comfortable working with clients from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds as well as those with mental health or chemical dependency issues.
Legal Clinic Volunteers
Attorneys and paralegals associated with sponsoring firms volunteer at LSH legal clinics. Attorney volunteers provide legal advice for homeless individuals who have made an appointment at the shelter clinic; paralegals provide research and administrative support. In some cases, volunteers provide brief service (example: ghostwriting) at the clinic or at their offices after the clinic. For clients requiring additional assistance, volunteers can make referrals to other agencies and KCBA Community Legal Services.
Each clinic is sponsored and staffed by a law firm and located at a shelter in King County. Volunteers must be associated with a sponsoring firm to participate in the legal clinics. Volunteers are scheduled by the clinic coordinator at the sponsoring firm and generally volunteer once every month or once every six weeks for at least a year. Volunteers must be comfortable working with clients from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds as well as those with mental health and/or chemical dependency issues. Attorney volunteers should be comfortable giving legal advice on a wide range of topics that the attorney may or may not know about in advance.
Training and Support
Direct Representation Volunteers
Attorneys volunteering to take cases for on-going assistance are contacted when a related case becomes available for placement. LSH staff provides support after placing a case with a volunteer attorney. Poverty law materials, sample forms and pleadings, and – in limited cases – mentors can be provided upon request. KCBA office space is available by appointment for client meetings when needed. Interpreters are provided for clients with limited English proficiency. Supplemental training opportunities coordinated by other Community Legal Services programs are open to LSH volunteers space permitting.
Trained volunteer attorneys are contacted when a related case becomes available for placement. LSH staff provide limited support after placing a case with a volunteer attorney. Poverty law materials, sample forms and pleadings, and – in limited cases – mentors can be provided upon request. KCBA office space is available by appointment for client meetings when needed. Interpreters are provided for clients with limited English proficiency. Malpractice insurance is provided for cases referred by LSH.
Legal Clinic Volunteers
For volunteers at the LSH legal clinics, an initial orientation is generally provided at the sponsoring firm once per year. Coordination and administrative support is generally provided by the sponsoring firm. Legal training opportunities sponsored by other Community Legal Services programs are open to LSH volunteers space permitting.
To view up-coming training opportunities with this and other programs, visit the Free Trainings for Volunteers page.
Benefits of Volunteering
LSH volunteers enjoy the rewarding experience of helping homeless clients who otherwise would not have access to legal advice or representation.
Attorneys can earn Continuing Legal Education credit for the initial CLE as well as for pro bono activity in the same calendar year as the CLE. In addition to the malpractice insurance maintained by a volunteer and/or their firm (which serves as the volunteer's primary insurance), KCBA provides volunteers with secondary malpractice insurance for all cases referred through the program.
Ready to volunteer?
Direct Representation Volunteers
To begin taking cases for low-income, homeless individuals in need, complete and return the appropriate application (available above) to CLS@kcba.org with the subject LSH Volunteer. Be sure to note your legal area(s) of expertise and interest. New volunteers may also sign up for a Community Legal Services-sponsored CLE and should indicate an interest in taking cases in that area for LSH.
For questions about taking cases for LSH, contact Connie at 206.267.7100 or CLS@kcba.org.
Legal Clinic Volunteers
Attorneys and paralegals at Davis Wright Tremaine, King County Prosecutor’s Office, K&L Gates, Riddell Williams, and Karr Tuttle Campbell should contact the Pro Bono Coordinator at their respective office to begin volunteering at a LSH legal clinic.
To view up-coming training opportunities with this and other programs, visit the Free Trainings for Volunteers page.
The mission of Legal Services for the Homeless is to eliminate barriers that homeless individuals face in accessing legal services through shelter-based legal clinics and direct representation to the homeless population of King County.
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