For client information, please visit Community Legal Services’ Free Legal Assistance page.

• Volunteer Brochure (Coming soon!)
• Volunteer Application

• Bankruptcy – Chapter 7 only
• Consumer Issues
• Criminal Records Vacation
• Debt Defense
• Defense to a Lawsuit
• Estate Planning and Wills
• Housing
• Foreclosure
• Predatory Lending
• Public Benefits (Social Security, TANF, and GAU overpayments)
• Real Estate
• Special Education
• Uncontested Guardianship

Volunteer Positions, Expectations, and Commitment
Volunteer attorneys take cases for on-going assistance in the legal areas listed above. Volunteers are contacted with each potential case matching their area of training and may choose to take the case or not. Cases vary in length and difficulty. Once a volunteer agrees to take a case, the volunteer is expected to handle the case just as they would a paying client in their practice, including drafting a clear retainer agreement based on the scope of representation requested by the referring VLS staff and continuing with the case until the agreed upon assistance has been provided. 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.

Training and Support
Before being contacted for placement of a case, new volunteer attorneys must either:

• Attend a CLE sponsored by one of the Community Legal Services programs
• Watch a DVD and read through the materials of a previous CLE sponsored by one of the Community Legal Services programs; or
• Be approved by the program manager and/or staff attorney as competent in the area of practice and plan to attend a CLE sponsored by one of the Community Legal Services programs in the first calendar year of volunteering.

Trained volunteer attorneys are contacted when a related case becomes available for placement. VLS staff provides limited support after placing a case with a volunteer attorney. Poverty law materials, sample forms and pleadings, social service information and referrals, 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.

To view up-coming training opportunities with this and other programs visit the Free Trainings for Volunteers page.

Benefits of Volunteering
VLS volunteers enjoy the rewarding experience of helping low income clients who otherwise would not have access to legal representation. Additionally, attorneys can earn Continuing Legal Education credit for their initial CLE as well as for pro bono activity in the same calendar year as the CLE. Volunteers can increase their knowledge and experience in legal areas that are new to them and network with other attorneys by attending any Community Legal Services-sponsored CLE free of charge. Outstanding volunteers have the opportunity to be recognized publicly in a variety of venues.

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?
To begin taking cases for low-income, King County residents, complete and return the appropriate application (available above) to CLS@KCBA.org with the subject VLS Volunteer. Be sure to note your legal area(s) of expertise and interest. The VLS program manager will contact new volunteers with information about available training materials or an opportunity to attend an upcoming live training. New volunteers may also sign up for a Community Legal Services-sponsored CLE indicating an interest in taking cases in that area for VLS.

For questions about taking cases for VLS, contact Karen at 206.267.7024 or CLS@KCBA.org.

To view up-coming training opportunities with this and other programs visit the Free Trainings for Volunteers page.