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.
Program Overview
In 1990 a group of attorneys and community activist created the Homeless Task Force known today as Legal Services for the Homeless. The project was created to screen cases directly in a shelter and match cases to attorneys. Clients no longer had to go choose between a warm bed and legal assistance. This was the first of many steps taken by LSH to eliminate barriers homeless individuals face in accessing legal services. Through the years hundreds of homeless client’s have been directly impacted by attorneys through this program.
Three ways the program assists clients:
- Law firms are paired with shelters and take cases through regularly scheduled intake sessions. The purpose of the intake session is to meet with and screen shelter residents in order to evaluate the validity of potential legal claims. In many cases, the shelter resident’s problem is handled with on-site consultation. Other times, the resident’s problem necessitates direct legal representation. The paired law firms then attempt to place these cases with attorney in their firm.
- If, due to conflict or another reason and the law firm cannot take on the representation of a particular homeless resident, the law firm may pass the information onto the King County Bar Association for possible placement with an attorney on one of KCBA’s Volunteer Panels.
- Another way in which clients can access legal services from KCBA is our new Case Manager Referral form. A trend we have recently noticed is the increasing need to collaborate with case managers in aiding Homeless clients. Often times the case manager is the go to person in making and maintaining contact with the client. From that referral point KCBA places cases through KCBA’s Volunteer Panels.
LSH Partnerships:
K&L Gates (Firm Coordinator: John Wilson) & the Aloha Inn
Davis Wright Tremaine (Firm Coordinator: Julie Orr) & Downtown Emergency Service Center
Karr Tuttle Campbell (Firm Coordinator: Wanda Baker) & Seattle Emergency Housing Services
King County Prosecutors Office (Firm Coordinator: Cristy Craig) & Plymouth Housing Group
Riddell Williams (Firm Coordinator: Josh Piper) & William Booth Center
Perkins Coie (Firm Coordinator: Lisa Schaures) & the Compass Center
What Volunteer Opportunities Are Available With LSH?
Partnerships
For attorneys who belong to one of the firms above and are interested in volunteering with the partnerships please contact the coordinator of your firm, to get on their clinic rotation schedule. 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.
If you belong to a firm that does not already have a partnership established and would like to start one, there are several homeless shelters that are in need of legal aid. Please contact the Program Manager for a meeting to further discuss the potential establishment of a new partnership.
KCBA's Volunteer Panels
Attorneys with experience in high demand areas you are needed in the KCBA Homeless Volunteer Panel to take cases for direct representation. For clients with civil legal needs beyond the scope of the clinics, LSH volunteer panel 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 attorneys take cases for on-going assistance in the legal areas listed above. Attorneys should already be familiar with their preferred legal practice area. 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.
What Training Does LSH Provide?
Clinic Volunteers
When a new partnership is established Legal Service for the Homeless holds a-half day CLE training. An overview of the program, the referral process, and the most common legal issues attorneys will see that impact the homeless population. Training from that point on is done at the request of the Firm Coordinator. 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.
Volunteer Panel
If you would like to volunteer on one or more of the panels, KCBA has an annual CLE entitled “More than Just a Legal Issue”; you can attend the CLE or watch the DVD. This training is a basic over view of taking on a pro bono case with KCBA. Topics such as ethics, working with clients who are disabled or have mental health issues, and how to work with an interpreter are a few areas that are covered. 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.
To view up-coming training opportunities with this and other programs, visit the Free Trainings for Volunteers page. 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.
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.
How Do I Volunteer?
Volunteer Application
If you are interested in volunteering for Legal Services for the Homeless please fill out the general volunteer application. Be sure to note your legal area(s) of expertise and interest. Once completed return the appropriate application (available above) to the Program Manager, Ana Selvidge at AnaS@KCBA.org or fax to (206) 267-7099. If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment please call (206) 267-7042.
For client information, please visit Community Legal Services’ Free Legal Assistance page.