COVID-19 LEGAL RESOURCES & Information for the Public

Legal aid organizations are working to protect their staff, volunteers, and clients from the spread of COVID-19 while still providing the vital services communities need. Below is a developing summary of legal resources.

Washington Courts Directory for Latest Operations Updates

Free Legal Help

Beyond King County

• Call The CLEAR Hotline toll-free at 888-201-1014 or apply online for certain types of cases. The line is open weekdays 9:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
• Visit Northwest Justice Project for any changes to the CLEAR hours of operations due to COVID-19.
• Pierce County Housing Help Pop-Ups. Experts at Tacomaprobono’s Housing Justice Project and Pierce County Human Services will answer legal questions and provide help applying for rental/utility assistance programs.
  Dates include:
  • Nov. 12 at the Key Center Library and Gig Harbor Library
  • Nov. 15 at the Orting Library
  • Nov. 18 at the South Hill Library
  • Nov. 19 at the Fife Library and Milton/Edgewood Library
  • Nov. 20 at the University Place Library
  • Nov. 22 at the Eatonville Library and Parkland/Spanaway Library
  • Nov. 23 at the Steilacoom Library
  • Nov. 29 at the Summit Library
  • Nov. 30 at the DuPont Library and Tillicum Library

In King County

• Free legal clinic Oct. 30 to help people with COVID-19 housing-related issues. Contact the King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project at 206-267-7069 to be scheduled.
• The 2-1-1 Hotline. The 211 Legal Referral and Information Hotline provides information for people facing civil (non-criminal) legal matters. Call 211 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• The Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) provides civil legal aid to low-income residents of King County, including phone consultations with volunteer attorneys and staff attorneys who work with victims of domestic violence.
• King County Law Library: The Seattle location has closed its physical location. Library patrons can still access services remotely, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Contact them at services@kcll.org or 206-477-1305 or at www.kcll.org. The library hosts a legal clinic which you can access via telephone:
  • Debt Collection Defense Clinic on Tuesday from 1–3 p.m. at 206-707-0934.
  • The Downtown Neighborhood Legal Clinic will accept calls on Thursdays noon–2 p.m. Call 206-267-7070 to request an appointment.
  • The New Lawyers Division Walk-In Clinic is cancelled until further notice.
• Tenant Law Center: Free legal assistance to qualifying low-income tenants in King County who are facing eviction or subsidy termination, ranging from self-help information to representation in court. For assistance, call the Tenant Law Center at: 206-324-6890.

All Counties

• Most counties have volunteer lawyer programs that can connect you with services You can find a list of them here

Statewide

• If you are seeking legal aid for the first time, please call the CLEAR Hotline at 888-201-1014 if you are outside King County or 2-1-1 if you are in King County.
• Judicial Branch Establishes Eviction Resolution Program to Help Communities and Courts with Likely Wave of Evictions
• If you are already working with an organization and need to know whether their services are changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, you should look at the organization's website or contact them directly. For a directory of civil legal organizations, visit the Alliance for Equal Justice.
• The UW Federal Tax Clinic helps low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS. All services provided remotely.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) represents unaccompanied immigrant children in their immigration removal proceedings, including applications for immigration relief/benefits. Phone and video conferencing available.
• QLaw's LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic offers a free consultation with a volunteer attorney.
• Communities Rise is offering a free legal clinic program that provides small businesses and nonprofits with a 60-minute legal consultation with a lawyer to discuss business legal questions or issues that have arisen due to the effect of COVID-19 on the business.

Reduced-Fee Civil Legal Help

• The Moderate Means Program provides free referrals to attorneys and limited license technicians who charge reduced fees for family law, consumer law and housing law cases.
  • Fill out an online application.
  • The online application is the fastest way to qualify. If you cannot use the online application, please leave a message at 855-741-6930.
• Northwest Consumer Law Center offers video conferencing, webinars, legal clinics, and reduced-rate legal representation to those financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
  

Criminal Defense Legal Help

Washington Defenders Association's Clearinghouse for public defenders and other advocates working on COVID-19 Related Advocacy

Legal Information and Resources

• COVID-19 Legal Needs Checklist
• Washington Law Help has information about employment, healthcare insurance, public health information, and court closures.
• Up-to-date information on COVID-19 related benefits and assistance available in Washington
• LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic and COVID-19 resources for the LGBTQ+ Community
• LGBTQ+ estate planning and healthcare directives
• Debt-related resources and webinars on topics such as landlord/tenant law & COVID-19, student loans & COVID-19, and managing debt amid COVID-19
• Extended Free Trials for Research Tools, Including Westlaw and LexisNexis
• Landlord-Tenant Rights and Resources

COVID-19 Resources

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