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October 2008Legal Aid Daysby WSBA Executive Director Paula Littlewood and Guest Columnist Scott A. Smith The WSBA has long been a proud supporter of access to our justice system for those who have nowhere else to turn. The WSBA Guiding Principles include a commitment to advancing and promoting access to justice, which Washington lawyers and judges have embraced through their generous contributions of time and money to these efforts. For those of you unfamiliar with the work of our state’s Alliance for Equal Justice or for those of you hoping to contribute to this cause through time or money, please consider attending one of the upcoming events for 2008 Legal Aid Days to learn more about getting involved! Thank you to Scott Smith and others at the Equal Justice Coalition for sharing this important information this month. — Paula Littlewood
by Scott A. Smith Jenny’s child, Kevin,* lives with severe developmental disabilities; he requires constant care from his mother. After injuring herself when lifting Kevin and his wheelchair into her van, Jenny applied for public assistance to install a wheelchair lift in her vehicle. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) denied her request twice. Fortunately for Jenny and Kevin, an attorney from the Northwest Justice Project represented the family. After presenting information to DSHS demonstrating the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of the wheelchair lift over other transportation services available, DSHS approved the request. Jenny can now easily and safely transport her son, greatly improving this family’s quality of life. Sadly, this story is not unique. Despite offering assistance to more than 40,000 low-income and vulnerable people in Washington each year, every day the Alliance for Equal Justice — Washington’s network of legal aid providers and supporters — must turn away eligible clients. Currently, there are enough resources to help only a fraction of those in need. Because funding for civil legal aid falls far short of the statewide need, more than 80 percent of low-income individuals and families with urgent legal problems are forced to face those problems without any legal help or representation. Now we are in the midst of an uncertain economy and face a tight budget in the 2009 legislative session. Hard times and budget cuts always hit our most vulnerable neighbors first. Civil legal aid programs providing free legal assistance for those in need can alleviate many of the harshest effects of the current cutbacks affecting vulnerable Washingtonians and our communities. For the sake of our common future, Washington must invest in equal justice by increasing resources for legal aid. Supporting legal aid is a proactive investment in the future. Unaddressed legal problems weaken families and communities, intensify poverty, and increase use of government assistance programs. Access to legal aid preempts a costly spiral of social problems by helping reduce homelessness, unemployment, deficient healthcare, domestic violence, and loss of livelihood. Please invest in equal justice. Join the Alliance for Equal Justice at one of our 2008 Legal Aid Days to celebrate and promote the important work of our legal aid providers on behalf of low-income and vulnerable people in need. The Alliance has held these events, formerly called Open Houses, for the past three biennia with the goal of increasing private giving through the Campaign for Equal Justice and building public support in the upcoming legislative session. Statewide celebrations of legal aid mobilize our supporters, foster relationships with legislators, generate positive media attention, and help educate the public and policymakers about the critical need. As attorneys, we are an important part of Washington’s ability to collaboratively increase resources for legal aid in 2009. Join us at one of the following events to show your support for legal aid to help our neighbors and communities in need throughout Washington. Visit www.allianceforequaljustice.org for more information. Event Details
Scott A. Smith chairs the Equal Justice Coalition and is a past chair of the Access to Justice Board and a past president of the King County Bar Association. He is a trial attorney at Riddell Williams in Seattle. *Names have been changed to protect the clients’ confidentiality. |
