August 2007

Bridging the GAAP in Washington State

by Julia Bahner and Rachelle Anderson

Washington State has developed an innovative program that allows young lawyers to gain valuable experience by providing low-bono services (i.e. reduced fee legal services), and also allows low income community members access to legal services. This service is known as the Greater Access and Assistance Project, or GAAP.

Background and History: The GAAP was originally envisioned by the Washington Young Lawyers Division (WYLD) in 1996 as low fee panels throughout the state that would be supported by the WYLD in coordination with local legal services programs. In furtherance of that mission, the WYLD joined with the Access to Justice Board (ATJ) in the development of the GAAP program and to seek the endorsement of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). The GAAP provides civil legal assistance to people who are not financially eligible for pro bono legal assistance or staffed legal aid programs but cannot afford to hire a private attorney for representation. The program is overseen by a joint committee consisting of members of the WYLD and liaisons from the ATJ Board. GAAP was started as a pilot program in Spokane County, but the committee is working with people from around the state to expand the GAAP program to other counties such as Whatcom, Snohomish, Kitsap and King Counties.
 
A very successful marketing effort in Spokane, Washington resulted in the creation of a GAAP panel of over 80 attorneys ready and willing to take cases at a reduced rate. The Spokane County Bar Association (SCBA) agreed to provide office space and a fax machine and phone so that GAAP administrative volunteers could receive faxed referrals and make calls to GAAP panel attorneys. Northwest Justice Project’s CLEAR system (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral) also agreed to fax eligible referrals to GAAP. After determining that clients meet pre-established financial requirements, CLEAR advocates complete a referral form for GAAP with the client’s name, phone number and a brief description of the client’s legal issue. Since inception in February 2002, CLEAR has made well over 300 referrals to GAAP.
 
Expansion: In the years 2005 through 2007, the WYLD applied for and received ABA YLD public service subgrants to secure funding for expansion efforts. They have received well over $4,000 from the ABA YLD to date. The WYLD is pleased to announce that included in this funding is an award of a $2,000 subgrant to expand GAAP in Snohomish and Kitsap counties. Specifically, efforts are underway in Kitsap to recruit an attorney pool and refine intake procedures for GAAP clients. Intake and referral to attorneys will be handled by the local pro bono program, Kitsap Legal Services. In Snohomish County, GAAP is up and running and they are still looking for interested attorneys to serve on the GAAP panel. They can contact Joyce Wood at (425) 388-3056 for more information or to sign up. Whatcom County was also just awarded an ABA YLD grant of $850 toward start-up and they are coordinating theirs efforts with LAW Advocates, the Whatcom local volunteer legal services organization. Whatcom County is hopeful that it will be able to start serving “lo bono” clients by the end of this year.

Additionally, a funding request (in addition to the WYLD GAAP budget request) has been submitted to the WSBA Board of Governors for the expansion of the program to grow from satellite programs run county by county to one statewide program united under one centralized administrative hub. Part of the request was for a feasibility study to evaluate the possibility of a centralized statewide GAAP program. The other part will provide funding to existing programs and those that are just getting started. The committee is very optimistic in light of increasing interest from the Board of Governors and the WSBA. The program is very worthwhile and will help to serve people who might otherwise fall through the “gap.”

Feasibility Report: The feasibility of expanding the GAAP program to a statewide program rather than one run county by county was recently explored. Stakeholders from those counties who are currently operating GAAP programs as well as those in interested counties were consulted, and the study produced some exciting recommendations. Since local knowledge of the volunteer attorney base is crucial to successfully placing the clients and attorneys, it is still going to be imperative that much of the program be run at a local level. However, in order to ensure a standardized means of operation, uniform guidelines and promotion of the program on a wider basis, a centralized hub – acting as an administrator of the program – would be the ideal way to keep this program growing and thriving.

The future of GAAP in still uncertain as a statewide program. But with more counties in Washington showing interest, and with the support of the WYLD and its members spearheading this exceptional program, it is certain that many people who otherwise would not have legal representation are getting their legal gap filled. Stay tuned for more updates, and for additional information please contact Rachelle Anderson.

Julia Bahner is the ABA YLD District Representative for Washington and Oregon. She practices commercial litigation and bankruptcy in Seattle, Washington and can be reached at julbahner@hotmail.com.
Rachelle Anderson is the Greater Spokane District WYLD Trustee. She practices family law in Spokane and can be reached at rachelle@asisna.com.