Free Legal Services for Low-Income Flood Victims; Washington Lawyers Activate Hotline

(SEATTLE) — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has activated a hotline for low-income residents needing legal help to recover from the recent flooding in Western Washington. Families and individuals with legal problems caused by the recent flooding and who cannot afford their own lawyer can get free legal advice from volunteer WSBA attorneys.

Flood victims needing legal assistance, but who cannot afford an attorney are advised to call the Disaster Legal Services line toll-free at 1-866-519-7099 (v) and leave a message. Attorneys willing to volunteer legal services for flood victims should also call the hotline.

WSBA staff will monitor the line daily. A Washington Young Lawyers Division (WLYD) lawyer will contact the caller to gather more information, and match flood victims with volunteer attorneys. The WSBA activated the hotline following a federal major disaster declaration (FEMA-1733 and 1734-DR-WA) earlier this week. WSBA attorneys provide volunteer legal services through the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division's Disaster Legal Services Program in coordination with FEMA.

The WSBA volunteer legal assistance includes:
• Help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.
• Drawing up new wills and other legal papers lost in the flood.
• Help with home repair contracts and contractors.
• Advice on landlord/tenant problems.
• Advice on eviction or foreclosure problems.
• Preparing powers of attorney.
• Help with guardianship and other similar legal papers.

In the aftermath of last year's storms and floods, WSBA volunteer attorneys successfully assisted individuals and families primarily resolve renter's insurance matters, and legal issues involving businesses destroyed in the storm.

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced available federal assistance for individuals and communities in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.

FEMA's Individual Assistance Program can help eligible applicants with temporary housing assistance; uninsured personal property; medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster; and other serious unmet needs. Those who suffered serious damage from the storms are encouraged to register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech-impaired from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Information is available online at www.fema.gov.

About the Washington State Bar Association
The WSBA is part of the judicial branch, exercising a governmental function authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 30,850 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, the WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; and administers the lawyer-discipline system. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities.

The governance of the WSBA is vested in its 14-person Board of Governors. There are three governors from the seventh congressional district; one from each of the other eight districts; and three at-large members, one of whom represents the Young Lawyers Division. The 2007-2008 president is Stanley A. Bastian, of Wenatchee. The 2007-2008 president-elect is Mark A. Johnson, of Seattle, and the immediate past-president is Ellen Conedera Dial, of Seattle. The Board meets regularly (every six weeks) at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the Bar is carried out through 23 standing committees; 26 sections; and a Young Lawyers Division, with its many committees.

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