LAW Advocates

P.O. Box 937

Bellingham, WA 98227

(360) 671-6079

Mary Swenson, Director

justlaws@nas.com

Office Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm

Telephone Only, No Walk-Ins

Screening- call CLEAR at: 1-888-201-1014 (for details see below)

L egal A ssistance by W hatcom (LAW) Advocates is a non-profit organization which interviews and refers eligible low-income Whatcom County residents to a panel of local attorneys, who volunteer their time to provide free or low cost civil legal help. A family law staff attorney provides help in domestic violence cases. Interpreter services are available on site.

To determine financial eligibility and type of legal problem, clients are encouraged to call LAW Advocates' screening service, CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice and Referral):

1-888-201-1014

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:15 am-12:15 pm, Tuesday 3:30 pm-6:15 pm

Direct Representation. Attorneys represent clients in family law, landlord-tenant, bankruptcy, debt-or/creditor, foreclosure, consumer protection, guardianship, tort defense, contracts, and license revocations.

Domestic Violence Self-Help Clinic. Provides a family law attorney one day a week who handles advice and in-depth parenting plan preparation for domestic violence survivors.

Advice Clinics. Attorneys provide document review and brief service for clients who are handling and/or representing themselves in family law and debtor/creditor matters.

Street Law. Two Saturdays each month, lawyers dispense free legal advice and referrals to anyone who asks.  Summer Street Law is located at the corner of Railroad Ave. and Magnolia St. in downtown Bellingham.  Street Law at the Library is located on the first floor of the Bellingham Public Library.  Year-round, the event runs from 1:00-am to 4:00pm.

The Will Program. Lawyers prepare simple wills, community property agreements, durable powers of attorney and living wills for low-income seniors over age 60, people who are terminally ill or disabled.  A $25 fee is charged for this service.

Whatcom Civil Rights Project.  Lawyers will represent cases involving discrimination or government abuse of power.  Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, phone (360) 733-2233, conducts eligibility screening.