Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services

Initial Client Contact
1-888-201-1014, 1-888-201-9737 TDD
Hours:  9:30-12:30 M-F

What are Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services?
Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services are separate non-profit organizations that provide free legal help on non-criminal problems to persons with low incomes and limited savings.  Columbia Legal Services also provides help to seniors (age 60 and older) without regard to income or savings.

Who do they help and what help can they provide?
Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services focus especially on problems important to large numbers of poor people for which other help is often not available.  Neither office can become actively involved with every problem, even when those problems involve valid legal claims.  Depending on the situation, legal help may consist of written information, brief advice, referrals to other sources of help, and sometimes direct representation.

Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services each directly represents some clients whose problems involve cash assistance programs, food stamps, subsidized housing, public health care coverage, and disability issues.  They also may take some cases involving job-training services, special or regular education and urgent problems affecting families and children.

What is CLEAR?
To ask for free legal help with any non-criminal problem, persons should first contact the toll-free CLEAR system (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral) at the telephone number listed above.  This system offers a convenient and quick source of current information about many kinds of problems and the possibilities for direct assistance.  Callers speak with a trained attorney or paralegal and may then be referred promptly for additional help as appropriate.