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Information for Prospective Clients
Information for Attorneys
If you are low-income and have a non-criminal legal problem in Spokane or Lincoln Counties, call CLEAR (the Coordinated Legal Education and Referral System), toll-free at 1-888-201-1014 . The CLEAR intake line is open Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
CLEAR legal advocates may be able to provide you with legal assistance over the telephone. If not, you may be referred directly to the Volunteer Lawyers Program, other legal services program, or another agency if appropriate. Please note that the CLEAR line is very busy, so keep trying to get through.
If you are age 60 and older, you may call CLEAR Sr. at 1-888-387-7111 . There is no income eligibility for receiving service through CLEAR Sr.
If you are unable to reach CLEAR, you may contact the Volunteer Lawyers Program directly by calling our intake line at (509) 324-0144 . The intake line is open on Monday afternoons from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. VLP staff will determine eligibility for services based on income and the type of legal problem. Legal residency in the United States is not required to receive services.
User-friendly legal help is also available through the internet at www.washingtonlawhelp.org Court forms may be downloaded at www.courts.wa.gov |
Each Wednesday there are approximately 12 afternoon appointments at the FLAC for individuals with family law issues aside from divorce. The clinic is held in the Family Law Center of Spokane County Superior Courthouse, Room 101. Clients meet with family law attorneys to review paperwork and to obtain advice and counsel. The clinic is available by appointment only and the cost is $5.00.
The DAC is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. at the VLP offices in the Jack Dean Law Center , 1704 W. Broadway. Clients are strongly encouraged to complete as much of their dissolution (divorce) paperwork as possible before meeting with an attorney at the clinic. The DAC is available by appointment only and the cost is $5.00.
Pro se clients (those appearing without representation) at their mandatory Status Conference Hearing on family law cases may obtain assistance from a VLP attorney to gain continuances, set cases for trial, or complete final paperwork. The SCAC takes place each Thursday morning in the two family law courtrooms at Superior Court. This service is free.
Clients interested in filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may attend the Bankruptcy Information Clinic (BIC) held at 5: 30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the VLP office. A packet of information is sent ahead of time to enable clients to complete as much bankruptcy paperwork as possible before the clinic. The clinic is available by appointment only and the cost is $5.00. If the client appears to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and meets program eligibility criteria, the VLP finds an attorney to assist the client with a Chapter 7 filing.
Individuals who have received an eviction summons may receive emergency advice at the Unlawful Detainer docket through the Housing Justice Project (HJP). VLP attorneys are available to help negotiate with the opposing attorney or request a continuance to gather more evidence. At the discretion of the attorney, he/she may also represent the client at a hearing or trial. There is no charge for services through the HJP.
The VLP refers clients to pro bono attorneys who may provide representation for a specific component of a legal matter, or full representation for the duration of the case. Each year cases are referred in many areas of law including family, landlord/tenant, public benefits and consumer law, license suspension, bankruptcy filing and wills.
While the VLP makes every effort to obtain representation for eligible clients whose |
The C.H.I.N.S. program was created to assist children in obtaining Child in Need of Services petitions. This allows a child to live with an appropriate family while finishing school or until the child’s parents get the services they need, enabling the child to return to a functional home. This program is a collaborative effort of the VLP and TeamChild.
Street Law is collaboration between the VLP and the Center for Justice. This project enables anyone to talk to an attorney or paralegal free of charge on Saturdays during the summer months. At tables set up in downtown Spokane ’s Riverfront Park , volunteers give brief legal assistance or direct clients to other agencies when appropriate.