Updated: June 21, 2024
- WSBA & COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine information and Washington's distribution plan
- U.S. Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Gov. Jay Inslee's proclamation temporarily prohibiting residential evictions
- Economic Impact Payments
- Court Closures and Emergency Measures
- Washington AG: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
- Coronavirus Benefits Information for People without Immigration Status (English)
- Coronavirus Información sobre las Prestaciones de Asistencia Pública para Personas sin Estatus Migratorio (El español)
- Coronavirus: Benefits Information for People without Immigration Status
- Virtual Internships: Best Practices for Employers and Interns
Legal aid organizations are working to protect their staff, volunteers, and clients from the spread of COVID-19 while still providing the vital services communities need. Below is a developing summary of legal resources.
Washington Courts Directory for Latest Operations Updates
Free Legal Help
Beyond King County
- Call The CLEAR Hotline toll-free at 888-201-1014 or apply online for certain types of cases. The line is open weekdays 9:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
- Visit Northwest Justice Project for any changes to the CLEAR hours of operations due to COVID-19.
- Pierce County Housing Help Pop-Ups. Experts at Tacomaprobono’s Housing Justice Project and Pierce County Human Services will answer legal questions and provide help applying for rental/utility assistance programs.
Dates include:- Nov. 12 at the Key Center Library and Gig Harbor Library
- Nov. 15 at the Orting Library
- Nov. 18 at the South Hill Library
- Nov. 19 at the Fife Library and Milton/Edgewood Library
- Nov. 20 at the University Place Library
- Nov. 22 at the Eatonville Library and Parkland/Spanaway Library
- Nov. 23 at the Steilacoom Library
- Nov. 29 at the Summit Library
- Nov. 30 at the DuPont Library and Tillicum Library
In King County
- Free legal clinic Oct. 30 to help people with COVID-19 housing-related issues. Contact the King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project at 206-267-7069 to be scheduled.
- The 2-1-1 Hotline. The 211 Legal Referral and Information Hotline provides information for people facing civil (non-criminal) legal matters. Call 211 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- The Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) provides civil legal aid to low-income residents of King County, including phone consultations with volunteer attorneys and staff attorneys who work with victims of domestic violence.
- King County Law Library: The Seattle location has closed its physical location. Library patrons can still access services remotely, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Contact them at services@kcll.org or 206-477-1305 or at www.kcll.org. The library hosts a legal clinic which you can access via telephone:
- Debt Collection Defense Clinic on Tuesday from 1–3 p.m. at 206-707-0934.
- The Downtown Neighborhood Legal Clinic will accept calls on Thursdays noon–2 p.m. Call 206-267-7070 to request an appointment.
- The New Lawyers Division Walk-In Clinic is cancelled until further notice.
- Tenant Law Center: Free legal assistance to qualifying low-income tenants in King County who are facing eviction or subsidy termination, ranging from self-help information to representation in court. For assistance, call the Tenant Law Center at: 206-324-6890.
All Counties
- Most counties have volunteer lawyer programs that can connect you with services You can find a list of them here
Statewide
- If you are seeking legal aid for the first time, please call the CLEAR Hotline at 888-201-1014 if you are outside King County or 2-1-1 if you are in King County.
- Judicial Branch Establishes Eviction Resolution Program to Help Communities and Courts with Likely Wave of Evictions
- If you are already working with an organization and need to know whether their services are changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, you should look at the organization's website or contact them directly. For a directory of civil legal organizations, visit the Alliance for Equal Justice.
- The UW Federal Tax Clinic helps low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS. All services provided remotely.
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) represents unaccompanied immigrant children in their immigration removal proceedings, including applications for immigration relief/benefits. Phone and video conferencing available.
- QLaw's LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic offers a free consultation with a volunteer attorney.
- Communities Rise is offering a free legal clinic program that provides small businesses and nonprofits with a 60-minute legal consultation with a lawyer to discuss business legal questions or issues that have arisen due to the effect of COVID-19 on the business.
Reduced-Fee Civil Legal Help
- The Moderate Means Program provides free referrals to attorneys and limited license technicians who charge reduced fees for family law, consumer law and housing law cases.
- Northwest Consumer Law Center offers video conferencing, webinars, legal clinics, and reduced-rate legal representation to those financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Criminal Defense Legal Help
Washington Defenders Association's Clearinghouse for public defenders and other advocates working on COVID-19 Related Advocacy
Legal Information and Resources
- COVID-19 Legal Needs Checklist
- Washington Law Help has information about employment, healthcare insurance, public health information, and court closures.
- Up-to-date information on COVID-19 related benefits and assistance available in Washington
- LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic and COVID-19 resources for the LGBTQ+ Community
- LGBTQ+ estate planning and healthcare directives
- Debt-related resources and webinars on topics such as landlord/tenant law & COVID-19, student loans & COVID-19, and managing debt amid COVID-19
- Extended Free Trials for Research Tools, Including Westlaw and LexisNexis
- Landlord-Tenant Rights and Resources
COVID-19 Resources
- Avoiding Coronavirus Financial Scams
- Estate Planning for Beginners
- CDC COVID-19 Resources
- CDC Resources for Employers
- COVID-19 and Travel
- COVID-19 & Paid Family and Medical Leave
- How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering
- Free COVID-19-Related Webinars Open to the Public from ABA's Civil Rights and Social Justice Section
- Debt-Related Resources and Webinars
- Supporting Social and Emotional Learning During Coronavirus
- Learning about Coronavirus: Resources for Children and Families
- Caring for Children During Coronavirus Outbreak
- Informational Webinar for Native Americans: COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits
Blog Posts from NWSidebar
- Addressing Data Security and Privacy — Especially While Working Remotely
- Unemployment, Civil Legal Aid, and the COVID-19 Crisis
- Coronavirus and Cannabis: How the Essentialness of Marijuana Varies State by State
- Online Dispute Resolution in the Time of Coronavirus
- Laid Off During COVID Crisis: What to do If You’ve Been Let Go
- Where’s the Hurt? Part 1: The Financial Impact of Coronavirus & How to Survive It
- Where’s the Hurt? Part 2: The Financial Forecast for Large Washington Law Firms amid Coronavirus
- Zooming with Caution: Best Practices for Using Zoom and Other Videoconferencing Tools
- Washington AG: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
- Are You Prepared for a Pandemic?
Use with Caution : The Washington State Bar Association provides this information, related materials, links, and resources for informative purposes only. WSBA does not warrant the information provided with regard to accuracy or any other purpose. No endorsement is intended, nor does the information contained herein constitute legal advice or legal opinions. You are responsible for ensuring your own legal and ethical compliance. Any use of the materials herein is not a defense against discipline, a malpractice claim, or other legal proceeding. Information on this page does not modify the rules, statutes, and regulations set by the federal government, state legislature, Washington Supreme Court, or the Bylaws and policies of the WSBA, or confer any additional rights.
