The ACLU-WA participates in "impact litigation" designed to protect civil rights and civil liberties for large numbers of Washington residents. Does NOT typically provide legal representation to individual complainants and is not a general legal services provider. Through the Information and Referral Program (IRP), DOES provide: - "Know your rights" and legal self-help literature - Referrals to appropriate agencies and organizations In some areas of ACLU emphasis, is able to provide limited advocacy or more specialized advice. The ACLU is particularly active in the following issue areas: - Freedom of expression and freedom of religion - Police practices and accountability - Student rights, school discipline, and education issues - LGBTQ issues - Voting rights - Houseless issues

Hosts a legal clinic specifically designed to address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and couples. This clinic is run by QLaw Foundation in partnership with the King County Bar Association. The clinic is open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the clinic, an attorney will meet with clients for 30 minutes and provide individualized legal advice and information. Clinic attorneys will answer questions and provide information in a variety of areas including family law, immigration, debt and bankruptcy, divorce/dissolution, employment discrimination, and transgender legal issues.

Provides disability rights information, technical assistance for disability issues, general information about legal rights, strategies about how to become a stronger self-advocate, information sheets on a wide range of subjects to empower individuals with disabilities to better advocate for themselves, community education and training, and some legal services for disability rights violations. Focuses legal resources on systemic cases that will improve service systems for people with disabilities. Does not provide representation or advice for: -  Criminal law -  Family law -  Assistance becoming the guardian of an individual with a disability -  Out-of-state issues -  Workers compensation -  General medical malpractice & personal injury -  General consumer bankruptcy issues -  Any issue or problem not directly related to your disability -  Assistance finding employment, housing or financial assistance -  Assistance filling out forms & Social Security applications -  Anything that is not the wish of the person with the disability

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination. Investigates civil rights complaints and may refer to the proper agency/authority/attorney to handle the complaint. Participates in arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution involving civil rights issues. Is not law firm, does not have a staff of attorneys and does not give legal advice.

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)'s Youth Homelessness Program provides free legal services for young people between ages 12-24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. LCYC can help with: -  Landlord/tenant issues -  Emancipation - Minor Guardianships -  Navigating child welfare - Immigration -  Quashing warrants -  Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) -  Orders of protection -  Record sealing -  Public benefits -  Debt (medical/consumer) -  Name changes -  Gender marker changes -  Obtaining identification documents   & more!

Through a partnership with the Whatcom Civil Rights Project, this program provides legal assistance and advocacy to people who have experienced discrimination and civil rights violations.

Ensures immigrant students' right to attend school, regardless of their documentation status or the documentation status of their parents. Undocumented students are obliged under state law to attend school until they reach a mandated age. Public schools may not: -  Deny admission to a student during initial enrollment or at any other time on the basis of undocumented status. -  Treat a student differently to determine residency. -  Engage in any practices to "chill" the right of access to school. -  Require students or parents to disclose or document their immigration status. -  Make inquiries of students or parents that may expose their undocumented status. -  Require Social Security numbers from all students, as this may expose undocumented status.   Students without Social Security numbers should be assigned a number generated by the school.   Adults without Social Security numbers who are applying for a free lunch and/or breakfast program on behalf of a student need only indicate on the application that they do not have a Social Security number.   School personnel -- especially building principals and those involved with student intake activities -- should be aware that they have no legal obligation to enforce U. S. immigration laws.

Offers legal representation for issues that affect large numbers of women or set legal precedents in the Pacific Northwest. Services are available only for selected cases in areas such as:   Discrimination in employment: -  Employment discrimination or other adverse employment actions against survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking -  Refusal of employer to provide leave to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking -  Change in terms of employment based on status as a parent or caregiver -  Change in terms of employment based on pregnancy -  Employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression   Discrimination in schools, including athletic equity and schools' mishandling of sexual harassment or sexual assault.   Family law: -  Discrimination against DV survivors by CPS: Children removed from a parent's care based on allegations that the parent failed to protect children from domestic violence by the other parent -  Refusal of court to order abuser to surrender weapons in a DV Protection Order case or appeals filed by an abuser ordered to surrender weapons -  Abusive litigation against survivors of domestic violence -  Alleged father seeks parental rights for a child conceived as a result of sexual assault -  Parental rights terminated due to parent's incarceration   Nonconsensual pornography AKA "revenge porn": Cases in which private, intimate images of a person are distributed without her or his consent   Anti-LGBTQ discrimination, such as: -  Unfavorable treatment of LGBTQ parents in family law cases -  Denial of insurance coverage for transgender persons  Denial of access to health care, including: -  Reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, or emergency contraception -  Health care for LGBTQ patients -  Health care or other services for incarcerated women

Offers legal representation in cases with a likelihood of success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBT) and people with HIV or AIDS.   Pursues litigation in all areas of the law that affect LGBT individuals and people with HIV/AIDS, including: -  Marriage & Family -  Workplace equality and employment discrimination -  Immigration -  Health Care, including discrimination and breach of confidentiality -  Fair Courts -  Government and police misconduct   Provides targeted advocacy and outreach for: -  Teens & Young Adults -  Transgender individuals -  Seniors -  Those with HIV or AIDS -  Latinos -  Those experiencing discrimination rooted in intersecting identities such as race or class   Offers resources, publications and information about related issues when unable to provide representation and to support self-advocacy.

Operates a hotline focusing on Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native, and Muslim community who have experienced harmful, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes. Provides an anonymous and confidential avenue to report interactions and referrals to resources. Volunteers are trained to listen and affirm the experiences of anyone who may have experienced a negative interaction with law enforcement, consumer service (restaurants and stores), or vigilante contact. Volunteer opportunities are available.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Chinese Information and Service Center, Asian Bar Association of Washington, and Asian Counseling and Referral Service partner with the King County Bar Association to provide a free legal clinic. Pro bono attorneys work with staff and volunteer interpreters to give consultation and legal advice around family law, immigration law, landlord-tenant disputes, employment law, and other areas. As of 9/2024, most consults are virtual but in-person appointments may be available if needed (more information provided to clients during intake phone call). Call (206) 957-8544 for an appointment. Appointments are typically Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM. International District Legal Clinic Chinese Information and Services Center 611 S Lane St. Seattle, WA 98144

Operates a legal clinic providing a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney (60 minutes if an interpreter or other accommodation is needed) Clinic is open to all, but particular focus is on providing culturally-informed legal services in a safe and welcoming environment to individuals who identify as African American or Black. This clinic is staffed primarily by attorneys of color. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood Legal Clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Ensures equal access to certain health and human services, protects the privacy and security of health information and investigates discrimination on the bases of conscience or religious freedom. Civil Rights Complaint Investigates complaints of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex (including sex stereotyping and gender identity), or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance. Also investigates complaints of discrimination based on disability by a state or local government health care or social services agency.   HIPAA Complaint Investigates complaints that a Health Insurance Portability/Accountability Act-covered entity or its business associate violated health information privacy rights. OCR can investigate complaints against covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, or health care providers that conduct certain transactions electronically) and their business associates. Conscience and Religious Freedom Complaint Investigates complaints that a covered entity discriminated on the basis of conscience or religious freedom, coerced someone to violate your conscience or religious beliefs, or burdened someone's free exercise of religion

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Enforces state anti-discrimination laws in the following areas: - Employment - Housing & Real Estate Housing - Places of Public Accommodation - Credit & Insurance Those who feel discriminated against may file a complaint within six months of the occurrence of the act, or one year in cases of alleged housing discrimination.

Handles complaints of discrimination and advocates for those experiencing hate speech or being harassed.   Assists people in navigating bureaucratic systems that have discriminatory policies and procedures. May be able to assist in mediation with these systems.   If there are no resources to confront discrimination within an agency or company that a complaint is being directed toward, this agency will refer a client to the appropriate government agency.   DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

Counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes. Also provides referrals, if necessary, to attorneys who can assist with workplace, immigration or school discrimination as well as other forms of discrimination.

Provides MEDIATION services only. Does NOT mediate dissolutions (divorce) or child custody matters. Does NOT offer any legal advice. Parties voluntarily negotiate the settlement of their disputes with an impartial third party. The parties decide the outcome of the mediation, rather than a judge or arbitrator. The mediator serves to guide the process, mediators are second- and third-year law students under the supervision of law faculty. Typical mediation cases include: - Buyer/Seller - Real Estate Issues - Consumer/Business - Co-workers - Employer/Employee - Housemates/Roommates - Landlord/Tenant - Neighbors - Student/Staff - General Civil Litigation

Provides legal assistance to low-income parents that are having difficulties with a school establishing/following an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), or have complaints regarding disciplinary actions including suspensions or expulsions.

Operates legal clinics providing free 30 minute consultations with an attorney. Focus is on Korean and Korean-speaking clients. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood legal clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Provides free 45-minute to 1-hour appointments with an attorney for advice on civil legal issues such as: Federal and state benefits (social security, veteran's, Medicare and Medicaid), employment, contracts, debt/consumer/finance, landlord/tenant. Appointments are required. Clinics are currently telephonic. Attorneys at the clinic are not able to provide representation.