LAW Advocates provides legal assistance on a wide-range of topics to low-income people in Whatcom County.  Services are provided through a variety of legal clinics and programs, as well as by placing cases with volunteer attorneys.  We do not provide assistance with criminal law matters.

Legal Assistance offered at LAW Advocates

LAW Advocates provides legal assistance on a wide-range of topics to low-income people in Whatcom County.  Does not assist with criminal law matters, worker's compensation or contingency fee cases.

Programs that maintain lists of private attorneys and link people who need legal assistance with lawyers who specialize in the required area of law.

Lawyer Referral Services

Community based law clinics that provide legal advice and representation to individual clients and other groups in areas of law that affect low income individuals and disadvantaged communities, self advocacy support, and referrals to legal and other services. Most are small organizations that deliver legal services to particular neighborhoods or geographically defined communities, but some are specialty clinics that focus on children and youth, older adults, people with disabilities, injured workers and other specific populations. Typical areas of practice include housing, social assistance, income maintenance, pensions, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, human rights, education and various types of government programs and benefits. Many community legal clinics also engage in system advocacy with the objective of reforming existing laws, programs and practices; and community development activities. Included may be social justice organizations and law school legal clinics.

Community Legal Clinics

Programs that provide information about specific legal problems and procedures that interested individuals can access on a website or in person, or by telephone, email, chat, text or other communication channel. Information may be in a self-serve, browsable format (for example a web resource directory or library of audio recordings) or provided by live agents with expertise in the field. Also included are legal aid services, bar associations and other programs that provide basic information about family law, landlord/tenant law, immigration law, consumer law, elder law, patient rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, the criminal justice system, the civil court system and other legal topics via workshops, classes, speaking engagements, printed materials, video tutorials, websites and other similar educational avenues.

Legal Information Services

Programs that provide legal counseling and/or representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in routine legal matters, usually in the area of bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, family law, elder law or immigration/naturalization.

General Legal Aid

Clinic staff offers advice-only services with respect to document review, criminal and civil litigation advice, probate matters, family law matters, explanation of the scope of Tribal Court jurisdiction, assistance with access to Tribal Court, and other routine matters.  
Appointments usually last one hour.

Legal Aid Clinic offered at Muckleshoot Tribal Court

Offers advice-only services with respect to document review, criminal and civil litigation advice, probate matters, family law matters, explanation of the scope of Tribal Court jurisdiction and assistance with access to Tribal Court.

Programs that provide assistance for Native Americans who need legal advice or representation regarding federal recognition, treaty rights, fishing and hunting rights, environmental protection, reservation boundaries, land acquisition, land and water rights, Native American gaming, housing, health, taxation or jurisdictional questions. Attorneys who practice in this area are concerned with the treaties, statutes, executive orders, court decisions and administrative actions that define the relationship among the United States, Native American tribes and individuals, and the states. Native American law attorneys are found in federal government bodies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and The Indian Claims Commission, which hears and determines claims against the United States on behalf of any Native American tribe. Private law firms also have lawyers who specialize in matters relating to Native American lands and reservations, tribal rights and other legal issues affecting Native Americans. Specific Native American tribes, which are recognized as sovereign entities with the power to regulate their internal and social organization, have lawyers who may be members of the tribe themselves, and/or lawyers who are hired as "general counsel" to handle the legal affairs of their tribe. Public service agencies also serve the Native American community with lawyers who specialize in the Indian Child Welfare Act, and others who serve children, people who are elderly, or indigent members of the Native American community.

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Legal Assistance offered at LAW Advocates

Legal Aid Clinic offered at Muckleshoot Tribal Court