Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services promotes access to justice through volunteer attorneys. Make a lasting impact on the life of a community member who cannot afford to hire an attorney. As a volunteer, you will help low income clients resolve their civil legal problems by providing them legal advice, information and, sometimes, direct representation. Attorneys interview clients, identify issues, confer with a mentor and then give advice on a range of civil issues. There are clinics several evenings each month in Olympia, as well as a monthly clinic in both Shelton and Aberdeen. On Friday mornings, volunteers for the Housing Justice Project represent low income clients on the Unlawful Detainer (eviction) calendar in Thurston County.
The benefits of volunteering include:
- real-time experience providing legal consultation,
- being mentored by our seasoned volunteer attorneys,
- networking opportunities with other lawyers in the community,
- free monthly CLEs,
- pro bono hours that can count toward CLE requirements, and
- the satisfaction of leaving a valuable impact with the individuals and families you advise.
Don’t worry if you are not an expert in one of the areas we typically see — we use a model that provides on-site mentors at each clinic. Attorneys who are well-versed in family law are encouraged to volunteer to be Mentors for our legal clinics.
You must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association in order to volunteer at our clinics.
TCVLS has malpractice insurance that covers your volunteer practice.
To learn more, visit our website at www.tcvls.org or contact TCVLS staff at coordinator@nulltcvls.org.