The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is an independent judicial branch agency created by the legislature in 2005 under RCW 2.53.020 to administer and oversee state funds appropriated by the Legislature to provide civil (not criminal) legal aid services to low-income people in Washington State. OCLA does not provide direct representation of clients. Instead, OCLA contracts with attorneys throughout Washington State to provide civil legal aid services.
| Finding Legal Help | Other Ways to Find Help | Legal Information and Self Help |
| Northwest Justice Project is the largest civil legal aid provider in Washington State and operates statewide. They operate the CLEAR coordinated intake system that can connect individuals to their services and other providers across the state. |
Eviction help, call the Eviction Defense Screening Line: 1-855-657-8387 or check county resources on the provider map. |
For self help information on a civil (not criminal) legal problem, visit Washington Law Help |
| To get help, call the CLEAR hotline or apply online: 1-888-201-1014 Apply online here |
Foreclosure help, call the Foreclosure Hotline: 1-800-606-481 |
For help finding and completing court forms, visit Washington Forms Online |
| If you are a senior, call the CLEAR senior line: 1-888-387-7111 |
Immigration help, call Northwest Immigration Rights Project 1-800-445-5771 |
Some counties have courthouse facilitator programs, who can help self-represented parties with their family law or guardianship case Courthouse Facilitators |
| If you live in King County call: 211 |
To find a legal aid organization near you, call CLEAR or search this Directory |
If you need legal assistance in a language other than English, the links below will take you to Northwest Justice Project’s Get Legal Help page in several languages:
ASL video Español 中文 한국어 Tagalog Tiếng Việt Pусский Somali
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is civil legal aid?
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Civil Legal Aid helps people with low incomes solve civil (non-criminal) legal problems. It can help with issues like:
Problems with landlords, like evictions or bad living conditions Family issues, like divorce or parenting plans Domestic violence, including protection orders and immigration status Foreclosure on homes Consumer issues, like bankruptcy, debt, and unfair loans Child welfare, include the parent's and child’s right to attorneys in dependency cases Education, including special education needs Government services, like food stamps, Temporary for Needy Families (TANF), social security, and healthcare (Medicaid, Medicare, AppleHealth), and long-term care.
- Who is financially eligible for free civil legal help?
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Civil legal aid provides free lawyers and legal services to people with low incomes. Every civil legal aid program has different eligibility rules. When you contact a civil legal aid program, they will ask questions about your income and determine if you are eligible for free legal services.
- How can I find a civil legal aid lawyer?
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Civil Legal Aid services are available across the state, but not everyone will qualify to speak with a lawyer. Some programs focus on specific types of law, while others help with many issues.
To find a civil legal aid provider who can help, start by identifying which organizations serve your area and whether they handle your specific legal issue. To find help:
To find a civil legal aid provider who can help, start by identifying which organizations serve your area and whether they handle your specific legal issue. To find help:Call CLEAR (or 2-1-1 if your issue is in King County)
Apply for help online
Search the Legal Help Directory
Unfortunately, there are not enough lawyers to help everyone. When there are no lawyers available to help or you do not qualify to speak to a lawyer, Washington Law Help offers legal information and step-by-step guides to help you solve your legal issues on your own.
- What to expect
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If you qualify for services from a civil legal aid program and the program has availability, you may be scheduled for an appointment with an attorney. The attorney may do one or more of the following:
- Meet with you for 30-60 minutes to provide legal advice
- Provide you limited help by writing a letter for you or helping you fill out court paperwork
- Represent you in a court hearing but not in your whole case
- Represent you in your whole case.
When you meet with the attorney, the attorney will explain the level of help they can give you and you will both sign an agreement to work together.
- What if I can't get a lawyer?
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Unfortunately, less than half of the people who need help are able to talk with a civil legal aid lawyer. If you can't get help from civil legal aid, there are resources to help you handle your legal issue on your own. Washington Law Help has self-help packets, forms, and information about the court process. Many courts also have self-help materials or facilitators.
- What if I don’t speak English?
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All legal aid organizations can provide interpreters, and many self-help resources are available in multiple languages. If you need legal assistance in a language other than English, the links below will take you to Northwest Justice Project’s Get Legal Help page in several languages:
- What if I need an accommodation for a disability?
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If you need accommodation to access services from a legal aid provider, just ask.
If you are representing yourself an need an accommodation in court, more information is available on the Washington Courts Court Program Accessibility website.