Pro Bono services in Clallam-Jefferson Counties
Pro Bono is free legal services for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Pro Bono services are available from the Northwest Justice Project (NJP), Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers (CJCPBL), and Port Angeles Pro Bono. (Please note that because of demand and limited availability, free legal services may be limited and slow to access). The Clallam County Courthouse Facilitator also provides no cost help with court published forms and court procedure (but not legal advice). The Courthouse Facilitator may reached at 360-417-2588.
For current pro bono events and opportunities click here.
CLEAR Line
To request Pro Bono services from NJP or CJCPBL, you must first call the Clear Line, at 1-888-201-1014. CLEAR line 1-888-201-1014 for legal assistance weekdays from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. (Please note, CLEAR line times are subject to change.) See below for more information about the CLEAR line.
Port Angeles Pro Bono: Family Law Mediation Project 2024
Port Angeles Pro Bono is hosting low bono mediation for family law and domestic violence cases. For information about low bono mediation, see the Port Angeles Pro Bono page.
Courthouse Facilitator
COVID-19 UPDATE: during lock down or times of needed physical or social distancing, the Facilitator is only meeting with clients by phone:
360-417-2588.
The court house Facilitator can help you with finding the correct form and with court room procedures. The Facilitator’s office is located in room 212, on the second floor of the old courthouse, just before the breeze way to the new courthouse building. Please note, the court house facilitator does not provide legal advice. Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers provides legal advice for qualifying low income people.
Facilitator days and hours at the main office are (this schedule changes frequently so it may not be accurate):
Monday: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Wednesday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Thursday: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Friday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
What is CLEAR?
CLEAR is the Northwest Justice Project’s Coordinated Legal Education And Referral system. CLEAR is a toll-free telephone service for low-income people in Washington who need free legal assistance with non-criminal problems. CLEAR also refers eligible clients on to Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers. All eligible people who need advice or representation by a Clallam County Pro Bono lawyer must first call the CLEAR Intake Line.
What Can I Expect When I Call CLEAR?
When you call the CLEAR line you may get a busy signal or a message saying that all the circuits are busy. If you get this message, PLEASE, hang-up and immediately try again until you until you get through to their voice mail. This may take 8 or 10 call backs. Once your call is in line to speak to a CLEAR advocate, please expect to wait from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the number of other calls being handled. Your call will be routed to an attorney or paralegal.
Before CLEAR can help you they will ask you questions about your financial situation. In order to protect your rights or the rights of another person, because of a conflict of interest, the CLEAR staff will ask you for information about the person, business or agency with which you are having a problem.
The attorney or paralegal will then ask you about your problem. You can help by having any papers or documents concerning your problem with you when you call. It will also help if you have important information such as names of people involved in the problem, and their addresses and phone numbers.
Based on the information you give CLEAR, you may be given advice that may help you solve your problem on your own. CLEAR also has an extensive library of informational materials to help you understand your legal rights and to advocate on your own behalf. If your problem is covered by any of these materials, they will be sent to you free of charge.
In some cases, CLEAR advocates try to solve your problem through negotiation. If your problem is more complicated and you need an attorney to represent you, CLEAR will try to refer
you to Pro Bono Lawyers when they are accepting cases of the type you need help with. They will do their best to see that you get all the help that is available.
Do I Have to Call the CLEAR Line to Get a Pro Bono Lawyer? Why?
YES! You must call the CLEAR line to do an “intake.” If you are eligible, CLEAR will refer your case to Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers. Pro Bono Lawyers provides services primarily through “Advise and Referral Clinics.” In some cases, the program will ask for a volunteer attorney to provide direct representation.
Jefferson-Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers contact information
Shauna Rogers McClain, Executive Director
228 W. 1st Street Suite N
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-504-2422
website: http://www.cjcpbl.org
Are There Any Other Low Cost Legal Resources?
You can find self-help legal information at WashingtonLawHelp.org on the Internet and Clallam County Court forms at courts.wa.gov/forms.
You can also meet with the Family Court Facilitator for Clallam County (more information below).
Other Resources
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy
Mariposa House – 360-374-6411
Health Families of Clallam County – 360-452-3811
Makah Family Violence Program – 360-645-3254
Lower Elwah Domestic Violence Program – 360-452.8471
Immigrant Advocacy
CLEAR: Servicious Legales Gratis – 1-888-2011-1014
Escuela para Todos – 360-374-6650
Northwest Immigration Rights Project – 206-587-4009
Other Agencies
Clallam County Housing Authority – 360-452-7631
Clallam County Public Defenders – 360-452-3307
Clallam County Superior Court Clerk – 360-417-2508
CLEAR Intake and Referral Line for Legal Assistance – 1-888-201-1014; TTY -1-888-201-9737
CLEAR*Sr (age 60 and over) – 1-888-387-7111
CLEAR: Servicious Legales Gratis – 1-888-2011-1014
Northwest Justice Project, Port Angeles Field Office – 360-452-9137 or Toll Free 1-866-402-4452
Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center – 360-452-8024
For a list of Low Bono (low cost) lawyers, see Washington Affordable Lawyers.
You can also find a lot of reliable help, instructions, and forms at Washington LawHelp. This site is a service of the Northwest Justice Project and available for free to all.
If you or your agency should be on the list above, please contact the website administrator.