We are pleased to announce this year’s Pro Bono Award recipients! ELAP’s annual Pro Bono Awards recognize outstanding volunteer contributions to our community’s legal needs. Our winners include attorneys, firms, community partners, and individual justice champions. Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Karol Brown Karol
On Oct. 24, Burien became the latest city to pass new rental protections. Similar to Kirkland’s new protections, Burien’s City Council voted to: Require 120 days’ notice for rent increases of more than 3% and 180 days’ notice for rent increases of more than 10%
Written by Evan Yi, ELAP intern Student debt is a major crisis for Americans, especially low-income people. Currently, 45 million Americans shoulder $1.7 trillion in student loans. Approximately one-third of borrowers default on their loans at some point. And 87% of Pell Grant recipients, who are lower-income borrowers, have defaulted at
It’s National Pro Bono Week! This week is a dedication to the attorneys who volunteer their time to provide access to legal aid to people who can’t afford a lawyer. Our volunteer attorneys significantly increase the number of people ELAP can help every year. Approximately
We have many new interns volunteering with the ELAP team this fall. A huge thank-you to these hard-working individuals for contributing their time to help ELAP ensure fair and equal justice. Richard Fang, Interlake High School – Tech intern Zoe Forouzanfar, Interlake High School –
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but at ELAP we work with survivors every single day, year-round. Staff attorneys in ELAP’s Domestic Violence Prevention work with hundreds of survivors in King County every year to provide critical legal advice, secure protection orders, help parents navigate
New tenant protections took effect in the city of Kirkland on Sept. 17, 2022. Read details on the city’s website about how this may protect you as a renter in Kirkland. What you need to know about your rights as a renter: Landlords must provide
Written by Rebecca Schumacher, ELAP intern It’s surprisingly expensive to change your name. Although costs vary by county, filing fees and administrative costs often total several hundred dollars. These costs can create a barrier to justice for survivors of domestic violence and LGBTQ2S+ individuals who
We recently welcomed two new staff to the ELAP team. Meet Marlene and Vivian, who both started at ELAP as volunteers! Marlene Dzib (she/her) is ELAP’s new Intake Coordinator. She will manage incoming requests for legal help, screen clients for eligibility, and connect clients to
By Rebecca Schumacher, ELAP intern Many legal aid clients have experienced some form of trauma. Understanding how trauma affects client-attorney interactions will make you a more effective advocate. Trauma-informed lawyering is an individualized practice approach, informed by each client’s unique trauma, aimed to reduce re-traumatization,
