Volunteer attorneys significantly increase the number of people ELAP can help every year. We offer volunteer opportunities at our monthly clinics and opportunities to provide more extensive services including full representation. Pro Bono help is needed for both in-person services and virtual clinics.
Opportunities for Pro Bono Attorneys
Our community needs your legal expertise
Qualifications
In most cases you must be licensed to practice law in the state of Washington. No pro bono experience is needed. We welcome a diverse range of attorneys from all backgrounds.
We have a high demand for attorneys with experience in:
- Domestic violence
- Family law
- Housing
- Immigration
To better serve clients in their preferred language, we also need attorneys that speak these languages: Amharic, Arabic, French, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
Training
ELAP provides ongoing training and support for our volunteers. We also offer free CLE (Continuing Legal Education) seminars.
Self-Reporting CLEs for Credit
After attending one of ELAP’s free CLEs, you can report it for credit with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) on your lawyer dashboard (login required). You can also submit an application for approval of a CLE activity to the WSBA via email.
For more information on self-reporting CLEs, visit the WSBA website.
Get Involved as a Lawyer Emeritus
We welcome retired attorneys who have emeritus status to volunteer in our programs. Learn how to apply to become a WSBA Emeritus Pro Bono member.
Your Impact
85+
Pro bono attorneys with ELAP
863
Hours of their time in a year
1,134
People receive free legal advice annually, thanks to our pro bono program
375+
People helped through free legal clinics with pro bono attorneys
Pro Bono Award Winners
We celebrate our recent award winners:
Community Partners of the Year: Solid Ground and King County Dispute Resolution Center
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Rene Cespedes and Sarah Bove
Volunteer of the Year: Kerry Suter
Partner Firm of the Year: Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Lukens