If you live in Seattle and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, immigration-related civil matters, disability benefits, senior legal needs, and more. (You may upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Seattle
Northwest Justice Project (NJP) - CLEAR Hotline
What they do: Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is Washington's publicly funded legal aid program. For Seattle and King County residents, call 211 to be connected to CLEAR intake. NJP handles eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, public benefits, consumer issues, elder law, farmworker rights, immigration civil matters, and disability rights. The Seattle main office can be reached directly at (206) 464-1519.
Who they help: Low-income residents of Washington state who meet income eligibility requirements. Seniors age 60 and older may call the CLEAR Senior line regardless of income.
Contact: CLEAR Hotline: (888) 201-1014 (weekdays 9:15 AM-12:15 PM). Senior line: (888) 387-7111. Local King County office: 211 or (206) 464-1519. Website: nwjustice.org.
King County Bar Association - Neighborhood Legal Clinics
What they do: Offers free 30-minute civil legal consultations at neighborhood clinic locations throughout King County, including multiple Seattle sites. Covers any civil legal issue and operates through a network of over 1,400 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students. To schedule, call (206) 267-7070 Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM to noon.
Who they help: King County residents with civil legal issues regardless of income.
Contact: Phone: (206) 267-7070. Website: kcba.org.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)
What they do: Washington's only organization dedicated solely to the rights of low-income immigrants and refugees. Provides free civil immigration legal services including family petitions, asylum, deportation defense, DACA, and humanitarian relief for eligible clients in King County.
Who they help: Low-income immigrants and refugees in Washington state.
Contact: Phone: (206) 587-4009. Website: nwirp.org.
New Beginnings
What they do: Provides emergency legal advocacy, protective order assistance, safety planning, and court support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Seattle area.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
24/7 Hotline: (206) 737-0242. Website: newbegin.org.
Washington State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects King County residents with attorneys for civil legal consultations. The KCBA also operates Neighborhood Legal Clinics with free 30-minute consultations at multiple Seattle locations - call (206) 267-7070 to schedule.
Contact: Phone: (800) 945-9722. Website: wsba.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Seattle
- Eviction defense and unsafe housing conditions
- Landlord retaliation and habitability problems
- Domestic violence and protection orders
- Custody, visitation, and child support issues
- Debt collection and garnishment
- Public-benefits denials (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)
- Foreclosure prevention and homeowner assistance
- Immigration-related civil help
- Record vacation and sealing
- Elder law and financial exploitation prevention
- Consumer fraud and fair housing discrimination
- Immigration civil legal help
What Seattle Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense cases
- Traffic violations
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial disputes
- Immigration removal (deportation) defense
- High-asset or heavily contested divorce cases
When Seattle Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice or court summons: Contact NJP or call CLEAR at (888) 201-1014 immediately - eviction cases move quickly in King County.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call New Beginnings at (206) 737-0242 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety support.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and call CLEAR right away.
- Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written requests before taking further steps.
- Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short - call CLEAR at (888) 201-1014 as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face a housing emergency: Seattle residents can also call the Eviction Defense Screening Line at (855) 657-8387 for immediate eviction help.
- You need immigration civil legal help: Contact Northwest Immigrant Rights Project at (206) 587-4009.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: leases, eviction summons, court papers, photos of housing conditions, debt collection letters, benefit denial letters, ID, pay stubs, and any disability or immigration documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits - CLEAR eligibility screening requires this.
- Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you need.
- Note urgent factors: court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- WSBA Moderate Means Program: connects residents with 200-400% of federal poverty income to attorneys at reduced rates through the Washington State Bar at (800) 945-9722.
- WashingtonLawHelp.org (statewide): free legal forms, plain-English guides, and self-help tools for civil legal issues.
- Washington Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question online and receive a response from a volunteer attorney.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Seattle Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Seattle and cannot afford a private attorney, call CLEAR at (888) 201-1014 or contact the local NJP office at 211 or (206) 464-1519. Seniors age 60 and older can call CLEAR Senior at (888) 387-7111 regardless of income. For domestic violence emergencies, call New Beginnings at (206) 737-0242 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the WSBA Moderate Means Program or visit WashingtonLawHelp.org. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.