If you live in Spokane 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 Spokane
Northwest Justice Project (NJP) - CLEAR Hotline
What they do: NJP serves Spokane County and Eastern Washington, handling eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, public benefits, consumer issues, elder law, farmworker rights, and immigration civil matters. The Spokane office is located at 1702 W. Broadway.
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 Spokane County office: (509) 324-9128. Website: nwjustice.org.
Inland Empire Legal Aid (IELA)
What they do: A legal assistance program of the Spokane County Bar Association that recruits volunteer attorneys to provide free legal advice in civil matters to low-income individuals in Spokane County and surrounding counties. Focuses primarily on family law, consumer issues, and limited wills and estates. Holds regular free legal clinics in partnership with Gonzaga Law School and Spokane Courts.
Who they help: Low-income residents of Spokane County within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Contact: Website: inlandempirelegalaid.org.
Washington State DV Hotline
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 Spokane area.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
24/7 Hotline: (800) 562-6025. Website: wscadv.org.
Washington State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects Washington residents with attorneys for consultations on civil legal matters. For a reduced-fee attorney referral, contact the WSBA Moderate Means Program for those with incomes 200-400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Contact: Phone: (800) 945-9722. Website: wsba.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Spokane
- 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 predatory lending
- Farmworker rights in Eastern Washington
What Spokane 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 Spokane 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 Spokane County.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call Washington State DV Hotline at (800) 562-6025 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 need immigration civil legal help in Eastern Washington: Contact NJP's Spokane office at (509) 324-9128, which handles immigration-related civil matters for eligible clients.
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 Spokane Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Spokane and cannot afford a private attorney, call CLEAR at (888) 201-1014 or contact the local NJP office at (509) 324-9128. Seniors age 60 and older can call CLEAR Senior at (888) 387-7111 regardless of income. For domestic violence emergencies, call Washington State DV Hotline at (800) 562-6025 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.