Equal Justice Coalition

10/29/2021

Today the U.S. Department of Justice released two reports that reestablish the Office for Access to Justice and demonstrate the federal government's understanding that civil legal aid is an essential response to the pandemic. Continued federal investment in legal services is critical to ensuring our recovery is fair and equitable:

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Restores the Office for Access to Justice

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-restores-office-access-justice

09/09/2021

08/24/2021

Public funding for civil legal aid programs like the Northwest Justice Project provides critical lifelines to people around the state, especially during the COVID-19 crisis:

05/18/2021

Today President Biden announced a plan to "reinvigorate the federal government’s role in advancing access to justice," a critical step toward expanding civil legal aid in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. As a next step, Congress must increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation to meet the increase in civil legal needs.

From the President's memo: "Timely and affordable access to the legal system can make all the difference in a person’s life—including by keeping an individual out of poverty, keeping an individual in his or her home, helping an unaccompanied child seek asylum, helping someone fight a consumer scam...But low-income people have long struggled to secure quality access to the legal system. Those challenges have only increased during the public health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

Today, President Biden will sign a Presidential Memorandum to expand access to legal representation and the courts.  As President Biden knows from

04/27/2021

The legal aid system "has never had anywhere close to enough money to meet the need, and over time, federal appropriations have stagnated or been cut, resulting in less funding, adjusted for inflation, than when the tap was turned on."

The EJC asks our Washington State Congressional delegation to support increased funds for the Legal Services Corporation (both in the next COVID relief package and next year's budget) to bring funding levels to where they need to be - especially in this time of crisis.

During Covid, requests for aid, particularly on housing and unemployment issues, have skyrocketed. Legal aid groups are stretched to the breaking point.

04/26/2021

The 2021 session of the Washington State Legislature ended yesterday with historic new investments in civil legal aid, including full funding for our budget request!

Funding for civil legal aid has never been more important, to meet increased needs due to the COVID-19 crisis and make sure our recovery is fair and equitable. We have a long way to go - but the new state budget is a victory for expanding access to justice, and we owe a HUGE thank you to all the advocates who raised their voices this year.

Send a quick email to your legislators to thank them for supporting front-line legal aid programs! Find your district and contact information at

04/19/2021

The EJC is joining advocates around the country this week for (virtual) ABA Days, the American Bar Association's annual push for Congress to increase funding for the federal Legal Services Corporation, which supports the Northwest Justice Project.

You can help! Send a message to your members of Congress by filling out this brief automated email form: https://americanbar.quorum.us/campaign/19527/

Feel free to customize the message and/or add a personal note about why you support civil legal aid (for best results, add your personal note after the first paragraph).

And you can tune in for the ABA Days virtual program tomorrow and Wednesday, featuring prominent members of Congress and national legal leaders. See the full schedule and register here:

Meeting schedule for ABA Day 2021: Advocacy for Justice. On April 20-21, join thousands of legal professionals across the country in advocating Congress for legal aid funding surrounding the pandemic and judicial security.

03/29/2021

Big news from the Legislature: the House and Senate majority budget proposals both provide full funding for civil legal aid programs responding to COVID-19! A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined our virtual Lobby Days and raised their voice for legal aid. But we still need help to make sure the $11M investment in front-line legal aid programs makes it across the finish line. You can take a few minutes this week to write an email to your legislators in support of the budget – please reach out to EJC staff at will[at]ejc[dot]org with any questions or for assistance.

01/27/2021

The Washington Post Editorial Board makes a strong argument for expanding civil legal aid as one of the best ways the new administration can tackle injustice and inequality in America:

The Trump administration made it harder for poor people who needed legal help. It’s time for a change.

01/21/2021

"We know firsthand the critical role civil legal aid providers play in helping our courts ensure fair and meaningful access to justice, in normal times and especially amid this crisis," WA Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens and Access to Justice Board Chair Francis Adewale write in The Spokesman-Review. "Now they are on the front lines of many emergency efforts, including helping people secure critically needed unemployment insurance, protecting the safety of people at risk of increased domestic violence, and – perhaps most urgently – preventing a surge in homelessness."

Read their powerful new column about the need to expand front-line legal services helping people stay safe, healthy, and housed:

By Francis Adewale and Debra Stephens

01/14/2021

The 2021 state legislative session has begun - join us in speaking up for civil legal aid!

Sign up for Equal Justice Lobby Days, virtual meetings with legislators starting on Monday, February 8: https://ejc.salsalabs.org/EJCVirtualLobbyWeek2021/index.html

With the Legislature embarking on an unprecedented remote session with more limited lobbying opportunities, it is more important than ever for legislators to hear from the community about the importance of civil legal aid as a critical response to COVID-19. Raise your voice (virtually) for justice for all!

01/11/2021

Civil legal aid programs are on the front lines of the COVID-19 housing crisis. Hear from Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program, King County Bar Association, Northwest Justice Project, and Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers about the need to help tenants resolve debts and end eviction risks before the moratorium expires:

Renters who have long lived on low incomes or lost their jobs during the pandemic have found temporary relief by the third extension of the state eviction moratorium. But they are also staring down continually amassing debt that has some...