Help the King County Law Library make a difference!
We’re looking for a creative solution-finder who is ready to make an impact as the Library’s Outreach Services Associate. This is an exciting opportunity to help reimagine and promote the library’s access to justice efforts.
WashingtonLawHelp.org has updated their Durable Power of Attorney and Cancel a Power of Attorney guides to provide English translations literally side by side within the forms themselves. This will make it much easier for people who need to work with the POA after it’s drafted. Translations are provided in 8 different languages.
See an example page from the Spanish language Durable Power of Attorney guide here.
In 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision known as State v. Blake found the Washington law criminalizing drug possession to be unconstitutional. The Blake Refund Bureau is now accepting applications to refund court-ordered fines or costs paid in connection with drug possession convictions (including marijuana) affected by the Blake decision.
Think you may qualify? Visti the Blake Refund Bureau website. Here you can:
You can also access the application portal on this site once your conviction has been vacated.
For any additional questions beyond what’s provided on the Blake Refund Bureau webpage, or if you need help with any of the application steps, please contact the Blake Hotline at 360-704-1913.
There is additional information about the Blake decision and its impact in this Fox13 Seattle report and in this guide provided by WashingtonLawHelp.
If you are a Washington-based small business (<$500k) or non-profit and have a dispute regarding your commercial lease agreement, you may be able to get some free legal advice. Communities Rise is sponsoring the phone consultations through December 15th.
Click on the image below to find more information on the Communities Rise website.
In partnership with Latina/o Bar Association of Washington (LBAW) and King County Bar Association (KCBA), El Centro de la Raza sponsors free legal clinics on the second Wednesday of each month from their offices at Centilia Cultural Center. The volunteer attorneys provide general consultations on a variety of topics including immigration, family law, auto accidents, personal injury, worker’s rights/wage claims and criminal law. Bilingual attorneys and interpreters are available.
The clinics operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration runs from 4:00PM – 6:00PM. Consultations begin at 6:00PM.
For more information, please call (844) 502-9832.
The Washington state legislature recently expanded who may petition for a sealed name change in the state. The expansion now permits individuals seeking a name change for gender identity and expression purposes, emancipated minors, individuals who have received asylum, refugee or special immigrant juvenile status, and individuals who have experienced or fear domestic violence, stalking, harassment or coercion to petition for a sealed name change in any superior court in Washington.
You can see these changes made to RCW 4.24.130 here.
If you need guidance petitioning for a sealed name change in King County, you can purchase a packet with instructions and all required forms in person at KCLL, or online here.
Need to quickly brush up on an area of law that you’re not familiar with? Well you’re in luck! Both Hornbooks (remember those from law school?) and the famous “Nutshell” series are available remotely as eBooks from the Washington State Law Library. And all you have to do to check them out is register a free account!
You can find more information about the titles and create a free account in the Washington State Law Library’s catalog here.
United Way of King County is sponsoring a pair of free workshops to help low-income renters and previously incarcerated people learn how to improve their credit and better understand their finances.
Free IN-PERSON Credit Score Workshop for Low-Income Renters on July 8th from 1PM – 2PM
This workshop will be held in-person at the Rainier Beach branch of the Seattle Public Library. The intended audience is low-income renters. Lunch and transportation assistance will be provided. Space is limited to 30 people and registration in advance is required. To register for the July 8th workshop, visit this Eventbrite link.
Free ONLINE Credit Score Workshop for Previously Incarcerated People on July 9th from 10AM – 11AM
This workshop will be held online. The intended audience is people reentering society after incarceration. Space is limited to 100 people and registration in advance is required. To register for the July 9th workshop, visit this Eventbrite link.
The Washington state legislature has passed a new law intended to help former prisoners re-enter society. Without affecting restitution to victims, HB 1169 eliminates some mandatory fees that can often be a counter-productive burden for those who are trying to get their lives back on track.
You can read the entire story HERE.
Washingtonlawhelp.org has new online, interactive forms for both Durable Power of Attorney documents and Health Care Directives.
A power of attorney document lets you choose a trusted friend or relative to help you with your finances or health care decisions. A Health Care Directive lets you state what kind of medical treatments you do or do not wish to have if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot make decisions for yourself. These new programs ask you questions related to your situation and then fill out the proper forms for you.
Get started — Durable Power of Attorney Document
Get started — Health Care Directive
