The Volunteer Legal Services Program sponsors several free legal advice clinics which can provide a private appointment with a volunteer attorney when you need advice on civil (non-criminal) legal issues. Appointments are approximately 1/2 hour in length. Examples of civil issues are family law, consumer problems, bankruptcy, housing, contracts, estate planning, etc. You should be eligible for low-income legal services to schedule a clinic appointment, or to be referred to a volunteer attorney for representation or any additional services. If you are not sure whether you qualify for low-income services or have other questions about eligibility, please feel free to call Volunteer Legal Services at (253) 572-5134 to ask us about your individual case. Even if you do not qualify for one of our programs, we may be able to connect you with other resources which can help you. When scheduling a clinic appointment please let us know if you will require translation services and we will schedule an interpreter at no cost to you. You should be prepared to bring with you all documents or other information related to your case so the volunteer attorney can give you the best possible informed advice. If at all possible, DO NOT bring children with you to any clinic.

Please note that the Neighborhood Legal Clinic and the Pro Se Family Law Clinic do not operate in July or December, or on legal holidays. In most cases, because clinic schedules fill up quickly, the appointment you schedule will likely be approximately two weeks from the time you call. If you need help before your appointment, call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014.

Lawhelp Center -- Please see the current schedule on our home page or at the Law Library; the schedule may change weekly. The Lawhelp Center provides first-come/first-served walk-in assistance for family law and landlord-tenant issues at the Pierce County Law Library, 930 Tacoma Ave. S. (1st floor of the County-City Building). Legal advice, intake and limited legal services are available to people who meet low-income eligibility standards. Please note that the volunteers at the Lawhelp Center may be able to review paperwork you have completed but cannot fill out forms for you. If you need assistance filling out family law forms, call (253) 798-3627 at 8 a.m. M-F to make an appointment with the Family Law Facilitators (there is a $10 charge for each appointment but no income eligibility requirement).

Neighborhood Legal Clinic -- First three Mondays of each month, 6-8 p.m., Pierce County Law Library, 930 Tacoma Ave. S. (1st floor of the County-City Building). The Neighborhood Legal Clinic is now by appointment only, for low-income clients only. Please call the Volunteer Legal Services office at 572-5134 to make an appointment. All areas of civil law are accepted. THANK YOU to Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson & Daheim for sponsoring and staffing the 2nd Monday of the Neighborhood Legal Clinic in 2009.

Bankruptcy Clinic -- The Last Monday of each month at the Pierce County Law Library is the Bankruptcy Clinic. The Bankruptcy Clinic also begins at 6 p.m. Call Volunteer Legal Services for an appointment, and be prepared to bring with you identification, a current list of debts or credit report, and proof of income. THANK YOU to Brown & Seelye for sponsoring and staffing the Bankruptcy Clinic in 2009.

Lakewood Pro Bono Clinic at My Service Mind -- Thursday evenings from 6-7:30 at My Service Mind, 11016 Bridgeport Way SW. Attendance at the Lakewood Pro Bono Clinic is by appointment only; call MSM at (253) 584-5615. Both Korean and Russian translation are available at the MSM clinic. THANK YOU to My Service Mind for hosting and staffing the Lakewood Pro Bono Clinic.

Pro Se Family Law Clinic -- By appointment; advice and paperwork review for low-income clients representing themselves in all areas of family law (dissolution, temporary orders, parenting plans, paternity, custody, support, etc.). Held from noon-1:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, Access to Civil Justice Center, 715 Tacoma Ave. S. Call VLS at (253) 572-5134.

Pierce County AIDS Foundation Wills Project -- Third Thursday of each month, at the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, 2-4 p.m. Sponsored by TPCBA Volunteer Legal Services and the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. Call PCAF at (253) 383-2565 to make an appointment. This clinic is focused on wills, powers of attorney and other estate issues. If you are a PCAF client and need help with other civil legal issues, call Volunteer Legal Services directly at (253) 572-5134 for help.

Thank You to all our clinic volunteers!