Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington (SYLAW)

SYLAW's mission is to eradicate the civil legal barriers that homeless youth and at-risk of homelessness face which prevent them from becoming self-sufficient. SYLAW provides information and education to youth in the areas of housing, education, employment, family law, consumer law, and public entitlements. Law student members from SYLAW's two student chapters at the University of Washington and Seattle University work with youth at homeless drop-in centers in the U-District and downtown Seattle. Student volunteers also staff monthly juvenile record sealing clinics, now sponsored by Team Child, where we help individuals to seal juvenile criminal records. Attorney volunteers are needed to support and supervise the work of our law student volunteers at drop-ins as well as to consult on legal issues remotely.

  • County(s) of Volunteer Opportunity: King
  • Area of law: Civil Rights, Consumer, Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Disability, Education, Employment, Family & Juvenile, Health, Homeless, Housing, Immigration & Naturalization, Public Benefits
  • Populations Served: Children, Communities of Color, Domestic Violence Victims, Human Trafficking Survivors, Immigrants, Individuals who are not in legal immigration status, Individuals with criminal histories, Individuals with physical/mental disabilities, Juveniles, Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender, Low Income, Native Americans, Persons with Disabilities, Prisoners/Criminal Defendants, State Residents, Women, Working poor and unemployed
  • Opportunities For: Law school clinic, Law Students, Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers
  • Hours for Pro Bono Opportunities: Evenings, Flexible
  • Malpractice insurance is provided for volunteers: No
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Training Required: No
  • CLE credit for trainings: Yes
  • CLE credit for pro bono: No
  • Mentoring or supervision offered: No
  • Volunteer lawyers need to meet a caseload or hours requirement: No
  • Other Case Load Requirements: Volunteer opportunities very flexible. Need for volunteers to attend evening drop-ins, but there are also opportunities to consult over email or phone on particular legal questions.
  • Types of projects in need of Pro Bono help: Client counseling (e.g., brief advice), Client intake and screening, Draft legal documents (e.g., briefs), Hotline staffing, Legal Research, Litigation: Trial/Direct Representation, Mentor volunteer lawyers or law students, Prepare legal education materials, Translate legal documents
  • Long Distance Opportunities: Conduct Research, Draft or Translate Legal Documents, Mentor Volunteer Lawyers
  • Other Long Distance Opportunities: Long distance opportunities over email and phone
  • Volunteers may participate long-distance: Yes
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