A woman seeks a domestic violence protection order to keep herself and her children safe from an abusive partner. A family is living in unhealthy conditions because their landlord refuses to fix a mold issue in their apartment. A father needs help navigating guardianship to ensure a good future for his disabled adult son. These, and other life challenges, can set people back financially, physically, and psychologically.

 

That is precisely why the Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) exists. It is a local nonprofit dedicated to working with people who are facing a crisis that needs a legal solution.

“Everyone has legal rights, but the legal system is confusing and often people don’t know their rights,” says Jerry Kröon, Executive Director of ELAP. “It’s also expensive to hire a lawyer—not everyone can afford it.”

 

To clarify, civil legal aid is a combination of services and resources that organizations like ELAP provide for free to people of all backgrounds as they navigate the complicated and confusing justice system. Civil legal aid does not include criminal issues.

 

The Eastside Legal Assistance Program provides individualized legal help from its staff attorneys, appointments at its free pro bono legal clinics, and educational “Know Your Rights” seminars to community members. The organization also advocates for local and state policies that protect vulnerable people. In the past year, ELAP has advocated for several laws that safeguard survivors of domestic violence and protect renters.

 

 

Headquartered in Bellevue, ELAP works throughout King County to serve more than 1,600 people and impact 2,500 household members annually. This nonprofit works with the most vulnerable individuals and families in our region who can’t afford a lawyer, including domestic violence survivors, veterans, seniors, immigrants, and low-income families. Families with low incomes have an average of nine civil legal problems each year, according to national research. Survivors of domestic violence have as many as 18 legal issues. Among the people ELAP serves, 83% are women, 63% are BIPOC, 17% have a disability, and 15% are seniors. The organization worked with people in 26 different languages in the past year thanks to its language assistance partnerships.

 

One-third of the people ELAP serves are women fleeing domestic violence. The nonprofit’s staff and pro bono attorneys provide critical legal advice, secure protection orders, do safety planning, help with divorce, custody, and spousal support, and represent survivors in court.

 

Ana was experiencing domestic violence from her husband, which her children were witnessing. "Frightened for me and my children, I sought help from multiple places for legal help but none returned my call,” she said. “I felt very alone, and I was very afraid. His harassment continued. I tried again to ask for legal help and this time I called ELAP. This was the first time I felt understood and listened to."

 

 

Another large population ELAP serves is tenants—its staff attorneys help people navigate the legal system so they can stay housed. In its free monthly legal clinics, ELAP also provides one-time legal advice on issues related to housing or on issues affecting a person’s housing. The organization helped 345 renters in the past year avoid homelessness and eviction.

 

Renay’s family was suffering poor health due to their mold-infested apartment, which their landlord refused to address. “If ELAP was not here and was not an accessible resource for my family, I would have probably self-evicted,” she said. “We would have been homeless. They saved our family.”

 

The ELAP staff and volunteer attorneys help with dozens of other types of crises that ordinary people in our community face regularly. These include challenges like being unfairly denied veterans or disability benefits, experiencing employment discrimination, seeking asylum, needing help with divorce/custody arrangements, and navigating adult guardianship issues.

 

Peter was dealing with multiple, overwhelming issues at the same time he was caring for his adult autistic son. "I felt the world was coming down. I was very desperate and didn't know what to do," Peter said. After receiving free legal help over many months from ELAP staff attorneys, he said, “I’m very grateful for ELAP.”

 

More than 100 private practice attorneys volunteer every year to serve community members through ELAP’s free legal clinics. Pro bono attorneys significantly increase the number of people ELAP can serve. “Demand for legal help in 2023 has been higher than ever before in ELAP’s history,” Kröon says. “ELAP truly is a small nonprofit making a big impact.”

In 2024, ELAP will celebrate its 35th anniversary working in King County. The organization urges the community to get involved and help ELAP meet the demand for civil legal aid. To learn more, visit elap.org.