Eastside Legal Assistance Program

Our Legal Director, Vivian Lee, landed a starring role in King County's video that highlights the 2024 Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Summit . ELAP is grateful to be a funding recipient of levy funds and a partner with King County to serve vulnerable residents in our community. Check out Vivian's interview (and learn about this important source of funding): https://lnkd.in/gwt6-naM

In this challenging time, ELAP's work becomes even more vital as we strive to support low-income individuals and families, including undocumented community members, who depend on our advocacy and protection. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in ELAP's commitment to service. By focusing on our mission, we can cultivate a positive impact in our clients' lives and bolster our community's strength. As a first step in this direction, I am announcing that ELAP, in collaboration with our partners, will co-host a series of community forums to support and address our undocumented neighbors' concerns. We invite community members, elected officials, educators, and legal experts in immigration to join us in these discussions. I am confident that we can once again reassure our community that King County is a safe place to live, work, and learn. Thank you to our supporters for your unwavering dedication to ELAP's work. Together, we will navigate these challenges, uplift one another, and continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Warmly, Jerry Kr?on Executive Director

Have you checked your civic duty off your to-do list? Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 5, or deposited in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ga5FKKgd

A big thank you to Microsoft's CELA and Finance departments for hosting a fun employee poker tournament last week that benefited ELAP and another great local nonprofit, Boyer Children's Clinic. Employees can give directly at: https://lnkd.in/gtRX96D5 We are grateful for local companies like Microsoft that support our nonprofit community. #MicrosoftGIVE

Some members of our staff team took a field trip this week! We had the opportunity to tour the Family Law Facilitator’s Office at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. King County's Family Law Facilitators can provide people who don't have a lawyer with information about family law court procedures and instructions for filling out family law-related paperwork. This includes paperwork for issues like divorce, child support modifications, adult guardianship, restraining orders and more. Facilitators cannot give legal advice. (That's where ELAP comes in!) Both the Maleng Regional Justice Center and the King County Courthouse have Family Law Facilitators. They offer walk-in and services by appointment. Kudos to our legal system partners who are helping to make the system easier to navigate! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGBtC7wX #CivilLegalAid

It's National Pro Bono Week! We love celebrating this week because our work simply could not happen without our volunteer attorneys. More than 85 (!) people volunteer at ELAP to share their pro bono services every year. Thanks to their commitment to justice, we can provide significantly more people in King County with legal help. Want to join us? Learn more at: elap.org/pro-bono #ProBonoWeek

Catch the latest edition of ELAP's e-newsletter here! We cover: - Creative ways we are reaching tenants - Meet our DV partner organizations - Two new staff attorneys join our team Read it: https://lnkd.in/gkPpNxj2

Drumroll… we have two new ELAP staff attorneys who we can’t wait for you to meet! Vade Donaldson is joining us as a Housing Stability Program Staff Attorney. Cool fact: In a previous role he served as a Tribal Attorney for the Suquamish Tribe. Nida Javed is a Domestic Violence Legal Program Staff Attorney for ELAP. Cool fact: She is fluent in Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi. Read more about Vade and Nida on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gCnbTR2a

Legal aid prevents eviction and homelessness. That's why this Seattle Times article is a must-read about the proposed city of Seattle budget cuts that could impact legal aid programs. "As part of the proposed 2025 budget, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the city’s Department of Construction and Inspections plan to slash funding for programs known as “tenant services” by about half, part of a larger effort to address the city’s $251 million budget deficit. Funding for renter programs represents a tiny fraction of Seattle’s proposed $8.3 billion budget, but tenant counselors and attorneys say those dollars play a crucial role in safeguarding renters’ rights, keeping their disputes with landlords from escalating into legal battles and preventing them from falling into homelessness." https://lnkd.in/gucGUzEP

Pro bono attorneys: The Washington State Bar Association is presenting this upcoming CLE: Legal Lunchbox? Series: Basics for Lawyers on Nonprofit Boards Format: Webcast Date: October 29 Time: 11:55 AM - 1:30 PM PT Credits: 1.50 Ethics Description: This session will cover the legal basics that attorneys serving on nonprofit boards should know. First, we describe the essentials of board service, including nonprofit fiduciary duties and reporting obligations. Second, we cover ethical issues that are specific to attorneys serving on boards, including how to navigate the potentially conflicting roles of attorney and corporate director, and how to use a lawyer's skill set to benefit an organization while complying with the Rules of Professional Conduct. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gJZ--k75