Volunteer Opportunities

CLEAR Volunteer Attorneys

CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral System) is a Northwest Justice Project program serving low-income people with legal issues in Washington state. This hotline intake system is available for free legal assistance for civil legal problems. Click here for more information about CLEAR.

Due to the volume of calls, when people call the CLEAR hotline number, they often get a busy signal or have to wait half an hour or so for an advocate to answer. The goal of the volunteer project is to serve more low-income people with civil legal issues.  

Since almost half of the hotline calls are about family law matters, CLEAR is currently recruiting volunteers who are interested in family law. If you are interested in volunteering with CLEAR, please read on!

Volunteer Job Description

Volunteer attorneys join the NJP CLEAR staff advocates in answering the CLEAR hotline. They

• perform a brief screening for financial eligibility and record demographic data required by funding sources into a computerized database
• screen callers for conflicts of interest with other CLEAR clients
• interview clients to ascertain the nature of the problem
• advise clients of their rights, options, and the specific steps they may take to address the problem
• refer clients for further legal assistance through CLEAR's database to legal services providers and pro bono organizations across the state.

The CLEAR program provides training to volunteers on our intake procedures and computer system, as well as substantive training on family law as needed. CLEAR also provides case consultation and review, research resources, professional liability insurance, and a congenial volunteer workplace.

Volunteer Qualifications

CLEAR volunteers must be active members of the WSBA or specially admitted under the exceptions for indigent representation or emeritus membership under Rule 8 of the Washington Admission to Practice Rules. ONE YEAR COMMITMENT REQUIRED.

Volunteer Locations

As of the date of this update, January 2010, volunteers participate from NJP's Seattle office in Pioneer Square. We have a volunteer area equipped with phones, computers, and resource materials.  In limited circumstances, CLEAR also has the option of remote access to our intake lines and computer database.

Volunteer Times

The CLEAR hotline is open on weekday mornings between 9:30 A.M. and 12:30 P.M. Trained volunteers can answer the hotline during these times.

Contact CLEAR for More Information about Volunteering

We are not currently seeking volunteers to staff the CLEAR line as we are at capacity. If you are interested in volunteering for the CLEAR line, please check this page again at a later time as we may have openings in the future.  To inquire about other volunteer opportunities through the Northwest Justice Project, please contact the Coordinators of the CLEAR Volunteer Program, Julie Rattray at (206) 464-1519 Ext 266 or Abby Goldy at (206) 464-1519 Ext 608, or complete the following information.