About Getting Help


The ACLU of Washington’s intake service will be closed from July 1st to September 3rd while we convert to a new intake system. This means that we will not be accepting any phone, letter, or online intakes from July 1st to September 3rd. We are sorry for any inconvenience this poses. Normal operations will resume on September 3rd.
 
Best,
ACLU of WA Legal Intake Department




The ACLU of Washington addresses only matters that occur in Washington state. But the ACLU is nationwide; so if you are concerned about an issue from another state, find your state’s ACLU office here.
 

Know Your Rights:  Free Legal and Self-Help Information

Look here for legal information on a broad range of civil liberties and civil rights.  We hope these materials help you stand up for your rights.
 

Contact Us for Information

We provide information in response to specific inquiries; we coach people about how to assert their rights, and share information about other organizations and agencies that can help. 
 
The ACLU-WA takes on a relatively small number of cases – cases that will have a big impact on a large number of people.  In most ACLU cases, we challenge unconstitutional or illegal actions by the government.  The ACLU-WA is a private non-profit organization and receives no government funds. 
 
There are some things the ACLU does not assist with:
 
There are some things the ACLU does not assist with:
  • Criminal Defense or Appeals
  • Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  • Family Law Cases (divorce, custody, etc.)
  • Building Code Issues
  • Property Disputes
  • Complaints about Lawyers or Judges
  • Tax Problems
  

Other Legal Resources

If you need help with an issue that the ACLU cannot help with as noted above, there are a number of other legal resource organizations that may be better situated to provide legal information or assistance:
 
WSBA Legal Resources Page: The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) provides a list of legal resources available throughout Washington here.
 
CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice & Referral) provides civil legal services for Washingtonians with limited incomes on a wide range of civil (non-criminal) legal issues.
 
Washington Law Help provides legal education materials and tools that give you basic information on a number of legal problems, and in some cases, detailed instructions and forms to help you represent yourself in court.
 
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a statewide agency that advises low-income clients of any nationality on immigration matters. NWIRP provides some pro bono assistance in both asylum and general deportation cases.
 
King County Bar Association (KCBA) Neighborhood Legal Clinics offer free, limited legal advice and referrals to King County residents and Washington State residents with legal issues in King County. The clinics provide FREE 30-minute consultations with an attorney at 34 locations across King County. Attorneys determine whether the client has a legal problem, suggest possible options, and provide appropriate referrals; attorneys do not, however, provide direct legal representation.