Enforces state anti-discrimination laws in the following areas: - Employment - Housing & Real Estate Housing - Places of Public Accommodation - Credit & Insurance Those who feel discriminated against may file a complaint within six months of the occurrence of the act, or one year in cases of alleged housing discrimination.

Helps resolve disputes, complaints and conflict between families and schools through facilitation.   Acts as a confidential, neutral third party not associated with the public school system.   Promotes school-family partnerships and provides information about the education system and referrals to education-related resources.   Helps parents concerned about a child being bullied at school.   Provides workshops and presentations and publishes materials designed to help families understand and navigate the K-12 education system.   Publications can be downloaded from the website or mailed.   Publications are translated into several languages.   The Education Ombudsman does not help with issues regarding:   -  Elected officials (such as school board members)   -  Private schools   -  Private organizations or businesses   -  Preschools, colleges and universities   Does not have the authority to force a school or school district to take a specific course of action and cannot discipline or terminate school or school district employees.   Does not provide legal advice or services.

Provides MEDIATION services only. Does NOT mediate dissolutions (divorce) or child custody matters. Does NOT offer any legal advice. Parties voluntarily negotiate the settlement of their disputes with an impartial third party. The parties decide the outcome of the mediation, rather than a judge or arbitrator. The mediator serves to guide the process, mediators are second- and third-year law students under the supervision of law faculty. Typical mediation cases include: - Buyer/Seller - Real Estate Issues - Consumer/Business - Co-workers - Employer/Employee - Housemates/Roommates - Landlord/Tenant - Neighbors - Student/Staff - General Civil Litigation

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

The ACLU-WA participates in "impact litigation" designed to protect civil rights and civil liberties for large numbers of Washington residents. Does NOT typically provide legal representation to individual complainants and is not a general legal services provider. Through the Information and Referral Program (IRP), DOES provide: - "Know your rights" and legal self-help literature - Referrals to appropriate agencies and organizations In some areas of ACLU emphasis, is able to provide limited advocacy or more specialized advice. The ACLU is particularly active in the following issue areas: - Freedom of expression and freedom of religion - Police practices and accountability - Student rights, school discipline, and education issues - LGBTQ issues - Voting rights - Houseless issues - Sentencing reform - Health Care - Technology and Privacy

Provides free civil legal services for youth and young adults between ages 12-24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Offers legal representation in cases with a likelihood of success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBT) and people with HIV or AIDS.   Pursues litigation in all areas of the law that affect LGBT individuals and people with HIV/AIDS, including: -  Marriage & Family -  Workplace equality and employment discrimination -  Immigration -  Health Care, including discrimination and breach of confidentiality -  Fair Courts -  Government and police misconduct   Provides targeted advocacy and outreach for: -  Teens & Young Adults -  Transgender individuals -  Seniors -  Those with HIV or AIDS -  Latinos -  Those experiencing discrimination rooted in intersecting identities such as race or class   Offers resources, publications and information about related issues when unable to provide representation and to support self-advocacy.

Ensures equal access to certain health and human services, protects the privacy and security of health information and investigates discrimination on the bases of conscience or religious freedom. Civil Rights Complaint Investigates complaints of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex (including sex stereotyping and gender identity), or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance. Also investigates complaints of discrimination based on disability by a state or local government health care or social services agency.   HIPAA Complaint Investigates complaints that a Health Insurance Portability/Accountability Act-covered entity or its business associate violated health information privacy rights. OCR can investigate complaints against covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, or health care providers that conduct certain transactions electronically) and their business associates. Conscience and Religious Freedom Complaint Investigates complaints that a covered entity discriminated on the basis of conscience or religious freedom, coerced someone to violate your conscience or religious beliefs, or burdened someone's free exercise of religion

Provides free 45-minute to 1-hour appointments with an attorney for advice on civil legal issues such as: consumer, finance/debt, employment, housing, benefits. Appointments are required. Clinics are currently telephonic. Attorneys at the clinic are not able to provide representation.

Provides disability rights information, technical assistance for disability issues, general information about legal rights, strategies about how to become a stronger self-advocate, information sheets on a wide range of subjects to empower individuals with disabilities to better advocate for themselves, community education and training, and some legal services for disability rights violations. Focuses legal resources on systemic cases that will improve service systems for people with disabilities. Disability Rights Washington has attorneys and law student interns who provide Technical Assistance on specific information related to our ongoing systemic work and to people calling from treatment facilities. If you are calling about an education issue related to disability in school, Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or foster care related issues, supported living and waiver services, or your rights as they relate to a treatment facility, we have appointments and can schedule you with staff. If you are a Social Security disability beneficiary under full retirement age experiencing a barrier to employment, including issues with paratransit, difficulty accessing job training and employment services, loss of ongoing employment supports, lack of access to assistive technology needed to work, or other issues that prevent you from getting or keeping employment, you can call and schedule an appointment with staff. Does not provide representation or advice for: - Criminal law - Family law - Assistance becoming the guardian of an individual with a disability - Out-of-state issues - Workers compensation - General medical malpractice & personal injury - General consumer bankruptcy issues - Any issue or problem not directly related to your disability - Assistance finding employment, housing or financial assistance - Assistance filling out forms & Social Security applications - Anything that is not the wish of the person with the disability

Counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes. Also provides referrals, if necessary, to attorneys who can assist with workplace, immigration or school discrimination as well as other forms of discrimination.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Operates legal clinics providing free 30 minute consultations with an attorney. Focus is on Korean and Korean-speaking clients. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood legal clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Investigates grievance reports from people who believe they have been denied access to King County facilities, programs or services due to disability. Provides training and technical assistance to King County government in evaluating programs and services to help ensure accessibility to members of the public who have disabilities.  Only provides assistance for access issues for facilities owned and operated directly by King County.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination.  Ensures that all students have access to an equal and high-quality education by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.  Also works to combat discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and health care. Empowers African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Supports civil rights legislation and opposes racial discrimination. Investigates civil rights complaints and may refer to the proper agency/authority/attorney to handle the complaint. Participates in arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution involving civil rights issues. Is not law firm, does not have a staff of attorneys and does not give legal advice.

Handles complaints of discrimination and advocates for those experiencing hate speech or being harassed.   Assists people in navigating bureaucratic systems that have discriminatory policies and procedures. May be able to assist in mediation with these systems.   If there are no resources to confront discrimination within an agency or company that a complaint is being directed toward, this agency will refer a client to the appropriate government agency.   DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

This is a partner legal clinic operated by the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington. King County Bar Association schedules clients for appointments for this clinic. Provides a free 30 minute consultation with an attorney on federal civil rights legal issues. *Most appointments via telephone with limited in-person availability in Seattle. Legal Clinic Schedulers will provide clients with more information during the intake process* Prioritizes clients with issues such as - Inmates receiving inadequate medical care or inadequate counsel as well as other inadequate conditions of confinement - Employment discrimination - Sexual harassment - Cases involving police misconduct Also advises individuals on issues such as - Americans with Disabilities Act - Discrimination based on any protected class - Discrimination related to race or gender - Prisoner rights and/or prison mistreatment - Excessive force - Search and seizure - Free speech - Voting rights - Gun rights - Title II Housing - Unlawful sentence - Ineffective assistance of counsel (In a criminal case ONLY- where an attorney's mistakes were the reason you lost your case) - Existing cases in federal court Clinic attorneys can do the following: - Determine whether the client has a legal problem - Suggest possible options - Help answer papers, summons and requests - Provide appropriate referrals Clinic attorneys have expertise in civil rights law. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Chinese Information and Service Center, Asian Bar Association of Washington, and Asian Counseling and Referral Service partner with the King County Bar Association to provide a free legal clinic. Pro bono attorneys work with staff and volunteer interpreters to give consultation and legal advice around family law, immigration law, landlord-tenant disputes, employment law, and other areas. As of 9/2024, most consults are virtual but in-person appointments may be available if needed (more information provided to clients during intake phone call). Call (206) 957-8544 for an appointment. Appointments are typically Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM. International District Legal Clinic Chinese Information and Services Center 611 S Lane St. Seattle, WA 98144

Operates a legal clinic providing a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney (60 minutes if an interpreter or other accommodation is needed) Clinic is open to all, but particular focus is on providing culturally-informed legal services in a safe and welcoming environment to individuals who identify as African American or Black. This clinic is staffed primarily by attorneys of color. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood Legal Clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Hosts a legal clinic specifically designed to address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and couples. This clinic is run by QLaw Foundation in partnership with the King County Bar Association. The clinic is open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the clinic, an attorney will meet with clients for 30 minutes and provide individualized legal advice and information. Clinic attorneys will answer questions and provide information in a variety of areas including family law, immigration, debt and bankruptcy, divorce/dissolution, employment discrimination, and transgender legal issues.

Ensures immigrant students' right to attend school, regardless of their documentation status or the documentation status of their parents. Undocumented students are obliged under state law to attend school until they reach a mandated age. Public schools may not: -  Deny admission to a student during initial enrollment or at any other time on the basis of undocumented status. -  Treat a student differently to determine residency. -  Engage in any practices to "chill" the right of access to school. -  Require students or parents to disclose or document their immigration status. -  Make inquiries of students or parents that may expose their undocumented status. -  Require Social Security numbers from all students, as this may expose undocumented status.   Students without Social Security numbers should be assigned a number generated by the school.   Adults without Social Security numbers who are applying for a free lunch and/or breakfast program on behalf of a student need only indicate on the application that they do not have a Social Security number.   School personnel -- especially building principals and those involved with student intake activities -- should be aware that they have no legal obligation to enforce U. S. immigration laws.

Operates a hotline focusing on Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native, and Muslim community who have experienced harmful, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes. Provides an anonymous and confidential avenue to report interactions and referrals to resources. Volunteers are trained to listen and affirm the experiences of anyone who may have experienced a negative interaction with law enforcement, consumer service (restaurants and stores), or vigilante contact. Volunteer opportunities are available.