In 2007, 130 attorneys in Clark County donated 1,333 hours in legal services to more than 900 of the area’s low-income residents through the Vancouver-based Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program.
The time was worth at least $200,000, nearly twice the nonprofit’s annual budget, said Director Susan Arney.
Local attorneys first organized to give pro bono services in 1975, and the program was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1990.
It has support, if not volunteers, from nearly every law firm in Clark County.
“They have a real desire to help people,” Arney said of the volunteer attorneys. “They believe in what we do and they care about these people.”
Nancy Nellor Retsinas of Vancouver-based Nellor Retsinas Crawford, volunteers for CCVLP with her firm’s partners John Nellor and Cassie Crawford. She has been its volunteer of the year three times in 17 years and has represented at least three clients in pro bono court cases this year.
In those cases, Nellor Retsinas doesn’t look for those she can win, but for those that a layperson would have trouble handling alone.
She typically charges $250 an hour for her services, meaning some pro bono cases have been worth at least $30,000.
“You’ve got someone sitting across from you who needs access or information that they don’t hold,” she said. “Someday I may be sitting on the other side of that table and may need something I can’t get without another human being.”
Among its services, CCVLP holds 15 clinics each month that give clients 30 minutes of free legal advice. Most of the clinics deal with civil cases, particularly family law. Some attorneys also give coaching on court procedures and preparation of legal documents.
“If you have a criminal issue, you’re entitled to an attorney by law,” Arney said. “But if you have a civil issue and no money, you’re on your own.”
Diane Sweet won the program’s volunteer of the year award in 2007 and said her work with CCLVP has shaped her paid practice.
Sweet studied environmental law, but had trouble finding work in that field. In 2006, she got involved with CCVLP in deportation cases for immigrants and criminal defense in Homeless Court. She now practices criminal defense and immigration law independently.
Homeless Court is a new CCVLP service that aims to help homeless people convert misdemeanor fines to community service hours. Homeless people often get misdemeanors for camping, littering or driving without insurance. When those fines aren’t paid, the debts go to collections and gain interest, leading to bad credit reports and making it difficult to get housing or a job, Arney said.
“It’s providing a community service and giving (the homeless) a sense of purpose and giving back,” she said of Homeless Court. “It often leads to them finding work.”
Sweet has 12 Homeless Court clients and puts in about 10 hours per month.
“You’re not seeing people punished,” she said. “You’re seeing people set a goal to get rid of their fines by performing community service. When you’re in court and they complete their hours, the courtroom erupts in applause.”
Sweet also has six immigration clients she met through CCLVP.
“No one takes those cases because you’re going to lose,” Sweet said. “It’s very frightening for the family (of the defendant).”
Independent family practice lawyer Ryan Taroski shared the volunteer of the year award with Sweet in 2007, when he put in at least 93 hours worth nearly $14,000.
“Attorneys are uniquely positioned to help people,” Taroski said. “I make no pretense as to suggesting what other people should do. I only know what I have to do.”
The nonprofit’s funding comes mostly through the Legal Aid Fund of Washington, the bulk of which goes to pay salaries for Arney and another employee, plus language translator services.
About $6,000 of the 2007 budget came from individual donations, mostly from attorneys. Some program support has also come through grants from the Community Foundation and Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust.
“We work hard and try and stretch our dollars as best we can,” Arney said.
Charity Thompson can be reached at cthompson@vbjusa.com.
