Legal Assistance of Washington County (LAWC) has been serving residents of Washington County for over 37 years by providing quality legal services and compassionate representation for all its clients.

In 2008 LAWC assisted almost 750 Washington county residents, at an average cost of $320.00 per client (lower than over 90% of the other legal aid programs in Minnesota). 70% percent of our clients are moms, with children, who are leaving an abusive relationship.

The need for legal services for indigent persons has long been recognized. The criminal court system has provided free legal representation for indigents where incarceration is a possibility since 1963. The poor have non-criminal legal problems that can create difficulties, resulting in the loss of life's necessities such as food, shelter and income.

LAWC’s clients cannot afford the cost of private attorneys and, without legal representation, would be at an extreme disadvantage in the Court system. Being forced to endure domestic abuse, stay in a bad marriage, suffer the loss of custody of a child, or lose financial support, because the other party is able to afford legal representation, can be devastating. In addition, our clients could fall prey to unscrupulous or discriminatory landlords or creditors. We obtain Court Orders that provide for the safety of our clients, such as custody and visitation orders, child/family support orders, and dissolutions. We help keep families in their homes and resolve debtor/creditor and consumer problems.

Through its representation of eligible clients, LAWC saves enormous amounts of time and money for Washington County and the State of Minnesota. LAWC obtains support orders to enable clients to become self-sufficient and remain in their homes, decreasing families’ dependence upon County and State financial assistance programs. By ensuring representation for clients in Court, LAWC alleviates the ever-growing stress on the judicial system, caused by increasing litigation and a decreasing budget in the County and at the State. LAWC’s attorneys provide a voice of reason for their clients and can often settle matters with limited reliance on the Court.

LAWC’s in-house/staff attorneys provide direct representation to clients. These two attorneys handle the more complicated family law matters (dissolutions or paternity cases involving the custody of minor children). In addition, 55+ private attorneys volunteer, as members of LAWC’s Volunteer Attorney Panel (VAP), to represent LAWC’s clients at no charge. The Volunteer Attorneys handle consumer disputes and tenant problems to help ensure that clients will not lose their housing or become subject to collection procedures unnecessarily. They also prepare wills for our clients – to ensure trust and guardian provisions for the clients’ minor children, and handle uncomplicated dissolutions.

LAWC also provides attorney support for the Family Legal Advice Clinic and Civil Legal Advice Clinic at the Washington County Self-Help Center. This collaboration with the Washington County Law Library, Bar Association and Court Administration provides individuals the chance to meet one-on-one, at no charge, with a Volunteer Attorney from our VAP. During their 30 minute free consultation they are provided legal advice and assistance with preparation of self-help (“pro se”) Court forms and with Court procedures. The clinics are currently scheduled six times per month, and approximately 32 individuals are assisted on a monthly basis.