Championing access to JUSTICE and DIVERSITY within the legal profession 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE THANK YOU FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND DONORS Your support made a difference in changing times The past year has been like no other With COVID-19, our normal way of for our profession, our community, our working had to change. COVID-19 also country, and our world. Yet despite the increased the needs in our community ongoing challenges of 2020, the King for the pro bono services that the King County Bar Foundation has not only County Bar Foundation funds. I am survived, we have succeeded in pivoting incredibly proud of the KCBF staff and the organization to operate in a “new board, and specifically the creativity normal” environment and continued and dedication to our mission that they to pursue our mission, thanks to our displayed during this unprecedented time. DAVID A. ZAPOLSKY dedicated trustees and staff, pro bono As a result of their hard work, we were KCBF President, 2019–2020 volunteers, and generous contributors. able to meet the goals we had previously set for ourselves in unique ways. The King County Bar Foundation raises funds for three primary purposes. The annual King County Law Firm First, we support and provide access Campaign, which raises funds for civil to justice for low income individuals in legal aid services throughout Washington, King County through KCBA Pro Bono takes place each fall and is done in Services programs. Second, we promote partnership with the Legal Foundation more inclusiveness and diversity within of Washington. The 2019 campaign the King County legal community by was completed on 12/31/2019, just providing LSAT prep course grants to before COVID-19 hit, and together we diverse students wishing to apply to raised more than $565,000 in generous law school and awarding scholarships donations from firms large and small to minority law students at the Seattle throughout King County. University and University of Washington Each spring we hold our largest Schools of Law. Third, the Foundation fundraising campaign, the Breakfast assists in raising funds for pro bono civil With Champions. The Breakfast is the legal aid programs across the state in largest gathering of legal professionals partnership with the Legal Foundation of in Washington State each year, with over Washington. 1,000 people attending and opening 2 KING COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MEETING THE their wallets in support of our Pro Bono COVID-19 CHALLENGE Services programs and minority student scholarships. As with most springtime events this past year, the event was Since March 2020, COVID-19 has generated an virtual. Even without the food, the evolving landscape within which all the Bar’s Pro Bono camaraderie, the keynote speaker, or programs have had to adapt, often on the fly and with heartfelt stories of individuals helped little known precedent for effective adaptation. The with these funds, all of you came through quarantine has caused a spike in domestic violence and helped us raise over $260,000. cases, and economic uncertainty has led to a huge rise in families at risk of eviction and homelessness. All of this happens because of you and The Neighborhood Legal Clinics continue to receive the contributions you have provided. The numerous appointment requests despite being unable best of our profession is reflected in the to meet with clients in person. generosity and commitment to helping others who cannot afford access to the All Pro Bono Services pivoted to adapt to the legal system. You are at the forefront of extraordinary new circumstances the virus has created. the success and work done by the King They partnered with other organizations, moved to County Bar Foundation. virtual formats, and promoted legislation — such as the evictions moratorium — to help those experiencing the On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the dire negative economic and social consequences of King County Bar Foundation, thank you this new COVID reality. As a result of the flexibility and for your commitment to the critical work creativity of KCBA’s pro bono staff and volunteers, new that we do. During this past year, the and increased demands have been met, and client needs needs for the support we help provide served. Trainings on working effectively with clients have been more profound than ever, and remotely have also been provided and well-attended. you have risen to the challenge of 2020 to help us respond to those needs. The situation continues to evolve and Bar programs are constantly adjusting as a result. Despite the pressure and logistical challenges, vitally important legal work is still being done every day, and the needs of those most vulnerable in our community continue to be met. This success is a testimony to the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and to the commitment of our donors. THANK YOU ALL. 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT 3 DIVERSITY BAR SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT MINORITY LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS VALLEN SOLOMON is a 2020 graduate of Seattle University School of Law and a KCBF Minority Law Student Scholarship recipient. He is also one of 78 public interest lawyers across the country, selected to receive a two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship. Vallen is spending his fellowship with KCBA’s Housing Justice Project, after having worked for the program as an intern while in law school. Like Vallen, both of his parents are long-time Seattle residents. He grew up in Bothell and went to law school because “I wanted to advocate for individuals and help them gain or retain things like housing, education, and government benefits...I’ve been drawn to For over 50 years, King County Bar Foundation has provided funds this sort of work because it has always felt for minority law student scholarships at two local law schools. like the ‘right’ thing to do.” This scholarship program is the driving force behind the Bar’s commitment to providing financial assistance to deserving minority Vallen describes the value of his KCBF students, increasing workplace diversity in the legal profession, and scholarship: first, the scholarship provided helping in the retention of minority lawyers who practice in our some relief to the huge financial burden of local communities. attending law school. It made necessities like housing, books and food more affordable In 2019, KCBF honored the most recent law scholarship recipients and accessible. Secondly, the scholarship at the annual Bar Scholars Reception, held at the Amazon Spheres. provided him the opportunity to meet and Over 60 students from the Seattle University and University of network with practicing attorneys and other Washington Schools of Law were awarded $150,000 in scholarships, law students who had similar backgrounds, $75,000 to each school. at events like the Bar Scholar reception. Since 1970, the Bar has awarded nearly $2.75 million in minority During his fellowship, Vallen will focus scholarships. on homelessness prevention and eviction defense, with an emphasis on young adults. “During law school, I got really involved in LSAT PREPARATION GRANT PROGRAM housing-related issues, largely relating to This is the third year of the Bar’s diversity evictions and homelessness prevention. It program offering financial support to minority felt like a natural progression to try and turn undergraduate students and recent graduates that interest and passion into a potential taking the Law School Admission test. The grants fellowship with an organization like Equal finance commercial preparatory courses and fee Justice Works.” waivers from the Law School Admission Council for Having Vallen working at KCBA feels as if the participants. Eight grants were awarded this year. Minority Law Student Scholarship program has come full circle in a wonderful way. 4 KING COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION PRO BONO SERVICES FAMILY LAW PROGRAMS THE RECORDS PROJECT From March 2020, the COVID-19 quarantine has caused Volunteer Legal Services has refocused to become an unprecedented increase of almost double the demand simply The Records Project. Its emphasis is on for domestic violence protection orders, and in response vacating criminal convictions, as well as working the Family Law mentor program changed to DV Lead on removing other barriers to formerly incarcerated (Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Program). In addition individuals returning to the community. to the ongoing family law casework, KCBA family law attorneys also provided training for volunteers on this sensitive work. The Statewide Kinship Care Legal Aid NEIGHBORHOOD Coordinator position has been added to provide advocacy LEGAL CLINICS (NLC) and training to other volunteer legal programs doing NLC offers individuals a free half-hour kinship care work across the state. consultation with a volunteer attorney. Attorneys determine whether the client has a legal problem, ( ) suggest possible options, and provide necessary HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT HJP referrals. Due to social-distancing protocols, HJP provides free legal help to eligible low-income tenants NLC has switched to virtual clinic appointments facing eviction and since the outbreak of COVID-19 has only. Additionally, NLC partnered with the City of been actively involved in obtaining the statewide and city Seattle and the American Immigration Lawyers eviction moratoriums as well as working with other HJP Association — Washington (AILAWA) to hold a programs around the state — doing training and providing series of clinics in response to US Supreme Court support and resources during the pandemic. Quarantine cases regarding DACA recipients. regulations mean no in-person appointments, but they continue to provide representation by phone in cases not covered by the moratorium. CLIENT STORY: HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT A group of tenants in an 8-unit building were in order for the tenants to return to referred to us by an outside organization. Their their homes. Through our negotiations landlord had been performing unlicensed with the landlord, we obtained a hotel for construction work on their building that one tenant, who had extreme mobility issues, created a dangerous environment: leaking while the landlord addressed the underlying pipes; open electrical wiring.