PURPOSE
ABAW is dedicated to educating and empowering the Asian/Pacific Islander community in Washington. In supporting this goal, the ABAW operates the weekly International District Legal Clinic, supports a monthly in-person legal clinic in the Rainier Valley, and will host quarterly Pro Bono Service Days in 2026. The purpose of the weekly International District Legal Clinic, monthly in-person legal clinic in Rainier Valley, and ABAW's Pro Bono Service Days is to reduce the cultural and linguistic barriers faced by members of the Asian/Pacific Islander community in their efforts to participate in and access the legal protections of the American justice system.

SERVICES 
The clinics provide pro bono legal counseling sessions with ABAW attorneys and professional interpreters and legal workshops that target the Asian/Pacific Islander community. 

SPONSORS 
The clinics are co-sponsored by: the Asian Bar Association of Washington; the Chinese Information and Service Center (www.cisc-seattle.org);  the King County Bar Association and its Neighborhood Legal Clinics Project (www.kcba.org); and the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (https://acrs.org/) .

If you or your employer are interested in sponsoring an ABAW Quarterly Pro Bono Service Day, please contract Pro Bono Co-Chairs Gabriela Dionisio and Monica Keo-Newton. 

PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS 
Clinic services are provided free of charge. If you are looking for legal help, please call the number listed below to schedule an appointment. Interpreters must be requested in advance and are provided free of charge.  When coming to the appointment, please bring all paperwork that relates to your case or legal question, including all contracts, letters, court papers etc.  Please bring a pen and paper in order to take notes on the advice, suggestions and referrals you may receive. 

PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEERS
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the clinic! Our volunteer lawyers are typically scheduled for one night every 2-3 months and see up to 4 clients during the night. Our administrators are professionals and students who assist with the client intake interviews and administer the schedule for the evening. It is a rewarding experience and an opportunity for you to use your skills to make a difference! To volunteer, please see below and contact the Pro Bono Co-Chairs as indicated. 

Volunteers Needed: The information and sign-up link are below. Please share this with those you know that may be interested to volunteer.

General Volunteer Listserv sign up: LINK!

ABAW Clinics

Upcoming 2026 In-Person Clinics:

• Rainier Valley January 21 - Sign Up
• Q1 Pro Bono Day: to be announced
• Q2 Pro Bono Day: to be announced
• Q3 Pro Bono Day: to be announced
• Q4 Pro Bono Day: to be announced

• Q1 (January - March): Sign Up
• Q2 (April–June): link to come
• Q3 (July–September): link to come
• Q4 (October–December): link to come

Additional Information:

• No prior experience required.
• Malpractice insurance is covered by KCBA. Please provide your WA Bar License Number when signing up.
• For Translator - Language Needs: Mandarin and Cantonese translators are often needed.

For any questions, feel free to contact ABAW Pro Bono Co-Chairs:

• Gabriela Dionisio: gabriela.dionisio@gmail.com 
• Monica Keo-Newton: monica.keo-newton@stoel.com

Please send any potential clients to CISC to get scheduled. CISC contact information is: (206) 624-5633 and info@cisc-seattle.org.

Thank you in advance for volunteering at the legal clinic!

Past ABAW Pro Bono Clinic Highlights

Q4 Pro Bono Clinic at CISC Saturday, Nov 15, 2025