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PRO BONO & Public Service
Pro Bono Co-Chairs:
Charles Chen
Danielle Kim
We would love to hear your comments, questions, ideas and feedback for ABAW's pro bono programs. Contact us to volunteer for pro bono service, learn how you can sponsor, and share about your experiences with our pro bono programs!
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 and will host quarterly Pro Bono Service Days in 2025. The purpose of the weekly International District Legal Clinic 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); and the King County Bar Association and its Neighborhood Legal Clinics Project (www.kcba.org).
If you or your employer are interested in sponsoring an ABAW Quarterly Pro Bono Service Day, please contract Pro Bono Co-Chairs Charles Chen and Danielle Kim.
PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS
Clinic services are provided free of charge. If you are looking for legal help, please call the numbers listed above 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.
CLE FOR CLINIC VOLUNTEERS
King County Bar Association offers FREE CLE's for clinic volunteers. For more information, visit the KCBA website at: http://www.kcba.org/volunteer/training.aspx
CLE CREDIT
Volunteers can get CLE credit for volunteering at the ID Legal Clinic. A volunteer must attend two hours of pro bono training (new volunteer CLE qualifies) and will receive CLE credit for 4 hours of work providing legal counseling or direct representation to low-income clients, for a maximum of 6 credits per year. Simply report your Pro Bono hours to the WSBA by e-mail, mail or fax. Be sure to include the name of the qualified legal services provider you are working under.
ABAW Quarterly Pro Bono Service Days
ABAW began its pro bono service days in 2023 under the leadership of 2025 President-Elect Damon Pang, who was serving as Pro Bono Chair at the time and 2023 ABAW President David Tran. Pro Bono Service days are a joint effort between ABAW, Chinese Information and Services Center Seattle (CISC), and the KCBA Neighborhood Legal Clinics. These full-day, in-person legal clinics provide translation services and free consultations for members of our community. The in-person experience and live volunteer services are highly appreciate by the individuals to whom we provide pro bono services.
In 2025, ABAW is IN the community and will hold four full-day, in-person Pro Bono Service Days in partnership with CISC Seattle. We are seeking sponsors to support facilities and hospitality for these important events. Please see below or contact Pro Bono Co-Chairs Charles Chen and Danielle Kim to learn how to volunteer or sponsor.
Volunteers Needed: ABAW Immigration Pro Bono Day - March 29, 2025
ABAW and CISC will be holding an Immigration Pro Bono Day Clinic and we need help getting volunteers for the event. The information and sign-up link are below. Please share this with those you know that may be interested to volunteer.
When: Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm PST.
Where: Chinese Information and Services Center, 611 S. Lane St., Seattle, WA 98104
Who: Immigration Attorneys, Volunteer Attorneys, Intake Volunteers, and Translators
Sign up today using this LINK!
Please contact Pro Bono Co-Chairs Charles Chen and Danielle Kim if you have any questions. Please send any potential clients to CISC to get scheduled. CISC contact information is: (206) 624-5633 and info@cisc-seattle.org.
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Weekly International District Pro Bono Legal Clinic - Volunteers Needed!
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International District Legal Clinic |
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ABAW is urgently seeking volunteer attorneys for the ABAW/CISC weekly virtual Pro Bono Legal Clinic. This legal clinic is held virtually on Zoom every Tuesday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm PST. Two volunteer attorneys, with one law student volunteer assisting each, will each see two clients in hour-long sessions. The time commitment is once a quarter and resources are available for you to assist clients outside of your normal practice area. If you are interested in participating, please send the following information to Pro Bono Co-Chairs Charles Chen and Danielle Kim:
1. Name
2. WSBA #
3. Email
4. Phone #
5. Language fluency (other than English)
6. Practice areas you can assist clients in
Thank you in advance for volunteering at the legal clinic!
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Past ABAW Pro Bono Service Days
2024 Immigration Pro Bono Service Day: On Saturday, October 5, 2024, ABAW and CISC Seattle held our Autumn 2024 Immigration Pro Bono Service Day. Thank you so much to volunteer attorneys for assisting our community members with their wills and estates matters! ABAW joins in the gratitude expressed by the community members to whom you provided services. Thank you also to CISC staff, ABAW Pro Bono Co-Chairs Damon Pang and Charles Chen, our student volunteers and ABAW Board Members who assisted to serve our community.
2024 Immigration Pro Bono Service Day Volunteers at CISC Seattle
2024 Wills/Trusts & Estates Pro Bono Service Day: On Saturday, July 20, 2024, ABAW and CISC Seattle held our Summer 2024 Wills/Trusts and Estates Pro Bono Service Day. Thank you so much to volunteer attorneys for assisting our community members with their wills and estates matters! ABAW joins in the gratitude expressed by the community members to whom you provided services. Thank you also to CISC staff, ABAW Pro Bono Co-Chairs Damon Pang and Charles Chen, our student volunteers and ABAW Board Members who assisted to serve our community.
2024 Wills and Trusts Pro Bono Service Day Volunteers at CISC Seattle
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ABAW at ACRS Walk for Rice
Each year ABAW participates in the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk For Rice. The Walk For Rice is a fundraiser for ACRS specifically benefiting ACRS's food bank, one of the largest in King County. Walk For Rice is a 2.5 mile walk or run that people of all ages are able to participate in. This community event is continually growing each year, attracting more and more participants to raise awareness for the ACRS Food Bank. The ACRS food bank provides rice and other culturally-appropriate foods to help support Asian and Pacific Islander people in need within our local community.
2024 Walk For Rice: On Saturday, June 29, 2024, ABAW participated in and fundraised for another fantastic Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk For Rice! A huge thank you to our team members, donors, and to Eric de los Santos for generously hosting our joint team afterparty again! The 2024 Walk for Rice was held at Seward Park in Seattle. After the event, ABAW and FLOW member, Eric de los Santos, graciously hosted everyone at his home for a post-walk BBQ!
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