Page 37 - Pierce County Lawyer Novemer December 2024

housed Columbia Legal Services and Northwest Justice Project.
Initially VLS occupied the rooms on the north side of the
building rent-free under an agreement with Columbia Legal
Services. The new location and added space allowed more
intern and volunteer participation and closer interaction with
Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services. The
website www.tacomaprobono.org was started. A memorandum
was created to describe the working relationship between VLS,
the Foundation and the TPCBA. Total budget for the program
was $136,220.
So much more to come… stay tuned for the next installment!
WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT STAFF ATTORNEYS!
In September 2024, we welcomed new staff attorneys Yanzhu
Yang, Soran Anderson, Talya Gilboa, Lauren Hunady, Carmen
Adams, Katie Sellars, Jordan O’Connor, Anna Horak, Amy
Huo, Ceclia Petricone and Lexi McMillan to our ‘Pre-ACT’
program. ‘ACT’ is our Housing Justice Project’s Appointed
Counsel Team, which represents low-income people in eviction
hearings. ‘Pre-ACT’ Housing Justice Project attorneys prevent
eviction by helping our clients with issues which often lead to
eviction before a case is filed. Although new Washington and
more recently City of Tacoma landlord-tenant laws provide
more meaningful protections than tenants have had in the
past, without attorney assistance, it is difficult for tenants to
take advantage of those protections and enforce their rights.
Welcome to the team, and a huge thank you to Superior
Court Judge André Peñalver for swearing in our new recruits .
Congratulations to all.
WE NEED YOU!
Yes, we do have a wonderful, growing, group of staff attorneys,
and yes, we need volunteers more than ever! Our Housing
Justice Project and Family Safety Project attorneys are funded
by grants which restrict them to practice only in these areas
of law… everything else we do for our low-income clients,
which is substantial (Bankruptcy, Guardianship, Wills, Estates,
Vacation of Criminal Records, etc.,
etc.) is done by volunteers through our
Volunteer Legal Services Program.
Use the QR code to sign up or
contact Melissa Wolkenhauer,
Manager, Volunteer Legal
Program:
melissaw@tacomaprobono.org.
Contact information for
Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers:
Melisa Evangelos, Executive Director:
mevangelos@tacomaprobono.org
Laurie Davenport, Communications Director:
laurie@tacomaprobono.org
Melissa Wolkenhauer, Manager,
Volunteer Legal Program:
melissaw@tacomaprobono.org
We wish all our friends,
supporters and volunteers
a wonderful holiday season!
PRO BONO PUP
Meet Kirby, Guardian of the Family
Safety Project! Kirby shares his world
with FSP staff attorney Camille Walther
and is a well-loved member of the staff.
Laurie Davenport is the Director of
Development & Outreach for Tacomaprobono.
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