Making Justice Work For Everybody

Tue., Dec. 31, 1996

Elana Ashanti Jefferson Staff writer

Rhoda and Doug Behrens couldn’t afford the pricy legal battle they needed to get sufficient public education for their 6-year-old autistic son.

They appealed to Spokane Legal Services - and won.

Until last January, attorneys at that non-profit law firm offered free legal assistance to low-income people involved in civil, or non-criminal, legal disputes.

A year ago, however, Spokane Legal Services merged with two other community legal service programs.

Now the Northwest Justice Project offers the same service using money from the federal government. They also administer the Coordinated Legal Education Advice and Referral System (CLEAR), a toll-free telephone service that offers potential clients quicker access to legal information.

Lisa Esposito is a full-time attorney for the Northwest Justice Project. She says that many of the cases her office handles deal with landlord/tenant disputes, bankruptcy, sour employer/employee relations, accessing public assistance or getting emergency money for food, utilities or shelter.

Esposito is also working with the Northeast Community Center on a series of educational videos about common legal problems. “We try to help people understand their legal rights and responsibilities so they can avoid legal problems in the future,” she says.

“Justice should work for everybody, irrespective of their wealth,” says Tom Tremaine. He is the project’s only other full-time attorney, although there is a full-time paralegal and a third attorney who works part-time.

Both Esposito and Tremaine are graduates of Gonzaga University Law School.

The Northwest Justice Project offers free legal information, advice or representation if you are on a limited income, have a non-criminal legal problem and do not already have a lawyer. You can reach their toll-free CLEAR client intake system at (888) 201-1014.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Created in support of the Spokane County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), Discoveries highlights the people working to improve community health and well-being. If you have a discovery that deserves recognition, call Elana Ashanti Jefferson at 459-5419. To get involved with HIP, call 482-2557.

Created in support of the Spokane County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), Discoveries highlights the people working to improve community health and well-being. If you have a discovery that deserves recognition, call Elana Ashanti Jefferson at 459-5419. To get involved with HIP, call 482-2557.

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