The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is an independent judicial branch agency established by the Legislature in 2005 to administer and oversee the delivery of state-funded civil legal aid services to eligible low-income people in Washington State. OCLA contracts with a statewide “qualified legal aid program,” the Northwest Justice Project (NJP), to provide direct and sub-contracted civil legal aid services to eligible low income clients on matters falling within the areas of authorized practice set forth in RCW 2.53.030(2). OCLA is required, among other things, to ensure that state-funded legal aid services are delivered “in a manner that maximizes geographic access throughout the state.” RCW 2.53.030(3). In addition to basic civil legal aid services authorized by RCW 2.53.030, OCLA administers federal Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to underwrite civil legal assistance to victims of crime throughout Washington State, pursuant to an interagency agreement with the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy in the state’s Department of Commerce. Pursuant to RCW 2.53.045 and RCW 13.34.100(6), OCLA also contracts with attorneys and defender agencies to represent children who remain in foster care and subject to dependency proceedings six months following the termination of their parents’ legal rights. OCLA provides support and oversight to ensure the provision of standards-based, culturally competent legal representation to promote and protect the stated and legal interests of these children. The Office of Civil Legal Aid is overseen by a bipartisan Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee established and appointed pursuant to RCW 2.53.010. The Oversight Committee includes members appointed by both caucuses of the House and Senate, three representatives appointed by the Supreme Court (including a client-eligible member), two representatives appointed by the Board for Judicial Administration, a representative appointed by the Governor, and a representative appointed by the Washington State Bar Association. The Oversight Committee is chaired by Sarah Augustine, Director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. OCLA is staffed by an agency Director, a Children’s Representation Program Manager, a Civil Legal Aid to Crime Victims Program Manager and a full-time Senior Administrative Assistant. In June 2020, OCLA added a part time temporary staff person to manage the COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Claimant Representation Program.

The mission of the Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is to work within the judicial branch to promote equity and justice for low-income Washington state residents and communities through the funding and oversight of effective, economical, and responsive civil legal aid services on matters that affect basic human needs, and to ensure accountability for state-appropriated funds dedicated to this purpose. Consistent with statutory directives, OCLA works to ensure effective, standards-based representation of legally free children in dependency cases.