Free legal help OK'd for abuse victims

Low-income victims of domestic abuse may receive free legal services under a new program the Seattle City Council approved Monday.

The program will provide two family-law attorneys and a paralegal to work full time on civil cases with Seattle clients who have been referred by victim advocacy organizations, police and city attorneys.

"We're thrilled. There's a huge unmet need, and this will help," said Merril Cousin, executive director of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Victims find it "almost impossible to get civil legal assistance if they can't pay for it themselves," she said.

The city will contract with a law firm to provide legal guidance and advocacy on such issues as physical safety, child custody, finances and immigration status. Services will range from advice over the telephone to representation in court.

The program will start in July and cost $405,000 through 2008. More than 1,000 victims are expected to be helped annually.

Councilmen Richard Conlin and Tom Rasmussen took the lead last fall on supporting the new program.

The need for services for domestic violence victims has become "even more apparent given the very recent killings in our community," said Rasmussen, referring to high-profile slayings of Monique Vance in Des Moines and Rebecca Griego at the University of Washington.

Rasmussen serves on the city's Domestic Violence Prevention Council with numerous department heads and victim advocates, including Cousin.

"Survivors don't fare very well in the family law system," Cousin said. "It's extremely complicated and difficult to navigate when you're trying to protect yourself and your children from someone who's abusing."

The program also was reviewed by several groups that work with immigrants and refugees.

"Lawyer fees are so expensive and most refugees and immigrants are low income and not able to afford it," said the domestic violence program director for Refugee Women's Alliance in Seattle. She asked that her name not be published.