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1. Can the City Attorney (or City Attorney staff) give me legal advice about a personal legal issue?

No. The City Attorney represents the City government. The City Attorney must decline to assist citizens with individual legal problems. Please see the next FAQ for information about obtaining an attorney.

2. Where can I obtain information about legal issues and services?

General legal information may be obtained at the web sites of Findlaw and LegalEngine.com and other legal information websites.

3. Where can I find help in understanding legal terms?

Consult your local library's reference section for Black's Law Dictionary and other helpful legal reference books. On the Internet, you may visit the Legal Engine website and find many legal terms listed under the Legal References column.

4. Where can I get help with my family law problem (divorce, separation, child custody, etc.)?

Visit the City Building for information.

5. Where can I find an attorney to represent me?

Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA) maintains a Lawyer Referral Service. The Bar office is located at:

620 Ernest S Brazill Street (Suite B)
Tacoma, WA 98405-4620

Please visit their website or call 253.383.3432 to obtain business hours and information about services and costs.
 
Services for low-income citizens may be obtained by calling the toll-free number for the Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral) at 888.201.1014. Special services for seniors is at toll-free 888.387.7111. This coordinated effort links citizens to local volunteer lawyer programs, law school clinics, or other legal resources in the caller's community. You may also check the Northwest Justice Project website and the CLEAR website for information and qualifications for legal services. Both sites are accessible in English, Spanish, and Russian.
 
The Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC) provides legal representation for qualified indigent clients. DAC handles Pierce County criminal proceedings at Superior Court, District Court, and Juvenile Court levels as well as at Tacoma Municipal Court. The department also handles dependency and termination proceedings at Juvenile/Family Court, as well as provides representation for persons detained for involuntary civil commitment proceedings. Contact the DAC website or call them at 253. 798.6062 to obtain details about services and qualifications for representation, office locations, business hours, etc.

6. Where can citizens who want to resolve disputes out of court get help?

A Dispute Center website is planned for the near future for issues regarding housing (tenant, mobile home park, etc.) and consumer/business disputes, as well as workplace, personal injury and probate issues. In the meanwhile, citizens may obtain information about services by calling 253.572.3657or visiting the center's website.

7. Where can I get help with my landlord/tenant problem?

Review the tenant laws for Washington state. Many local libraries maintain a set of the RCW in their reference sections.