Pro Bono Program Moderate Means Program
Many Washington families can’t get the legal help they need, simply because they can’t afford it.
The UW Moderate Means Program is the flagship pro bono program for students at UW Law and provides legal referrals for low- and moderate-income individuals as a part of the statewide WSBA Moderate Means Program.
Focusing on family, housing and consumer law, the program connects people within 200–400% of the Federal Poverty Level to lawyers who offer legal help at reduced fees.
The Moderate Means Program is currently closed until Autumn 2025.
Student Participation
As part of the Moderate Means Program, students interview potential clients to collect information and evaluate cases. After it is determined that a case is appropriate for the program, students reach out to participating attorneys and hand the case files and client off to the attorney.
Benefits to students
- Hands-on experience interviewing clients.
- Training in substantive legal issues, issue-spotting, interviewing skills and ethics.
- Instruction on how to use the Legal Server database, which is used by most of the civil legal aid organizations in Washington State.
- Supervision and mentoring by experienced attorneys.
- The satisfaction of helping low and moderate income individuals who otherwise might not receive any legal help at all.
- Time volunteering for MMP qualifies for Pro Bono Program recognition.