· Overview of Seattle Situation. Seattle has a large population of homeless and at-risk youth, ranging from 12 to 21 years of age. In recent years, this population has increased tremendously. Along with this increase care providers had fought to increase and strengthen the services available to these youth. While they had made phenomenal gains in providing youth with a wide variety of necessities, one aspect of the youth's needs had not been met in Seattle, prior to the creation of SYLAW.
This missing component is that of legal assistance. Street youth face a variety of legal problems, including family issues, educational problems, mental health issues, and difficulty accessing state and federal entitlements such as housing and financial assistance. If these particular needs are not met, youth are often prevented from reaching other goals necessary for leaving life on the streets for stable housing, jobs, and educational opportunities. Other cities have initiated successful endeavors to meet these needs. It was critical that Seattle do so as well.
· Law students' efforts to establish a legal services program for street youth. In Spring of 1995, members of the student chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild at the University of Washington School of Law began work on the Street Youth Advocacy Project. At that time, the project was intended to mirror the Seattle Chapter-NLG's Homeless Advocacy Project, in which local attorneys volunteered at a homeless shelter in Pioneer Square, providing information, referrals, and representation.
SYAP was set up with law students volunteering at a local youth drop-in center to supply those services not forbidden by the ABA's unauthorized practice rules (legal information and referrals). Students were given two training sessions, one with an NLG attorney and another with an attorney from the Public Defender Association.
The project existed for over a year and a half, and was terminated in the Fall of 1996.
In the Fall of 1996, several faculty, staff and students from the UW School of Law began to revive SYAP. Specifically, they wanted to create a program that would adequately address the reasons why the earlier attempt had been discontinued. They hoped to create a program that would allow for a stronger resolution of the legal problems of the youth. The program, now Street Youth Legal Outreach Program, was to use Rule 9-qualified law students working under the guidance of a supervising attorney. In addition, each student was to have a pro-bono attorney at her disposal, for advice on specific issues. In this way, clients could not only receive education about their problems, but a resolution of them as well. Representation was to be limited to civil law, as youth are entitled to a free criminal defense by public defender agencies.
The SYLOP committee wanted to strengthen the education portion as well, by fully researching the major issues that the youth faced and then providing short seminars at sites around the city. SYLOP wanted to provide youth with materials which clearly explained their legal rights, the legal processes for specific issues, and an understanding of how SYLOP could help them resolve those issues.
SYLOP decided to incorporate as an independent entity, and to seek 501(c)(3) non-profit status, mainly to be able to seek funding. While the School of Law strongly supported the initiative, at the time, it was presently unable to support another clinical law program.
In the Summer of 1997, SYLOP became SYLAW, Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington. Two students began intensive work on preparing SYLAW for its launch. These students researched the legal issues on which the program will educate and provide representation. The issues vary, but generally fall into eight categories: Criminal Justice, Employment Law, Child Welfare, Family Law, Access to Entitlements, Housing Law, Immigration Law, and Health Care. To help better grasp what issues SYLAW might encounter, a city wide questionnaire of service providers was carried out.
SYLAW solicited an Advisory Board, contacted care providers, and wrote preliminary grants to get the project off the ground and worked with care providers to better define how its educational and referral processes will work.
SYLAW began to provide services in the Fall of 1997.
· Van Outreach. SYLAW is continuing its successful partnership with the Streetlinks van. Twice a month, SYLAW volunteers go out to give legal information and referrals. This partnership has further opened our eyes to the lack of legal information and the overabundance of legal barriers that are out there. SYLAW will also start van rides in East King County with Friends of Youth this year. This service helps SYLAW create trust in the community and directs appropriate youth to SYLAW for further legal assistance.
· Presentations. SYLAW offers presentations on youth legal issues. Checklists are sent to service providers allowing them to check the issues they wish to have covered in the presentations, as well as other relevant information. Generally, two students prepare the presentation using the outreach materials located in the SYLAW library. The students will bring with them any relevant pamphlets and information to distribute.
The students also hand out note-cards on which the participants may ask non-specific, anonymous legal questions. The students may either answer the questions, time willing, or send a question/answer sheet to the service provider to be posted for the participants to see, or, at the discretion of the students, may do both. The students must clearly state that their answers, whether oral or written, are NOT intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice.
Students speak briefly about SYLAW and the referral process. Students should stress the seriousness of seeking a legal remedy, but should not discourage nor encourage it.
Students will also ask each participant to fill out an evaluation of the presentation, in order to; 1) improve the quality of the presentation and; 2) satisfy the evaluation requirements of grant-making foundations.
· Site Staffings. SYLAW staffs weekly "hang out the shingle" type information centers at both the University District Youth Center, Capitol Hill Youth Center, and PSKS Headquarters. Youth are able to ask SYLAW volunteers questions and are provided with information and referral services.
· Television Shows. Finally, SYLAW makes monthly regular appearances on public access television (Channel 29), on a show called "Street Talk" aimed at at-risk youth. On this show, SYLAW presents a short instructional film or presentation on an area of youth law, and then takes questions by phone.
· Format. Representation is offered through a unique teaming of students and attorneys. Student externs or interns who are in their second or third year in Law School take on cases under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney. The student receives either externship credit or fellowship money to participate. Second year students may do work on cases but may not advise clients nor appear on their behalf. Third year students, who receive Rule-9 qualification, may represent clients with monitoring by the Supervising Attorney.
· Issues. There are two basic types of issues on which SYLAW can provide assistance which is more than just of an information or referral-type nature. SYLAW does not provide any representation on criminal issues. The first area is administrative assistance, which involves any proceeding which does not legally require a lawyer – administrative law proceedings, assistance in securing services, public benefits, school proceedings, etc. This work may be done by any SYLAW extern, regardless of his/her year in school. The second area is civil litigation – family law and dependency law.
· Clientele. SYLAW gives preference to youth who have been referred by a service agency with which SYLAW has a previous relationship. However, SYLAW does not limit its services to referrals. Walk-in clients will be accepted on an availability basis. SYLAW feels it is very important to refer walk-in clients to other agencies to deal with non-legal pressing needs.
· Referrals. Referrals may be made by caseworkers who have received written consent from their clients to contact a legal agency and to disclose any relevant information. Consent must be given for disclosure of the legal issue, and of any background information necessary for SYLAW to understand the scope of the issue. At the time of the referral, the SYLAW Supervising Attorney will decide whether the issue is one that is properly within the scope and abilities of the program, or whether it should be referred to another legal agency. Self-referrals are also accepted.
· Social services. If, during intake, the client gives the extern reason to believe that the client would benefit from other services, the extern should provide the client with the information necessary to contact an appropriate service. If SYLAW services are not retained after intake, the extern should offer the client appropriate referral information, as well.
· Non-Profit Status. SYLAW is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, which allows it to receive tax-exempt grants and donations.
· General Funding. SYLAW received a gracious grant from the Seattle Foundation for $3,800. These funds are to be used to upgrade the office. A new computer, printer, fax, copier and other items have been purchased. However, these items are currently in a cramped office in the basement of the law school. Avenues are being explored to find a new office for SYLAW - one which would allow more ease of use for clients and for students.
· Funding for Personnel. For paid personnel, SYLAW relies on fellowships. Several two-year fellowships which would allow SYLAW to have an attorney have been sought: the Skadden, the Soros, and the NAPIL (National Association for Public Interest Law). Summer fellowships may be provided through other sources, the Public Interest Law Association at the University of Washington, the Public Interest Law Foundation at Seattle University, the Legal Services Fellowships through Equal Justice America, and the John J. Curtin Fund Legal Internship Program through the American Bar Asssociation.
· Student Participation. SYLAW has extended its program, to the Seattle University School of Law. SYLAW is investigating how the two schools can work together to make the program stronger. This Fall, 30 (1/5 of) incoming U.W. students signed up on the SYLAW interest sheet. We are encouraged by this, as it represents a continuing interest in the program.
· Training. Each year, SYLAW trains students to be able to participate. These trainings consist of both social and substantive legal issues which the students are likely to face.
· Incorporation. SYLAW was incorporated in the State of Washington in
July of 1997.
· Governing and Advisory Board. SYLAW has two boards to assist it in carrying out its mission. The Governing Board, consisting of law students, faculty and attorneys is in charge of policy. The Advisory Board, consisting of lawyers, judges, social service providers and youth advocates, gives input as to the direction of SYLAW.