About the Alliance for Equal Justice
About Us
The Alliance for Equal Justice is a group of organizations in Washington State that provide civil legal aid to people and communities facing racism, poverty and systemic oppression. Their main goal is to find and remove obstacles that prevent people from getting the justice they deserve, which includes providing legal representation and advice, creating resources on how to use courts, and working to change unjust laws and rules. They dream of a world where no one is held back from justice because of their financial situation or background. To make this dream a reality, they work hard to ensure low-income people can access the justice system and receive equitable treatment in the courts.
Our Guidelines
The Alliance follows important guidelines that help them do their work effectively. These include:
Hallmarks of an Effective Civil Legal Aid Delivery System
These Hallmarks are shared vision and value statements held collectively by Alliance members.
State Plan for the Coordinated Delivery of Civil Legal Aid
The State Plan sets forth collective goals for the Alliance to help low-income people get the legal aid they need.
Collaboration Principles
These Principles provide guidance on how Alliance members interact and collaborate with each other.
ATJ Technology Principles
The ATJ Technology Principles provide guidance to courts and other legal institutions on how to select and use technological tools to enhance and expand access to justice.
Performance Standards
These Performance Standards serve as guidelines for the operation and performance of civil legal aid organizations in the state.
How We Collaborate
There are several ways that Alliance organizations work together:
- Learning together through events like the Access to Justice Conference and the Statewide Legal Advocates Training
- Active sharing on a community email list
- Solving problems through access to justice committees and workgroups
- Special trainings and gatherings to talk about current issues
- Commitment to the State Plan for the Coordinated Delivery of Civil Legal Aid
- Making time to participate in race equity and leadership trainings
- Talking with policy makers and legislatures about the importance of state and federal funding for civil legal aid services through the Equal Justice Coalition (www.ejc.org) and Office of Civil Legal Aid (ocla.wa.gov).
- Supporting private fundraising efforts through the Legal Foundation of Washington, Campaign for Equal Justice, and Endowment for Equal Justice (legalfoundation.org)
Why We Do This Work
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alliance?
The Alliance for Equal Justice is a network of organizations in Washington State that stand up for equity and justice. They mainly do this by making sure people in poverty have access to civil legal help when they need it and by supporting big changes to make the legal system function well for everyone regardless of income.
How do we join the Alliance?
Any organization that affirmatively agrees with the Alliance’s principles is encouraged to submit a short application here. We are an inclusive community that welcomes the perspective of a wide range of organizations that promote equity and justice.
Who are the current members of the Alliance?
A complete list of member organizations can be found on our Member Directory.
What are the benefits of joining the Alliance?
You will join a coordinated and strategic statewide effort to promote equity and justice in Washington State. You will be added to communication channels that provide opportunities to partner with organizations that have similar missions and goals and to participate in the Alliance’s sharing of knowledge and resources.
My organization is in line with the Alliance’s values and goals, but we don’t provide legal services. Can we still join?
Absolutely! The Alliance is committed to making connections with organizations that are working to promote equity and justice for communities facing racism, poverty, and other systemic oppression, and want to partner with civil legal aid organizations.
Who runs the Alliance and where does it live?
The Alliance is made up of dozens of organizations that share a common goal to make equity and justice a reality for all Washington communities. The Access to Justice Board provides the glue that helps the Alliance members to work together. The Access to Justice Board does this by hosting conferences, supporting Alliance communication, creating committees and workgroups where Alliance members can work together, and working on policy and projects to promote equity and justice in the legal system. The Access to Justice Board was created by and reports to the Washington State Supreme Court. The Washington State Bar Association provides the staffing and other resources for the Access to Justice Board to operate. The Alliance also receives structural and financial support from other statewide entities like the Legal Foundation of Washington, Office of Civil Legal Aid, the Pro Bono Council, the Equal Justice Coalition, and JustLead Washington.