Access to Justice Board Standing Committees

The ATJ Board accomplishes much of its work through its committees described below.

Navigate:

• Delivery System Committee
• Equal Justice Coalition
• Pro Bono Council
• Rules Committee
• Technology Committee

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Delivery System Committee

Mission

The Delivery Systems Committee’s mission is assist the Access to Justice Board in tracking the effectiveness and development of Washington’s civil legal services delivery system and to promote adherence to the Hallmarks and the State Plan for the Delivery of Civil Legal Aid to Low Income People. The Committee focuses on the following work:

• Convene Alliance for Equal Justice leaders who gather to share, discuss and analyze the changing economic and political landscape that impacts the scope and breadth of client needs.
• Oversee and monitor the implementation of the State Plan.
• Make recommendations to the Access to Justice Board and other relevant stakeholders about adaptations and new approaches to the existing civil legal aid delivery system.

Meetings, Membership and Engagement

The Delivery System Committee is comprised of persons representing a broad spectrum of Alliance for Equal Justice organizations.

The Committee meets monthly on the fourth Monday of every month from 12pm – 1:30pm by Zoom. To inquire about coming to a meeting or joining the committee, email atj@wsba.org.

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Equal Justice Coalition

Mission

The mission of the Equal Justice Coalition (EJC) is to ensure that people are treated equally and fairly before the law by educating policymakers and the public about the importance of civil legal aid in our communities and advocating for sufficient public funding for civil legal aid on behalf of low-income people in Washington State.

The Equal Justice Coalition maintains its own website where you can learn about the need for civil legal aid funding and ways to support funding advocacy.

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Pro Bono Council

Mission

The mission of the Statewide Pro Bono Council is to further access to justice by supporting and advocating on behalf of the Volunteer Lawyer Programs in Washington State. Council membership is comprised of representatives from the seventeen volunteer lawyer programs across Washington state. Visit the Pro Bono Council’s webpage to learn more.

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Rules Committee

Mission

The Rules Committee’s mission is to assist the Access to Justice Board with addressing existing and proposed laws, rules and regulations that may adversely affect meaningful access to the civil justice system. The Committee focuses on the following work:

• Make recommendations to the ATJ Board for submitting comments on proposed rules in accordance with the Board’s guidelines for reviewing proposed court rules.
• Create liaison or cross-membership relationships with other entities that address rule proposals, including but not limited to the WSBA Rules Committee, the Superior Court Judges Association, and the District and Municipal Court Judges Association.
• Develop and implement a process for reviewing existing court rules for how they can be improved and what additional rules should be proposed, in furtherance of meaningful access to the civil justice system.

Meetings, Membership and Engagement

The Committee meets on the third Tuesday of alternating months from 12:15 to 1:15 by Zoom. To inquire about coming to a meeting or joining the committee, email atj@wsba.org.

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Technology Committee

Mission

The Technology Committee’s mission is to promote efficient inter-agency technology needs assessment, planning, collaboration and evaluation, and the effective application of technology to provide equitable use of the civil justice system. The Committee also supports the proliferation and the adherence to the Access to Justice Technology Principles.

Access to Justice Technology Principles

The Access to Technology Principles were developed to ensure that technology enhances rather than diminishes access to and the quality of justice for all persons in Washington State.  Read the full Principles here.

Meetings, Membership and Engagement

The Committee meets on the third Tuesday of alternating months from 12:00 to 1:30 by Zoom. To inquire about coming to a meeting or joining the committee, email atj@wsba.org.

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