Section 2.53.020 - Office of civil legal aid-Director's duties(1) There is created an office of civil legal aid as an independent agency of the judicial branch.(2) Activities of the office of civil legal aid shall be carried out by a director of civil legal aid services. The director of civil legal aid services shall be appointed by the supreme court from a list of three names forwarded by the access to justice board. Qualifications for the director include admission to practice law in this state for at least five years; experience in representation of low-income people in civil matters, which experience may be in the form of volunteer representation; knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to promoting access to the civil justice system for indigent persons; and proven managerial or supervisory experience. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the supreme court and receive a salary to be fixed by the oversight committee.(3) The director shall: (a) Contract with one or more qualified legal aid providers to provide civil legal aid services authorized by RCW 2.53.030;(b) Monitor and oversee the use of state funding to ensure compliance with this chapter;(c) Report quarterly to the civil legal aid oversight committee established in RCW 2.53.010 and the supreme court's access to justice board on the use of state funds for legal aid; periodically assess the most prevalent civil legal problems experienced by low-income people in Washington state and the capacity of the state-funded legal aid system to meet the legal needs arising from such problems; and report biennially on the status of access to the civil justice system for low-income people eligible for state-funded legal aid; and(d) Submit budget requests.(4) The office shall not provide direct representation of clients.
RCW 2.53.020
Amended by 2018 c 21,§ 1, eff. 6/7/2018.2005 c 105 § 5.