Washington LawHelp Offers Tax Help to the Public

SEATTLE - March 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Contact:  Danielle Rebar, Northwest Justice Project, 206.464.1519, danieller@nwjusice.org

Washington LawHelp Offers Tax Help to the Public

Legal Portal Features Self-help Resources, Information, Referrals

Seattle, WA – March 15, 2013 – The fallout from our nation’s economic crisis has deeply affected the lives of millions of Americans. Skyrocketing rates of unemployment and foreclosures have left families living in poverty. Washington LawHelp, www.washingtonlawhelp.org, offers critical help obtaining and learning about much-needed tax credits. Washington LawHelp is part of the national LawHelp.org network of nonprofit legal information portals, and offers a variety of free tools and information for those grappling with tax preparation.  

Washington LawHelp offers easy-to-understand information about both state and federal taxes, including fact sheets for those facing a variety of special circumstances; information about rebates and tax credits, including the earned income tax credit; links to sites offering free tax filing; referrals to organizations that offer free or low-cost help; information on avoiding tax scams; and more.  

Washington LawHelp is Washington State’s online source for free legal aid referrals, know-your-rights information and a variety of self-help tools.  Washington LawHelp is maintained by the Northwest Justice Project, in conjunction with Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit leader in increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged.  Washington LawHelp has been on the web for more than a decade and now serves 300,000 visitors a year.  LawHelp.org was developed with support from the Legal Services Corporation.

“The economic crisis and high rates of unemployment have had devastating consequences for millions of Americans. It’s essential that struggling families receive all the benefits to which they’re entitled,” said Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of Pro Bono Net.  “LawHelp makes it easier for them to obtain these important benefits as well as find needed information, by putting tax resources, referrals and tools on one user-friendly site.”

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About Northwest Justice Project
The Northwest Justice Project (http://nwjustice.org/) (NJP) is Washington’s publicly funded legal aid program. Each year NJP provides critical civil legal assistance and representation to thousands of low-income people in cases affecting basic human needs such as family safety and security, housing preservation, protection of income, access to health care, education and other basic needs.  NJP’s mission is to secure justice through high quality legal advocacy that promotes the long-term well-being of low-income individuals, families, and communities. As a dynamic statewide law firm, we pursue our mission through legal advice and representation, community partnerships, and education to empower clients and combat injustice in all its forms.

About Pro Bono Net

Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation.  Pro Bono Net uses innovative web-based platforms—www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org and www.lawhelpinteractive.org —to recruit and support volunteer lawyers and provide direct information and tools for self representation to low-income communities.   Pro Bono Net has also developed Pro Bono Manager (http://www.probono.net/probonomanager), pro bono practice management software that helps AmLaw 200 law firms increase pro bono participation, manage pro bono caseloads more efficiently and raise internal and external awareness of pro bono efforts.  For more information, please visit www.probono.net.