Frequently Asked Questions

• Who may access the referral program?

  Any WALA member is eligible to receive legal services through WALA. To become a WALA member, click here

• How much does the referral service cost?

  WALA legal referrals are free for WALA members. Legal services are also free if you qualify for pro bono assistance. To qualify for pro bono assistance, your annual income must be under $30,000 if you are single, or under $40,000 if you are part of a couple. Please be prepared to substantiate your income claim if necessary with appropriate tax documents.
  
  If you earn over our maximum qualifying income, you may negotiate a reduced fee with the attorney to whom you are referred, but WALA will not participate in this negotiation.
  
  If you are an existing nonprofit, and your annual budget is under $250,000, then you qualify for pro bono assistance.
  
  You will be responsible for expenses such as filing and registration fees and process servers.

• When will I hear from my attorney?

  The answer depends completely on the availability and interest of our volunteer attorneys. Because we rely on volunteer attorneys, we cannot promise that you will receive a referral within a certain time frame.

• What types of cases will WALA volunteer attorneys handle?

  The most common types of referrals to our volunteers include intellectual property (copyright, patent, trademark) matters, business formation matters, and drafting or reviewing contracts, but we can assist with other legal matters as well.

• Am I guaranteed an attorney?

  No. WALA places the vast majority of requests with an attorney, but occasionally we cannot place a case. We will attempt to let you know as soon as we feel your case may not be picked up, and you are welcome to check in with us at any point during the process.

• Does WALA offer discounted registration fees to events?

  Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts acknowledges that in some instances there will be persons who need to attend an educational workshop or event who are not able to pay full registration fees. WALA will handle such instances on a case-by-case basis and will work with the individual on alternative solutions. For persons who cannot meet the full registration rate, WALA may offer a reduced rate based on what the individual can reasonably afford to cover the cost of materials. For persons unable to pay a reduced rate, we may offer the opportunity to work at our registration area during attendee check-in, or assist in workshop set-up.