{"data":{"id":"us-wa/rcw-2.53.020","jurisdiction":"us-wa","citation":"RCW 2.53.020","heading":"Office of civil legal aid—Director's duties.","body":"(1) There is created an office of civil legal aid as an independent agency of the judicial branch.\n(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.\n(3) The director shall:\n(a) Contract with one or more qualified legal aid providers to provide civil legal aid services authorized by RCW 2.53.030;\n(b) Monitor and oversee the use of state funding to ensure compliance with this chapter;\n(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\n(d) Submit budget requests.\n(4) The office shall not provide direct representation of clients.","path":["Title 2","Chapter 2.53"],"source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=2.53.020","current_through":"July 15, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:26:28Z","sha256":"f736bc862e69d03309d26b264d7413d38c76fbd3eeff849d5a623f6958aa797d","source_id":"us-wa","stale":false,"prev":"us-wa/rcw-2.53.010","next":"us-wa/rcw-2.53.025"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}