Law Advocates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL AID.
- Income
- $693,073
- Spending
- $555,558
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 83
- Highest pay
- $84,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 89 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $385,382 spent. LAW ADVOCATES OPERATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN PURSUIT OF ITS VISION OF: A COMPASSIONATE AND JUST SOCIETY WHERE LEGAL AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, IN EQUITABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, TO ACHIEVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.THESE SERVICES INCLUDE FULL REPRESENTATION, LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION, AND LEGAL ADVICE. THE PROGRAMS OPERATED INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:KINSHIP CUSTODY CLINIC: THIS CLINIC ENSURES CHILDREN'S NEEDS ARE MET WHEN PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEM. LAW ADVOCATES AND OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL MEET THIS NEED WITH A COMMITTED AND COMPASSIONATE LEGAL TEAM TO HELP CAREGIVERS NAVIGATE THE COURTS IN GUARDIANSHIP CASES. WILLS CLINIC: IN OUR WILLS CLINIC, OUR DEDICATED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS DRAFT SIMPLE WILLS AND POWER OF ATTORNEYS FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE SENIORS, WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR TERMINALLY ILL. STREET LAW: STREET LAW (LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC) RETURNED TO IN-PERSON SESSIONS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BELLINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY. WITH DEDICATED VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS ADVISING ON FAMILY, LANDLORD-TENANT AND GENERAL LEGAL MATTERS, LAW ADVOCATES WITNESSED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN BOTH ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS SERVED.IN COLLABORATION WITH WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGES PARALEGAL PROGRAM, STREET LAW AT WCC RESUMED ITS OPERATIONS. THIS PARTNERSHIP FACILITATED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO 649 CLIENTS THROUGHOUT 2024, FURTHER EXTENDING OUR REACH AND IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.CONSUMER DEBT CLINIC: LAW ADVOCATES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT (NJP), OPERATED A CONSUMER DEBT CLINIC AT THE WHATCOM COURTHOUSE. HELD TWICE MONTHLY, THIS CLINIC OFFERS CONSULTATIONS AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING ISSUES SUCH AS DEBT COLLECTION, GARNISHMENT, MEDICAL DEBT, AND CHARITY CARE. YOUTH SERVICES CLINIC: LAW ADVOCATES, IN COLLABORATION WITH NORTHWEST YOUTH SERVICES (NWYS) OPERATES A VITAL SERVICE AT GROUND FLOOR, NWYS DROP-IN CENTER, PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL AND DEMONSTRATING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF UNSTABLY HOUSE OR HOMELESS YOUTH.ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDING VALUES: RACIAL EQUITY: WE RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORICAL AND INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM IS ONGOING IN OUR SOCIETY, THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL AND ONGOING INSTITUTIONALIZED DISCRIMINATION TARGETS OTHER MARGINALIZED AND MINORITY COMMUNITY GROUPS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, PEOPLE WITHDISABILITIES, NON-HETEROSEXUAL AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THIS DISCRIMINATION IN LAW.ADVOCATES' STRATEGIC PLANNING, POLICY- AND PRIORITY- SETTING PROCESS AS WELL AS LISTENING TO AND COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE LEGAL SERVICES MOST CRITICALLY NEEDED BY THOSE MOST IN NEED OF LEGAL HELP.EMPOWERMENT: "JUSTICE FOR ALL" REQUIRES ACCESS, KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM, AND DIRECT ACTION. WE SUPPORT AND EMPOWER CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES WITH HOPE, PRACTICAL INFORMATION, AND TOOLS TO DEAL WITH HOUSING, SOCIAL SERVICES, DEBT, ABUSE, WORKPLACE, AND FAMILY ISSUES TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IS A RECOGNITION THATDECISIONS AFFECTING OUR CLIENT COMMUNITIES MUST BE MADE BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS RATHER THAN BY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.EDUCATION: WHEN SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO INTERPRET LEGAL INFORMATION, WE SHOW CLIENTS HOW TO NAVIGATE PATHWAYS TO JUSTICE AND RELIEF. WE CHAMPION CLIENTS AND THEIR NEEDS WITH DIGNITY, HOPE AND PERSEVERANCE. WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON MATTERS THAT AFFECT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.ADVOCACY: FREE OR ACCESSIBLE LEGAL SERVICES ARE CRITICAL PATHWAYS TO JUSTICE. OUR VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL LAWYERS AND STAFF EMPOWER PRO SE CLIENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND REMEDIES TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, ADVOCATE SKILLFULLY TO CHANGE SITUATIONS OF VIOLENCE, DEBT OR UNJUST CONDITIONS IN THE HOME, AT WORK, SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY.SERVICE: PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND DIGNITY ARE STRONGEST WHEN COMMUNITIES UPHOLD THEM ACTIVELY. WE CONNECT QUALITY LAWYERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WHATCOM COUNTY WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO UPHOLD THE PROMISE OF EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Advocates Inc (Framingham, MA), EIN 23-7451423. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.