Recognizing that the debts were from a hospital constructed with federal funding, the lawyer explained about the hospital's legal obligation to provide free services to some of its patients. An investigation and subsequent negotiation improved health services for many low-income people in Kittitas County. The point of this story is that the couple who came to see the lawyer chose the course of action, not their lawyer. Legal Services is not like a welfare benefit. Our society is based upon the premise that everyone participates.
Lawyers give poor people the means to participate.
The lawyers in this state have the ability and ingenuity to enable poor people to participate and to address the important problems I just mentioned. The opponents of legal services are uncomfortable with that kind of participation. That is why the opponents of legal services want to deny you the resources. But with the continued support of the Bar and the Bench, those resources will be there. The Bar and Bench of this state have been tremendous.