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Navigate Law Group Receives 2024 APEX Award for Pro Bono Work

by | Sep 20, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Free Legal Resources

Navigate Law Group Named 2024 APEX Award Winner Among Vancouver, WA Law Firms

We are excited to announce that Navigate Law Group received the 2024 Washington State Bar Association APEX Award for Public Service and Pro Bono Work. This recognition is more than just an award for us—it’s a celebration of our commitment to supporting our community here in Vancouver, WA.

Navigate Law Group is incredibly deserving of the Pro bono and public service award. They really build volunteering and pro bono work into their company’s ethos. We so dearly appreciate and sincerely thank you for the difference that you make and all of the clients that you’re able to serve.

– Mia Demay, Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program

Serving the Vancouver Community from Day One

Helping individuals and families in our community has always been at the heart of what we do. From the beginning, we’ve worked to create a firm culture that balances private practice with meaningful volunteer work. Our attorneys and staff are deeply engaged in diverse practice areas, including but not limited to family law, real estate law, estate planning, business law, bankruptcy, employment law, and personal injury law, all while dedicating time to pro bono efforts.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Efforts

We’re incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to pro bono work. Our attorneys actively volunteer with the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program, offering free legal services for those who need it most. It’s not just about fulfilling an obligation—it’s about making real connections and helping people navigate challenging situations. Our efforts are not limited to our attorneys; our support staff are also engaged in contributing to various community programs.

As family law attorneys, we often see a tremendous need for volunteer services. Whether it’s 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or an hour of my time, it can change someone’s life.

– Chelsie M. Elliott, Attorney/Co-Owner, Navigate Law Group

Virtual Legal Clinics and Community Outreach

The pandemic changed how we could connect with people, but it didn’t stop us from providing help where it was needed. That’s why we launched the Navigate Virtual Legal Clinic, offering free, 20-minute consultations on a wide variety of legal issues. Since launching in 2020, we’ve been helping hundreds of people each year—and we’re not stopping there. We’re on track to double our numbers this year!

Supporting the Courts and Pro Se Litigants

Representing yourself in court can be overwhelming, especially in family law cases. Our attorneys volunteer their time at the family law dockets in the courthouse, assisting pro se litigants and judicial officers, helping to navigate the legal system without an attorney. Whether it’s a divorce or a child custody issue, we’re there to volunteer, provide guidance and support, and help people find their way through a complex system.

“We noticed this overwhelming need for help in those courtrooms. And so we started volunteering our time to just be there and sort of be the assistant in the courtroom for the commissioner as family law attorneys.”

– Amber M. Rushbanks, Attorney/Co-Owner, Navigate Law Group

All of these volunteer efforts discussed above are an essential part of our outreach, ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the legal help they need, regardless of their financial situation.

Building A More Just and Equitable Community

At Navigate Law Group, we believe that even small contributions can have a significant impact. Every hour spent volunteering, every consultation offered, every case we take on pro bono—it all contributes to creating a more just and equitable community. We are committed to fostering a culture of service and we actively encourage other legal professionals in Vancouver to join us in volunteering more of their time and expertise.

Looking Ahead

Receiving the APEX Award is a tremendous honor, but it’s also a reminder to keep pushing forward. We’re already thinking about how we can expand our pro bono services and find new ways to reach people in need. We’re grateful to the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program for nominating us for this award and to our clients and community partners who continue to support our mission.

We look forward to continuing this work and making an even greater impact in the years to come.

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Full Video Transcript

Video Title: Pro Bono and Public Service Award (Group) – Navigate Law Group

Mia Demay, Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program:

Navigate Law Group is incredibly deserving of the Pro Bono and Public Service Award. They really build volunteering and pro bono work into their company’s ethos.

Chelsie M. Elliott, Attorney/Co-Owner, Navigate Law Group:

Our mission statement was really starting from a place of helping people. We are trying to build a greater community.

Amber M. Rushbanks, Attorney/Co-Owner, Navigate Law Group:

Our business model allows for lawyers to have a lot of flexibility in how they set up their practice to strike a balance between running a private law practice, enjoying your practice, and also giving back to the community. The evidence is clear: our attorneys are volunteering all over the place in the community. It’s just good vibes.

Mia Demay:

When Navigate Law Group opened in 2014, they actually approached the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program saying, ‘How are we going to get involved in the community?’

Amber M. Rushbanks:

We were seeking out those resources and those organizations that were already established, and the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program—the people and the culture there—rocks.

Mia Demay:

Eleven out of the fourteen staff attorneys consistently volunteer at the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program. So that’s eleven attorneys doing anywhere from one to four hours per month. It’s not just the staff attorneys; it’s everyone—all of their support staff. Not only do they volunteer with us at our organization, but they also have a free virtual legal clinic every Thursday that is open to the community. They cover different areas of civil law that our program often doesn’t assist with.

Chelsie M. Elliott:

We had two in-person clinics once a month at the courthouse and the local library, and then COVID hit. We wanted to find a way to continue helping people, and that’s how the Navigate Virtual Legal Clinic was born. Anybody could sign up for a 20-minute call.

Brian Stone, Navigate Law Group Client:

I have referred a number of clients or local people to go visit them at that free legal clinic, whether that involves issues with custody, children’s safety, homelessness, or domestic violence. Being able to offer that every single week is such an asset for our community. It’s phenomenal.

Chelsie M. Elliott:

We helped, I think, just under 300 people in 2023, and we are looking to potentially double it this year.

Mia Demay:

They also go to the pro se dockets at the courthouse, especially the family law docket. So they are essentially triaging however the pro se clients need their assistance.

Amber M. Rushbanks:

We noticed this overwhelming need for help in those courtrooms. So, we started volunteering our time to just be there and sort of be the assistant in the courtroom for the commissioner as family law attorneys.

Chelsie M. Elliott:

As family attorneys, we see a lot of the need. It may be 10 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, or whatever of my time, but it could change somebody’s life.

Chelsie M. Elliott:

We really try to talk to other attorneys when we see them, like, ‘Hey, the Volunteer Lawyers Program needs some additional family law attorneys.’ If we can just get one other attorney to volunteer their time or to donate some funds, that’s the world.

Mia Demay

Congratulations to Navigate Law Group. We so dearly appreciate and sincerely thank you for the difference that you make and all of the clients that you’re able to serve.

Disclaimer

Every legal issue is very unique. Accordingly, the information in this blog is intended as general education material and not as legal advice. If you think you may have a legal issue, you should consult an attorney.