Mary Welch is a Statewide Advocacy Counsel at the Northwest Justice Project, based in Washington State. With over two decades of experience in legal aid, Mary has built a career rooted in advancing justice for low-income communities across the state. She began her work at NJP in 1999 as a farmworker attorney, advocating for agricultural workers facing employment-related challenges. Over time, her practice expanded to include representation for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in protection orders and family law. Her advocacy also expanded to consumer protection, and low-wage worker rights, reflecting her deep commitment to addressing the evolving needs of vulnerable populations. In 2018, Mary assumed her current role as Statewide Advocacy Counsel, where she leads strategic initiatives in family law, domestic violence advocacy, language access, and support for victims of crime. Her work blends direct client representation with systemic advocacy. She partners and collaborates with legal aid advocates across Washington to strengthen legal protections and promote equity statewide for vulnerable and low-income communities. Mary earned her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law.

Karla Carlisle is the Managing Attorney for the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla offices of the Northwest Justice Project. She began working with NJP in 2007. NJP is a publicly funded legal aid program in Washington State. Each year NJP provides critical civil legal assistance and representation to thousands of people experiencing poverty in cases affecting basic human needs such as family safety and security, housing preservation, protection of income, access to health care, education, and other basic needs. When Karla is not working, she is skiing or hiking with her family throughout the beautiful Pacific Northwest.