Legal Aid Society Announces Jefferson Coulter as New Executive Director
After a six-month national search, Legal Aid Society is pleased to announce that Jefferson Coulter has been selected by the Board of Directors as the next Executive Director.
Jefferson Coulter comes to Legal Aid Society from the Northwest Justice Project (NJP), Washington’s provider of civil legal aid. He served most recently as NJP's statewide advocacy counsel, overseeing consumer, employment, and reentry advocacy. Coulter served previously as the managing attorney for NJP’s Spokane office.
Coulter has extensive litigation, systemic impact poverty law work, and legal management experience. He holds a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law, Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University, and Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia University. He recently designed and instructed a course on Poverty Law for Gonzaga University School of Law.
Born and raised outside of Charleston, West Virginia, Coulter moved west in 1996 to attend law school in Spokane, Washington. He has lived in several locations in Washington state, as well as a few years in the Washington, D.C. area.
“I am honored and humbled to have been entrusted with leading Legal Aid Society into its next 100 years,” said Jefferson. “I am awed by the commitment and passion of Legal Aid Society’s staff and board. It’s a big, exciting job and I can’t wait to dig in.”
“The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Jefferson to our community and is looking forward to his leadership as Legal Aid Society celebrates our 100th Anniversary,” said Kendrick Riggs, Partner at Stoll Keenon Ogden and Chair of Legal Aid Society’s Board of Directors. “We believe that Jefferson’s demonstrated life-long commitment to public service and his depth of experience will effectively lead our mission as Legal Aid Society moves into the second century of service to our community.”
“Legal Aid Society’s staff is excited to welcome Jefferson to the team,” commented Neva Scott, Legal Aid Society’s outgoing Executive Director. “Not in recent memory has civil legal aid been so necessary to our entire community. The pandemic has left many Kentuckians in crisis. Legal Aid Society is essential to their lives and vital to the healing of our entire community. Jefferson understands our role in the recovery and will lead us as we continue to navigate the new normal.”
Coulter will begin with Legal Aid Society on December 3, 2021, where he will work directly with Scott for 30 days before assuming the duties of Executive Director on January 1, 2022.