Northwestern Legal Services

Since 1969, Northwestern Legal Services (NWLS) has provided free legal aid in civil cases to low-income clients in our ten-county, northwestern Pennsylvania service area.  We are a private, non-profit organization that receives funding from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as donations from the public.  We also administer grants for specialized legal services and community outreach.  Over half the NWLS staff is composed of attorneys and paralegals who provide direct representation and counsel, along with telephone advice and brief service, to our clients.  Our board of directors is composed of private attorneys and client-eligible individuals from the ten counties in our service area.  The board takes an active role in helping set priorities for the types of cases we accept and in raising funds for our mission. 

Our Mission:

Northwestern Legal Services assists low-income individuals and families by guiding them through the civil legal system using advocacy and education to seek justice with the goal of improving quality of life and thereby strengthening our communities.