About Northwestern Legal Services

Northwestern Legal Services (NWLS) is a private non-profit corporation dedicated to providing free legal representation to low-income people with civil legal problems. We provide service to eligible clients throughout ten counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. Client eligibility is based on the type of case involved and financial and asset as our eligibility guidelines are established by the federal and state governments. 

We provide service in a wide range of matters including public benefits, family law, housing, health care, education, and employment.  

Our Mission

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

In addition to the leadership of our Executive Director, our Board of Directors plays an active role in our program. All ten counties are represented by at least one attorney and one client member. Attorney members are appointed by their respective bar associations, and client members are appointed by a community organization in their area. An at-large member is appointed by the Board of Directors.   

In May 2019 we celebrated our 50^th year anniversary of service. Ten years ago we developed this commemorative video which provides significant details on how we first began and where that has brought us today.