The means for families in crisis to survive is through reliance on the various public benefit programs. Legal assistance is provided to individuals and families as they try to navigate their way through the maze of these programs during times of personal crisis. NWLS also assists needy individuals experiencing problems with Social Security benefits or Medicare benefits. Additional representation is provided for other assorted health care problems. In the education area we represent clients with special education problems, school expulsions, and issues involving the assistance to low income children provided under the Chapter I program.
Representation is provided through our legal staff and through our various private bar components.
Staff representation in family law cases is primarily centered on domestic violence and child custody cases. Representation in these areas is particularly important because it relates to the safety of family members and the well being of children. Despite the importance of these cases, the demand for service far exceeds our capacity to meet it. Consequently, we have been forced to make choices in limiting the cases which we accept. Representation in custody cases is restricted to emergency situations where a child has been abducted or where there is a pending custody proceeding.