(814) 452-6949 Who We Are What We Do Legal Resources Latest News Contact APPLY FOR SERVICES DONATE 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. Our History In the late 1960s, 38 attorneys in Erie County believed in the notion of equal justice under law. To make this notion a reality, they organized and incorporated the Erie County Legal Services Association, now known as Northwestern Legal Services. Access to justice was not only their dream but was, and still is, a reality. In May 2019 we celebrated our 50th 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. We recognize the following as the 38 original incorporators of Northwestern Legal Services Charles D. Agresti James E. Beveridge Warren W. Bentz John E. Britton John E. Dwyer Edward W. Goebel Robert D. Hain Frederick F. Jones T. Warren Jones Wallace Knox James E. Marsh Joseph F. MacKrell Fred P. Anthony Gabriel A. Bifulco, Jr. Richard F. Brabender James R. Dailey Roger M. Fischer M. Fletcher Gornall, Jr. Herbert J. Johnson, Jr. Stephen E. Jones R. Gordon Kennedy George Levin Edwin McKean Joseph T. Messina Daniel L.R. Miller Irving Olds Murphy Conrad Pearson John M. Quinn Norman H. Stark Joseph M. Walsh, Jr. Charles K. Moffatt J. Leonard Ostrow Bernard F. Quinn Peter Schaaf Gary Shapira Robert N. Spaeder James F. Toohey Vedder J. White Apply for Legal Help Now You can start an application for legal help from Northwestern Legal Services by answering some questions. However, you will not be a client of Northwestern Legal Services unless we contact you and tell you that your case is accepted. GET STARTED 2021 © Northwestern Legal Services. Powered by Epic Web Studios. Renaissance Centre, 1001 State St., Suite 700, Erie, PA, 16501 (814) 452-6949 info@nwls.org Partnered with