Types of Service

NWLS provides free legal representation and counsel in civil legal cases to low-income individuals and families throughout our 10-county program region. Income eligibility is set at approximately 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as established and amended each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There are also asset guidelines for potential clients.

3 Year Statistical Comparison    In 2003, we handled 5418 cases and closed 4363 cases – a slight decrease in the number of cases handled and a slight increase in the number of cases closed in comparison to 2002, and an increase in both cases handled/closed in comparison to 2001.

Although NWLS provides legal aid in a variety of civil legal areas, historically the vast majority our services fall into four substantive categories: family law; housing; public benefits; and consumer/ finance. Other areas of legal representation include education, employment, juvenile, and medical assistance. As in past years, legal aid in the four major categories accounted for nearly 98 percent of the cases closed by NWLS in 2003. A summary of the cases during the year includes the following:

Closed Cases By Major Category - 2003

Outcomes Measurement

One of the ways we can measure the effectiveness of our legal services for clients in northwestern Pennsylvania is to calculate the amount of benefits, in dollar and cents, that we helped secure for them in 2003. Legal representation and counsel by NWLS law workers in areas such as Social Security Disability, Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), and child support payments are some of the cases that contributed to this measurement. Last year we helped generate over a million dollars in direct benefits to low-income people in our region who turned to us for help.
 

_________________________________________
<<Previous Page     Next Page>>
2003 Report Table of Contents