Application for civil legal aid from Northwestern Legal Services (NWLS) is now available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Northwestern Legal Services is a member of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network and provides free legal help in civil legal matters to clients in Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Venango, & Warren Counties in northwestern Pennsylvania

The NWLS website, www.nwls.org, provides an online application that enables people to request legal services via the Internet. This online application process allows low-income individuals who cannot call the NWLS central intake unit during normal business hours, due to work or other commitments, to apply for service.

An online application for legal aid does not guarantee that legal services will be provided by NWLS. Applicants must still meet income and asset guidelines established by the federal government, and have a type of civil case that is accepted as part of NWLS's program priorities.

Individuals applying for legal aid online, will be contacted by the NWLS Central Intake unit regarding the status of their request no later than 5 business days from the time of their application.

People with a legal emergency that requires immediate attention, such as a sheriff sale scheduled for their personal property, or the need for a protection from abuse order, should NOT use the online application. Those individuals should contact the NWLS central intake unit by telephone as soon as possible at (toll-free) 800-665-6957, or in Erie at 452-6957. The unit is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The NWLS online application was created with funding from a special project grant by the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (PA IOLTA).

The NWLS Online Application is available at www.nwls.org.