Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas About Us: Overview Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) offers free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans who wouldn't otherwise be able to secure such legal representation. Originally incorporated in 1951 as Legal Foundation, LANWT is a nonprofit legal aid organization based in, Texas. One of three LSC-funded legal aid programs in Texas (along with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Lone Star Legal Aid), we are the fifth-largest legal aid program in the United States. We serve low-income residents in 114 counties in North and West Texas with 15 branch offices located in Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Dallas, Denton,, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Weatherford, and Wichita Falls. Our Mission Our mission is to ensure equal justice for low-income people through the provision of high-quality legal representation and to improve the lives of Texans through the rule of law. Our History Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has a long history of serving the community. Our first office, in, was founded in 1951 by the Tarrant County Bar Association. The Dallas office was established in 1966. LANWT has operated under several different names as we've grown over the years, and adopted the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas name in 2003 through the merger of Legal Services of North Texas and West Texas Legal Services. LANWT Today Today, we employ more than 80 attorneys, supported by a staff of more than 100 paralegals, secretaries, receptionists, and support staff. An additional 30 part-time attorneys staff a statewide legal hot line to help broaden our ability to assist those in rural areas. Who We Serve Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas gives clients access to legal representation who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford the services of an attorney. We primarily represent clients with income up to 125% of the U.S. poverty line, although in certain cases we are able to help those with incomes of up to 200% of the poverty line, which, for a family of four, means an income of no more than $3,975 per month. Our clients come from all sectors of the community and all walks of life. They are veterans, victims of violence and homeless persons. They are hard-working minimum wage earners, retirees on fixed incomes, grandparents, and single parents.
Practice Areas We are able to represent clients in any type of civil matter. However, our practice focuses on: Support for Families Preserving the Home Maintaining Economic Stability Safety, Stability, and Health Individuals with Special Needs Problems Affecting Groups of Individuals Funding Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is funded by several organizations and through foundation grants, most notably the Legal Services Corporation and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. s and Managers: Ms. Annette Ezzell 2013 2014 Board Chair Denton County Bar Association s Ms. Jan Langbein 2013 2014 Vice-Chair Genesis Women's Shelter Mr. James V. Esh 2013 2014 Treasurer Collin County Bar Association Ms. Shatara Mathis 2014 Secretary The Family Place Ms. Jean R. Anderson Lubbock Area Client Council Ms. Starlett A. Carter Ms. Mattie P. Compton
Tarrant County Bar Association Ms. Celestina Contreras Ms. Demechra Dee Davis South & Eastside Client Council, Mr. Billy Ray Dedrick Amarillo NAACP Mr. Marcus Edwards Denton County NAACP Ms. Angelina LaPenotiere Mr. Stanley R. Mays Mr. Richard Mitchell Wichita County Bar Association Ms. Carolyn Moore Lubbock Area Bar Association Ms. Letetia Patin L. Clifford Davis Legal Association Mr. Monte Sherrod Abilene Bar Association Ms. Pam St. John
Ms. Diane Sumoski Ms. Natasha Villars North Side Client Council of Management Team Joel K. B. Winful Chief Executive Officer Maria Thomas-Jones Deputy Director Dilip Shah Chief Financial Officer George Elliott Director of Administration Tom Stutz Director of Litigation Shelby Jean Director of Pro Bono, Bar Relations, and Communications Eliud Jimenez Director of Human Resources Sam Prince Director of Development Michael Prince Information Technology Manager Dallas
Areas of Practice: Consumer Protecting the rights of low-income and elderly consumers and preventing their victimization by unfair and often illegal sales and debt collection practices Bankruptcy, Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices, Conversion, Debt Collection, Home Improvement Fraud, Obtaining Financing and Other Issues, Title Issues, Wrongful Repossession Family Preserving, protecting, supporting, and stabilizing the lives and rights of families, particularly what remains of families ripped apart by violence and tragedy. Adoption, Child Abuse and Neglect, Child Custody, Divorces Involving Family Violence, Enforcement of Access and Visitation, Modification of Visitation/Custody, Parental Rights Termination, Paternity, Termination and Adoption When Abuse is Alleged, Visitation Enforcement Individual Rights Preserving and protecting the legal rights of low-income citizens and their access to our fundamental institutions at federal, state, and local levels. Civil Rights Violations, Discrimination, Discrimination by a Governmental Agency, Environmental Justice, Pauper's Access to Court Other Directive to Physician, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Guardianship Applications, Medical Insurance Eligibility or Claim Denial, Nursing Home Conditions, Obtaining Tax-Exempt Status, Public School Curriculum, Revocation of Probation or Parole for Children Deemed Delinquent in Supervision under Family Code, Rights to Education and Special Education, Small Estates, Special Education (IDEA), Student Loans, Suspensions, Truancy, Wills
Employment Preserving and protecting employees' rights in the workplace and helping to provide access to benefit programs for the unskilled, unemployed, and underemployed. Agency or Internal Reviews of Employee Grievances or Termination, Employee Benefits, Employment Discrimination, Occupational (Essential Needs) Drivers License, Removing Legal Impediments to Employment, Unlawful Termination, Wage Claims to Texas Workforce Commission Adjudication or Judicial Review Housing Preserving, protecting, and obtaining affordable, safe housing. Code Enforcement Defense, Contract for Deed, Housing Discrimination, Landlord-Tenant Issues, Assistance with Home Titles, Preventing Foreclosure, Property Tax Foreclosure, Real Estate Documents, Unsafe or Unhealthy Housing, Evictions, Nursing Home Evictions Public Benefits Preserving, obtaining, and regaining benefits for persons eligible for financial assistance programs to provide economic stability. County Assistance, Denial of Indigent Health Care Benefits by County Agency or Hospital District, Denial of Medicare or Medicaid Eligibility or Services, Food Stamps (SNAP), Health Program Coverage Denials, Health Program Denials, Home Health or Community-Based Alternative Denials, Social Security and SSI Disability Terminations, Social Security Benefits for a Child, Social Security Survivor, Dependents or Retirement Issues, SSI Disability Claims, Teen Pregnancy Disability Issues, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Transitional Child Care, Medicaid and other Welfareto-Work Issues, Unemployment Compensation, Veterans Benefits