| News & Events | About Us | Contacts | Links | Volunteer (PAI) |
About Us
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Home
About Us
|
|
The New Center for Legal Advocacy (NCLA) provides professional no-charge legal assistance to low-income residents of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties as well as the towns of Stoughton and Avon in Norfolk County.
General info
NCLA is a full-service poverty law firm receiving federal Legal Services
Corporation funding, since 1997, and Massachusetts Bar Foundation funding.
Through its centralized intake and hotline system, NCLA is the initial point
of access for most applicants in need of legal services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.
NCLA provides advice, referrals and direct representation for thousands of individuals every year. NCLA is a private, not-for-profit corporation with a nine-person Board of Directors consisting of six attorneys (appointed by local bar associations) and three client-eligible members. All Board members are volunteers. NCLA has a total staff of 11: Executive Director, three staff attorneys, four intake paralegals, Private Attorney Involvement coordinator, and two legal secretaries. Mission Statement
NCLA’s
fundamental mission is to provide meaningful access to justice for the diverse, poor,
and low income communities across Southeastern Massachusetts
through the operation of a culturally competent delivery system including an
intake hotline for providing legal advice, effective referrals to legal service
providers and other agencies, as well as direct representation by the area's private bar
and through substantial participation in community groups and organizations.
Location
(see map of downtown New
Bedford area)NCLA's main office is located in the heart of historic downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. Located at 257 Union Street, access to area court houses, post offices and government centers are within convenient walking distances or reachable via public transportation. NCLA's satellite office is located in the heart of historic downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts at 18 Main Street Extension. Directions
(for door-to-door directions visit Mapquest
and click on the button for Driving)NCLA NB: From Rte. I-195, take exit 15 Downtown New Bedford to Rte. 18. At Second set of lights, turn right onto Union Street. NCLA PLY: Located on Rte. 3A in the town of Plymouth.
Service Priorities
Protecting the family, preserving the home, protecting and maximizing income and benefits,
consumer protection, and emergencies and other critical cases (including education).If you would like to learn more about NCLA's service priorities, please read our 2007 Annual Review of Priorities.
Service Area:
Barnstable County
Bristol County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County...as well as Dukes and Nantucket Counties 
Funding Sources
NCLA services are made possible with the support of: * Legal Services Corporation - America's Partner for Equal Justice * Massachusetts Bar Foundation * Office of Housing and Community Development of the City of New Bedford * Southern New England School of Law (student practice clinic) For more information, see their websites listed under our Links section
|