Mission & History

MetroWest Legal Services provides legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of people living with lower income or disabilities, or those who are over the age of 60. We assist those in our service in obtaining legal, social and economic justice. We help our clients secure access to basic needs and challenge institutional barriers in order to achieve equal justice for all.

History

1976

South Middlesex Legal Services started as a division of the South Middlesex Opportunity Council in 1971.  It was initially formed to provide legal services in housing matters.  Five attorneys helped clients in 12 towns in the Framingham area with benefits, housing, and domestic relations issues. In 1975 it expanded its work to include consumer protection cases.  SMLS originally had a central office in Framingham and a branch office in Marlboro.

1980s

Our service area grew to 20 towns.

1990s

Our service area grew to 36 towns, and we became a 501(c)(3) corporation in 1992. MWLS started taking domestic violence and special education cases in 1998.

2000s

Our service area grew to 45 towns. We started our Campaign for Legal Services in 2000 (actual fundraising) and raised $100,000 in the first year.

2010s

started a Medical Legal Partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Framingham and increased immigration work to include representation of unaccompanied minors seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

2020s

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MWLS staff quickly adapted to remote work and continued to serve clients throughout. The organization grew, with staff increasing by one third to address a greater demand for legal services.

Today

As we meet the needs of our times, MWLS has added education, assistance to victims of domestic abuse and senior citizens, immigration assistance, health advocacy, an active pro bono program, help for unrepresented litigants and a medical-legal partnership to our list of services.

We give over 50 outreach presentations and 75 clinics a year to ensure eligible clients are aware of our services. Helping our clients understand and protect their rights is the first step toward achieving economic independence.

Looking Forward

MWLS continues to look for ways to meet uncertain times and new challenges. An increasingly diverse population faces linguistic and cultural barriers to justice. Low-wage workers and even middle-income earners encounter growing insecurity in employment. With over 40,000 people living in our service area considered impoverished, the demand for our services continues to grow. We assist over 2,000 people a year, yet we turn away eligible clients every day because we simply do not have enough attorneys to take on another case.