In 1951 and in 1966, a group of dedicated private attorneys, bar and community leaders and law school professors first opened the doors of what was then, respectively, the Fort Worth Legal Foundation and the Dallas Legal Services Project. In 1972, the Fort Worth Legal Foundation changed its name to the Tarrant County Legal Aid Foundation and in 1978, again changed its name to West Texas Legal Services. As to the Dallas Legal Services Project, it was incorporated in 1967 with the name, the Dallas Legal Services Foundation. In 1981, Dallas Legal Services Foundation became North Central Texas Legal Services Foundation and in 1988, changed its name to Legal Services of North Texas.

Regardless of their names, both organizations have a rich history and track record of accomplishments and achievements; of advocacy on behalf of the poor families in Texas and making a difference to so many lives. Both non-profits are strongly supported and highly respected by their communities. Both organizations are known for their strong financial management infrastructure with regularly annual clean independent audits. The mission of West Texas Legal Services and Legal Services of North Texas, Inc. and now Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, was and is the same; to ensure equal justice for people living in poverty through the provision of high quality legal representation and to further the ends of justice and improve the lives of low income people through the rule of law.

Effective March 1, 2003, Legal Services of North Texas was formally merged with West Texas Legal Services with the surviving corporation called “Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas” (Legal Aid). This is merger of two strong and healthy non–profits with a proven record of high quality legal work and financial /programmatic stability. The new corporation, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will have 85 lawyers and 115 support staff, with a projected annual budget of almost 11 million dollars and working from 14 branch offices in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Wichita Falls and Weatherford. It has leased a new corporate office in the Arlington Texas area. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is the most comprehensive program of delivery of legal services to the poor in our region and one of the largest in the country. The enlarged service area of the surviving corporation consists of approximately 890,000 families who fall within the federal poverty guidelines who reside in the 114 counties, covering more than one hundred and six thousand (106,000) square miles in Northwest Texas. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has a new web site at www.lanwt.org in which the public can see the new structure, description of services and how to apply for help if eligible. Applications from eligible clients can also be taken by telephone by calling their local office. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas also sponsors a weekly call-in radio show in the North Texas area called, “Law For The People” on KNON 89.3 FM every Friday morning from 8-9 AM.