NLSA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community Outreach Coordinator
- Community Engagement Coordinator
Allie Holler is currently the Community Outreach Coordinator at NLS. They are responsible for cultivating and managing strategic partnerships, establishing community awareness, and facilitating community engagement and education to build awareness of NLS's services among client communities.
Allie earned their Master's of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to attending graduate school, they attended Duquesne University.
When not working Allie enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with friends. They also have a cat named Adrianne.
Job Titles:
- Director for Case Management Systems
Amy Carpenter is currently the Director for Case Management Systems at NLS. In addition, she is the webmaster for the organization's website, www.nlsa.us, and handles social media. She is a former Helpline attorney and Intake Coordinator. Prior to joining NLS in 2000, she worked as a staff attorney at Southern Alleghenies Legal Aid in its Altoona office.
Carpenter received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University in 1989, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995.
She is currently a Fellow of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, and a past co-chair of the Public Service Committee of the ACBA/ACBF. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's House of Delegates for Zone 12.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Pennsylvania
Job Titles:
- Member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Attorney Motley-Phillips became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in 1991. Other affiliations include the Beaver County Bar Association and Allegheny County Bar Association. She is a member of the Boston College Black Alumni Network, Boston College Alumni Network, Northeastern Alumni Association, and the Homer S. Brown Law Association. She also serves as a trustee at her church in Pittsburgh, PA.
Professional Experience
Previously worked as a Managing Attorney at NLS for over twenty years.
Prior to that 9 years as a volunteer.
Education
JD from Duquesne School of Law
Bar Association Memberships/Admissions
ACBA
Professional Experience
Bill Creighton is currently Staff Attorney in the New Castle office of NLS. Bill assists clients in public housing evictions, mortgage foreclosure, personal bankruptcy, unemployment compensation, custody and protection from abuse cases. Prior to joining NLS in 2017, he worked for Northeast Ohio Legal Services. Northwestern Legal Services, the UAW Legal Services Plan and as a private practitioner.
Education
Mr. Creighton earned his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1991. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hiram College in 1988.
In March, 2018, Martin was named the Director of Advocacy and helps to ensure that NLS provides high quality legal services by working to support the attorneys and helping to set long term goals for client service. In addition, continues to handle a caseload focusing on saving homes.
Previous Experience
Beginning her career as a volunteer with NLS the summer after her first year of law school, Martin worked in various NLS offices doing a variety of jobs. Since 1995, Martin has been a managing attorney in the central Pittsburgh office. At all times she has maintained an active legal practice, in Consumer law, focusing on foreclosure issues and bankruptcy law.
Martin is a contributing author for "Pennsylvania Consumer Law" on Judgment Execution. The chapter is very useful, though possibly dull reading.
Martin has been involved with legal education, helping to teach law school clinic classes at both Duquesne and Pitt, and as a trainer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and other organizations on Consumer Law and Bankruptcy. She organizes NLS's summer intern program, and supervises the bankruptcy law students throughout the year. An enthusiastic participant in the Gallery Crawl each July when NLS attempts to persuade the general public that lawyers are useful to society, a position strongly held by Martin herself.
Education
J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1978, B.A. in English with a minor in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974.
Charles has five years of litigation experience, including municipal law, foreclosure, banking, and now eviction defense with NLS. He also has a year of criminal defense experience working at the Venango County Public Defender's Office.
He has a passion for representing individuals who need assistance in legal proceedings in which they are at a significant disadvantage due to a lack of money or uneven bargaining positions. This led him to NLS because we are one of the offer free legal services to indigent clients. Charles enjoy solving puzzles and using his education, research, and advocacy skills to improve the lives of others. He believe everyone has skills and abilities that when used to their fullest potential can advance society. Developing and deploying these skills and abilities in the service of others brings him great satisfaction and is the best thing he can do to pursue self actualization.
Charles earned a B.S. in Pyschology with a minor in Women's Studies from Penn State as well his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law and was a Miller Center Public Interest Advocate. He is admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association.
Charles has volunteered with the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA), Habitat for Humanity, Pittsburgh's Operation Safety Net and is a 33 rd degree master freemason.
Professional Experience
Chelsey Meckler is currently the Compliance Manager at NLS. Prior to joining NLS in 2017, she worked as a staff attorney with Fenchel Law Offices.
Education
Ms. Meckler earned her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2015. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and a minor in the Legal Environment of Business from the Pennsylvania State University in 2012.
Christine Kirby serves at Neighborhood Legal Services where she has been successful in requesting and receiving private gifts for a number of civil legal aid initiatives, as well as increased the number of grant proposals submitted and funded, expanded annual giving and implemented special events and stewardship activities. Christine is responsible for designing and over-seeing strategies for fundraising in a competitive environment among large social service agencies. She is skilled in developing fundraising and communications efforts that correspond to a strategic plan and implementing new initiatives to improve access to justice.
Christine previously served as Director of Advancement and Statewide Support for the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. PLAN is the principal statewide funder and coordinating agency in Pennsylvania's network of civil legal aid programs providing access to justice for victims of domestic violence and those who have nowhere else to turn. In this position, Christine led statewide resource development and communications efforts designed to further the goal of equal justice under the law.
She is past president and current member of the Executive Women's Council of Greater Pittsburgh and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Christine earned her Master's Degree in Public Policy Management from Carnegie Mellon University's H.J. Heinz School of Public Policy. Christine received her undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager / Paralegal
Claudia began her career at NLS as a part-time secretary in 1983. Some years later she did some representation in the welfare practice and then assisted attorneys with Social Security matters. She is also a Notary and has done some bookkeeping. There was also a time frame when she was conducting clinics for Divorce/Support and Custody. Claudia has served on several hiring commitees and has particicpated in many outreach events. She has always loved the mission of Neighborhood Legal Services and felt that in some small way she has played a part in helping those less fortunate. In her current role she oversees the management of the New Castle office.
Cynthia Gilkey has been an attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services since August, 2018 handling all types of housing cases. She currently practices in both Lawrence County and Beaver County and is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
Cynthia graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where her Law Review article, "Following in the Footsteps of Ford: Mental Retardation and Capital Punishment Post-Atkins," was published. Also a Magna Cum Laude graduate from La Roche College, she holds a B.A. in Professional Writing. She was admitted to The Western District of Pennsylvania, The Third Circuit and The Supreme Court of the United States while working as an Assistant District Attorney in Mercer County. Her work ranged from summary citations to First Degree Murder. She has also served as vice president of the Middlesex Borough Council and Law clerk for the Honorable Oliver J. Lobaugh.
Upon leaving the District Attorney's office, her desire to remain in "public service" law led her to Neighborhood Legal Services. Having always worked in public service she views NLS as another opportunity to continue to practice in the field of public service.
Cynthia spent 10 years as an elected council member for the Borough of West Middlesex, having held multiple roles, including president. She is also the Past President of the Mercer County Humane Society and is currently a board member and secretary for the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter
Denise McKeown is the Human Resource Manager for NLS. She is deeply tenured in solving organizational challenges and change and serves as an integral leadership team member. She executes the human resource protocols in all areas of the NLS program including talent acquisition, benefit administration, compensation, performance management, as well as, employee relations and development. She has over 25 years of human resource experience that includes private and public business organizations, educational institutions and the non-profit sector.
Denise has an M.S. degree in Educational Leadership from Duquesne University.
Donna Allen-Rosemond has had over thirty years of experience as an attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services. Hired as a staff member, she went on to manage a neighborhood branch office, managed the paralegal staff, and was the senior staff attorney for the family lawsuit unit. She now focuses primarily on family law matters.
Donna Allen-Rosemond was named one of the 2019 New Pittsburgh Courier's "Women of Excellence" in recognition of her excellent legal work on behalf of victims of domestic violence and in 2022 she was recognized as the Duquense University Women's Law Association Woman of the Year. Most recently, Donna received the Outstanding Attorney Avocate Award at the 2024 PLAN Excellence Awards.
Prior to NLS she worked for two years as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow. Attorney Allen-Rosemond is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Association. She serves as an active member of the Matrimonial Inns of Court, Domestic Violence Task Force, Mentor for Protection from Abuse Pro bono Volunteer attorneys, Court Relations Committee, the Green Book Initiative Committee, and the Subcommittee for Children's Issues. In addition, she has been a volunteer for Crisis Center North and Women's Center and Shelter. She is an Alleghany County Bar Association family law section council member, co-chair of Mentoring Committee, and co-chair of the Professionalism Committee. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., a public service sorority.
She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Criminology. She received her Juris Doctorate at Duquesne University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Special Project Coordinator
Professional Experience
Doreen L. Mitchell is currently the Special Project Coordination for Housing for NLS. She is the point of contact expediting referral processes amongst project partners from housing eviction/foreclosure prevention program operators, which include (URA, DHS, RentHelpPGH, Just Mediation Pittsburgh, CDBG and PA HAF). She triages and determines the kind of help needed and then connects cases to attorneys for legal help, then following the cases and updating the housing program partners.
She is a team player and works directly with the Intake Coordinator to help to support the intake unit needs including helping to train support staff and fielding questions from other staff on a daily basis regarding intake procedures and eligibility.
Her recent past position at NLS was Expungement Coordinator. Doreen worked hand in hand with the attorneys in the Employment Section of NLS to ensure clients received the best services NLS has to offer.
Doreen facilitated in person and online Expungement Outreach in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Allegheny Counties. She assessed clients for eligibility for NLS and the Duquesne University Expungement program. She also worked with Harvard Law School on a special Expungement Study and was one of their top recruiters in the county.
Doreen also previously served as the Receptionist, Legal Secretary, Bookkeeper and Notary in the now closed McKeesport NLS Office. Prior to moving to the Pittsburgh Office, she received her certification as a Paralegal and earned a two-year degree w/honors in Legal Studies.
Once in the Pittsburgh Office she moved into the PFA Coordinator position, performing every aspect of PFA work, including working daily at the PFA office. After she left this position for the Intake Unit this job was divided up to multiple personnel doing what she once did. Doreen has trained numerous clerical and intake persons and mentored multiple high school students placed at NLS for work experience.
Doreen serves on the Hiring Committee, the Labor /Management Committee and worked on the committee that formed our now Centralized Intake Unit and is still willing to help anywhere she can. Additionally, Doreen is a Co-President of (ICLAW) the Iron City Legal Assistance Workers, which is our local union of Legal Workers affiliated with NOLSW and the UAW.
Ed Stevenson has worked at Neighborhood Legal Services for 50 years. Ed is also an adjunct professor with the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a former adjunct professor with the Duquesne University School of Law, as well as a trainer with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship Program for The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN).
He is admitted to practice before United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the Western District, and the United States Tax Court. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, a former deacon and elder with the Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, as well as former secretary/treasurer with Macedonia FACE, Incorporated. He has a bachelor degree in history and political science from Kentucky State University and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky School of Law. He received the Mon Valley Award in 2020, the PLAN Excellence Award in 2001, the MLK award for distinguish service 1996 & 1997, and the Community Service Award from Valerie Jeanne Parker Swan Memorial-Foundation, Incorporated 1973. Recently, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for work done at NLS from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity via Iota Phi Foundation.
In a way, working for NLS is Stevenson's childhood dream. When he was young, he dreamed that one day he would be a leading scorer in the NBA. Now, he says, he is blessed to work in the court rather than on it. The number of clients he has served over the years makes him a leading scorer at NLS. So far, he has never missed any work at NLS due to sickness for 50 years!
Job Titles:
- Director of Litigation
- Litigation Coordinator
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at NLS. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and legal interns; as well as attorney and client training.
Eileen has worked as a staff attorney at NLS since her 1977 graduation from Boston College Law School. Her reason for going to law school was to engage in public interest law and to save the world with her legal skills and privileges. Upon learning about legal services for the poor, she knew that this was a mission she would devote my career to. She is admitted to practice in the PA, US District Court WD PA, 3 rd Cir. SCOTUS and a member of the ACBA.
Bray v. McKeesport Housing Authority, 114 A.3d 442 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2015), which established that rejected applicants for federally subsidized housing benefits have the due process right to have their appeals reviewed by the Pennsylvania courts pursuant to the Local Agency Law;
Clark v. Jeter, 486 U.S. 455 (1988) (co-counseled with former NLS attorney Evalynn Welling), which held that the former Pennsylvania law prohibiting unwed mothers of children aged 6 and older from seeking child support from the biological fathers although mothers of such children who were married at the time of conception were entitled to seek child support, unconstitutionally violated the Equal Protection Claus of the 14 th Amendment;
Job Titles:
- Manager for Special Projects
Jaime Latronica is currently the Manager for Special Projects at NLS. She oversees strategic grant projects that have unique intake and referral mechanisms and cover a variety of legal subject matters. Some of these subject matters include the Elder Law Project, the Medical Legal Partnership with UPMC, and a project with the Department of Human Services that covers intakes from Family Centers in and around the Pittsburgh area. Ms. Latronica is responsible for completing reporting to the various grants funding the Special Projects Unit and she also manages all staff assigned to the Special Projects Unit. Prior to moving into this role, Ms. Latronica was a Staff Attorney in the Butler County Office for NLS.
Before joining NLS in 2021, she worked as an Associate Attorney at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Domestic Violence Legal Center, a Judicial Law Clerk in Clarion, Elk, and Cameron Counties, and an Associate Attorney for Stephen J. O'Brien and Associates, LLC, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Education
Ms. Latronica earned her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2008. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Minor in English Literature, and a Certificate in West European Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005, Summa Cum Laude.
Professional Experience
Jeffrey Braun is currently the Manager for Intake at NLS. He assists the Intake Unit in the creation and assignment of cases to the staff at all four counties that NLS covers. Mr. Braun is also the VetLex coordinator for the Pittsburgh area. He is a former Helpline attorney. He serves on the low income advisory committees to Duquesne Light, Peoples Gas, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
Prior to joining NLS in 2006, he had a ten-year career in private practice in the area of general civil litigation, most recently working as an associate for James M. Malley. At that time, he volunteered for NLS by representing clients pro bono in bankruptcy, PFA, and unemployment compensation benefit referrals.
Education
Mr. Braun earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1994. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, summa cum laude, in 1991.
Joan Tutak is a staff attorney based in the Butler County office of Neighborhood Legal Services, where she handles Social Security cases primarily for residents of Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. Also, she regularly assists clients at the NLS Debt Advice clinics, and provides telephone advice and counsel to clients needing guidance with unemployment compensation matters. She occasionally mentors newer NLS attorneys in the area of Social Security law, and provides community presentations on the topic of Social Security as well. Finally, she is the NLS representative for the Butler Emergency Response Initiative (BERI), a local organization dedicated to helping meet essential needs of Butler County residents when there has been a significant emergency.
Previous Experience:
Prior to coming to NLS in July, 2000, Joan worked in several capacities as an attorney. She gained experience in the area of real estate law by working at a small law firm, followed by employment at a large real estate corporation. She also clerked for the Pa. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and, for a period of time shortly before her employment at NLS, Joan had a small private practice. She credits her interest in the law being spurred on by working as a legal advocate after completing her undergraduate education.
Education
Joan earned her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1993. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing and Speech Communications from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983.
Jonathan Young joined Neighborhood Legal Services, as a staff attorney, in July 2020. He represents clients in landlord/tenant disputes, debtor creditor matters and utility shutoff cases.
Prior to joining Neighborhood Legal Service Jonathan practiced law, both in-house and in his own firm for close to 30 years. Jonathan was the Vice President of Legal Affairs for Tele-Media Corporation a cable television and radio broadcasting company based in central Pennsylvania. After leaving Tele-Media, Jonathan worked in private practice advising individuals and businesses, including insurance companies, telecommunications, and technology companies; family-owned business and entrepreneurs.
Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Temple University and is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
- President / Attorney - at - Law
Joy Malloy began her career at NLS as a Secretary and is currently the Paralegal for the SSI/SSDI Department of NLS. She assists the attorneys with all aspects of Social Security Cases. Joy has a commitment to serve the community of NLS with empathy and compassion and is pleased to provide support to the attorneys.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Allegheny County Bar Association
- Pro Bono Housing Manager
Professional Experience
Ms. Hale is developing a pro bono program at Neighborhood Legal Services, focused on housing stabilization and eviction prevention. As part of her pro bono work at Neighborhood Legal Services, she serves as on the Administrative Board of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership. She started at NLS as a VOCA-funded staff attorney representing clients in all four counties that NLS covers: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence, focused on Protection from Abuse and Custody matters. Before joining Neighborhood Legal Services as a staff attorney in 2021, she was the Legal Advocacy Manager for the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, served as a judicial law clerk for the Senior Judges in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and worked in private practice.
Prior to law school, Ms. Hale's professional highlights include serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Republic of Moldova, and as a U.S. Secondee to the OSCE Mission to Moldova as the Anti-Trafficking and Gender Advisor.
Education
Ms. Hale earned her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a Certificate in Women's Studies from Ohio University and a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University.
Ms. Hale is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) and the ACBA's Public Service Committee and Women's Law Division, the Women's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania, the Butler County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and the PBA's Legal Services to the Public Committee. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Julie Karabin is currently a Staff Attorney in the New Castle Office. Prior to being hired as a Staff Attorney, Julie worked as an intern in the Family Law department of the Pittsburgh office and worked as an intern for The Honorable Kim D. Eaton. Julie also participated in a Housing Practicum through NLS during her 3L year where she learned the ins and outs of landlord-tenant law. During law school, Julie completed training to become a certified mediator and earned the Public Service Leadership Award for completing over 100 hours of volunteer work. Julie is also a proud member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, a national service sorority.
Julie graduated with her B.A. in Social Sciences and Public Service with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with her J.D. and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar.
When she's not working, Julie can be found trying new Pittsburgh-area restaurants and spending time with family and friends. Additionally, her love for public service carries into her free time as well, where she volunteers for various local non-profit organizations.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / K & L Gates LLP
Katie is currently a Staff Attorney in the Pittsburgh Office, where she works in the Family Law practice area and focuses primarily on Protection from Abuse and Child Custody cases.
Katie has experience serving low-income individuals and their families. Katie joined NLS as a Staff Attorney in October 2023, previously working as a Certified Legal Intern with the NLS Family Law Unit during her time in law school. Katie also served as a Certified Legal Intern for the University of Pittsburgh's Elder Law Clinic, as well as a summer intern for the Honorable Judge Daniel Regan in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division.
Katie received her Juris Doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2023 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2023. Before law school, Katie graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science.
When Katie is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as her family dog Gia.
Professional Experience
Since graduating from law school, Attorney Motley-Phillips has worked at Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), a public interest law firm in the greater Pittsburgh area. For many years she was primarily responsible for family law cases including working with victims of domestic violence. She also has participated as an instructor in NLS's Legal Services Practicum in family law at both the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Duquesne University Law School.
For many years, Attorney Motley-Phillips was responsible for coordinating the Medical Legal Partnership for Patients (MLCP) through NLS and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in McKeesport, PA, a hospital that serves a large urban area. MLCP aims to improve the health and overall well-being of the patients by making legal services a core component of patient care. The program also is a member of the national Medical Legal Partnership networks, founded at Boston Medical Center.
When the MLCP ended, Attorney Motley-Phillips has been providing a wide range of legal serves to the elderly via the Elder Law Project (ELP). She also represents clients who have been denied disability benefits.
Education
Kimberly Motley-Phillips, a Pittsburgh native, earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology with a double minor in German and Religion from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. She then relocated to Boston, MA where she received her M.Ed in Rehabilitation Administration from Northeastern University. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in 1990 from Boston College Law School.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director of Neighborhood Legal Services
Kris Bergstrom began her tenure as Executive Director of Neighborhood Legal Services in January 2022 becoming the fifth chief executive in the organization's 57 year history and its first female leader. Kris is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, fund development and strategic planning of the organization. Prior to being named NLS Executive Director, Kris practiced Elder and Consumer Law in NLS's Pittsburgh Office since 2018. Before joining NLS, Kris was the Directing Attorney for the Las Vegas Branch of Nevada Legal Services. While working for Nevada Legal Services, Kris started a Criminal Record Sealing Program that assisted thousands of Nevadans in sealing their criminal records in order to obtain better employment and housing. Kris also created and taught a series of Community Legal Education Classes and Self-Help Clinics throughout Southern Nevada in order to help pro se litigants navigate through the legal system. A career legal aid attorney, Kris believes in collaborating with community partners to expand legal services to underserved populations. Kris also enjoys using technology to enable low-income litigants the ability to more easily access the legal system and plans to leverage past experience creating a series of automated online forms for criminal record sealing, estate planning, and family law. Kris also enjoys supervising and mentoring attorneys and served as a mentor in the Nevada Bar's Transitioning Into Practice program. Kris also worked at the Disabilities Rights Center in New Hampshire from 2004-2007.
Education
Kris earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School in 2004. She was the winner of the 2004 Stanley E. Gould Prize for Public Interest Law and the 2006 winner of the Sarah Betsey Fuller Social Justice Award. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Puget Sound in 1998.
Kyle currently provides legal advice and representation to "dual-eligible" individuals in collaboration with a local health plan. His focus is on addressing the home stability needs of referred plan participants, including housing, family, consumer, public benefits, and/or elder law issues with the goal to provide overall legal wellness for those in need as identified by the health plan.
Kyle interned with NLS in 2016 assisting with PFA and custody cases. He was also a summer associate for Cohen & Grigsby, P.C. in 2017 before joining Dentons Cohen & Grigsby P.C. as an associate in their Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group where he handled complex commercial disputes, insurance coverage cases, construction litigation, and litigation involving trade secrets and restrictive covenants. Most recently, Kyle was selected to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® Rising Stars® list.
Kyle received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 and his Juris Doctor from The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2018. He is admitted to practice in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is as a member of the ACBA.
Kyle went to law school to make a difference in his clients' lives through advocacy and effective representation and knew that joining NLS would allow him the opportunity to do just that on a daily basis. He believes that public interest legal services organizations are the driving force behind that which makes the legal profession so rewarding and meaningful and that lawyers, at their core, are problem solvers and the clients of civil legal aid organizations face some of the most challenging and emotionally taxing legal problems of any participant in the entire judicial system.
Logan Lewis is currently a Staff Attorney at the New Castle Office where she primarily focuses on Protection from Abuse cases and Custody Cases.
Previous Experience
Lewis started her legal career as a landlord tenant certified legal intern at Neighborhood Legal Services in the Summer of 2018 until she graduated from law school in May 2019. During her time as an intern at NLS, she was also employed through the Allegheny County's Department of Human Resources for her work as a landlord tenant intern. In addition, during her last year of law school, she held an externship at NLS, assisting clients in unemployment cases and expungement cases.
Prior to her current role in NLS's New Castle Office, Lewis was a Helpline attorney in NLS's Pittsburgh Office where she advised clients on landlord-tenant issues, property taxes, credit card debt, and unemployment.
Education
J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2019,
B.A. in International Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2015.
Helpline Attorney; I was hired in July of 2020 to work with a team of NLSA attorneys responding to the housing crisis caused by Covid-19. In December 2020, I was hired full-time and shifted to the NLSA Helpline Attorney role in the Pittsburgh office. I advise on clients on landlord-tenant issues, property taxes, credit card debt, and utilities.
I started my legal career in 2006 at a boutique law firm founded by a former longtime NLSA attorney representing individuals in elder law and employment law matters. I moved to a small firm practicing municipal and employment law where I had the pleasure of advising major education providers in the Pittsburgh area, along with several local municipalities and unions. I transitioned to private practice and continued advising and representing individuals on employment and civil matters, as well as consulting on Pennsylvania employment law legal education materials for a renowned legal research company.
Job Titles:
- Director of Information Technology
Professional Experience
Mark Hitchcock has been in IT management for 7 years and around the IT field in general for over 15 years. He comes with extensive experience in IT management, project management, and carries a specialization in technology implementation and adoption. He has planned and implemented over 20 technologies and projects ranging from small web applications to CRM implementations.
Prior to joining NLS in 2019, Mark was living in Maryland and working as the Director of IT for a large credit card processing firm.
Education
Mark obtained his BS in Computer Science from UOP as well as a special program credit from DCI Career Institute in Specialized Computer Networking and Server Management.
Certifications
Mark carries several Microsoft related certifications as well as his PMP Project Management certification.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal for Neighborhood Legal Services
Mary Ann Troper-Malley is a paralegal for Neighborhood Legal Services who began her career as a secretary and received on the job training from dedicated NLS attorneys. Mary Ann's primary area of responsibility is recruiting and working with volunteer attorneys to represent plaintiffs in protection from abuse cases. She is responsible for scheduling the volunteer attorneys, processing the referred cases and forwarding them to the volunteer attorneys. She also assists these attorneys with problems and follow-up. She provides support and reporting for the Continuing Legal Education courses conducted periodically by Neighborhood Legal Services. Mary Ann also assists in referring unemployment cases, bankruptcy cases, and credit card litigation cases to the private bar. Her work in these areas over the past forty-four years has led to the establishment of long-standing relationships with volunteer attorneys and law firms committed to providing equal justice for all.
Mary Ellen currently represents clients in housing and bankruptcy cases. She has worked at NLS since 1998. Prior to coming to NLS, Mary Ellen worked as a legal aid attorney with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund in southern West Virginia. Mary Ellen has a BA in Political Science from West Chester University, as well as both a MA in International Relations and a JD from The American University.
Professional Experience
Meghan Maureen Tighe is an NLS staff attorney working in the Elder Law program and the Medical-Legal Collaborative. She focuses on a wide variety of legal issues by giving brief advice or services to NLS's elderly client and low income families with children. In Elder Law, Tighe serves individuals who are 60 or over, regardless of income or assets. Those served by the Elder Law program face problems similar to those of other NLS clients. The difference lies in the unique circumstances that often keep older individuals from obtaining equal justice under the law. Ms. Tighe gives legal advice or represents clients based on their specific needs, whether it be securing a living will or power of attorney, or helping with medical assistance. Among the most rewarding things, she says, is having the ability to keep someone from losing their home.
Through the Medical Legal Collaborative, Ms. Tighe works with the UPMC Primary Care Center in Oakland where she assists low income families with children with a variety of legal issues/problems. These include housing, utilities terminations, public benefits, SSI denials and terminations as well as other civil legal issues.
She also handles Protection From Abuse and custody cases through NLS's Family Law Section.
Education
Tighe received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Catholic University of America. While working towards her undergraduate, she spent a semester in Rome through a program run by Loyola University of Chicago. She then went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998.
Melanie is currently a Staff Attorney at the Pittsburgh Office where she works in the Family Law practice area, primarily focused on Protection from Abuse and Child Custody cases.
Melanie has experience serving low-income individuals and families. Prior to joining NLS in March 2022, Melanie was a Staff Attorney at Laurel Legal Services, which is now Summit Legal Services, in their Johnstown and Greensburg offices where she focused on family law litigation. As a law student, Melanie participated in the Duquesne Family Law Clinic as a certified legal intern and was also a summer intern for the Honorable Judge Daniel D. Regan in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division.
Melanie is a 2017 graduate of Seton Hill University where she received a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Entrepreneurial Studies. Melanie received her Juris Doctorate at Duquesne University School of Law in 2020 and was also admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2020. Melanie is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Association.
When she's not working, Melanie enjoys spending time with her fiancé and her orange tabby cat, Ollie.
Job Titles:
- Manager for Economic Security
Job Titles:
- Resources Global Professionals ( RGP )
Job Titles:
- Executive Director at Allegheny County Bar Association
Job Titles:
- Assistant Treasurer / Central Clients' Council
Job Titles:
- Assistant Secretary / Central Clients' Council
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Social Worker
- Rebecca / Social Worker
Rebecca is a social worker at NLS where she works as a team with various family law attorneys assisting clients who are seeking protection from abuse orders and child custody cases in Allegheny County. In this atypical social work role, Rebecca has been able to connect clients with vital community resources to promote strength, resiliency, and future stability.