Events
Throughout the year, Neighborhood Legal Services hosts a variety of meetings and community events. Check back often to stay up-to-date.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Criminal Record Clearing Seminar
(Virtual CLE Seminar)
Join the ranks of attorney volunteers who help our neighbors remove barriers to employment, housing, education and professional licensure, thereby expanding their opportunities for stable lives. This continuing legal education program will explain eligibility criteria for clearing Pennsylvania criminal records through petitions for expungement and limited access (sealing). The program will address practical and procedural issues relating to preparing and filing petitions as a pro bono volunteer in Allegheny County through Neighborhood Legal Services and the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership.
Join us virtually on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. This seminar has been approved for 1.5 substantive CLE credits and .5 ethics CLE credit. Attorneys who commit to volunteering in this project can register free of charge. To register click here!
Presenters:
Melissa Evans, Esq. - NLS Managing Attorney for Economic Security
Olivia O'Donnell, Esq. - NLS Staff Attorney
Judy Hale, Esq. - NLS Managing Attorney for Pro Bono
For any questions, comments, concerns, or disability accommodation requests, please contact: Kitty Terzolino, NLS Pro Bono Coordinator at [email protected] or (412) 586-6148
Friday, May 2, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Helping Domestic Violence Victims Obtain Protection Orders
(In Person Seminar)
Help domestic violence victims obtain Protection from Abuse orders! Join Neighborhood Legal Services, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC, and the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for this informative event.
This CLE will train attorneys to assist domestic violence victims in obtaining protection from abuse orders in Allegheny County. This seminar has been approved for 3 substantive CLE credits and 1 ethics CLE credit.
Join us in person on Friday, May 2, 2025 from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm in the Union Trust Building, hosted by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC. Check-in will begin at 8:30 am and includes breakfast courtesy of the event host. Advance registration is required, to register click here!
Presenters Include:
Brittany Conkle - Legal Director, Women’s Center & Shelter Legal Director, Women’s Center & Shelter Civil Law Project
Doreen Speer - Domestic Relations Officer, PFA Department, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Genna Skaryak - Staff Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
Meghan Tighe - Staff Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
For any questions, comments, concerns, or disability accommodation requests, please contact: Kitty Terzolino, NLS Pro Bono Coordinator at [email protected] or (412) 586-6148
Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Allegheny County Name Change Pro Bono Project
(Virtual Seminar)
This CLE will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Special Name Change process in Allegheny County, with a focus on equipping participants to provide pro bono and pro se guidance to petitioners navigating this streamlined court procedure. The session will emphasize strategies for safeguarding clients' safety, including filing motions to waive publication and seal the record to protect privacy and mitigate risks of violence or harassment. The session will also explore best practices for advising transgender and gender-diverse clients on obtaining a legal name change, while providing practical materials tailored to Allegheny County's unique procedures. Given the uncertain future of transgender law and policy, demand for legal name changes has increased significantly. This CLE is specifically designed to prepare participants for upcoming pro bono projects to respond to this increased demand, and is designed for both attorneys and non-attorneys working or volunteering with transgender and gender-diverse Name Change Petitioners.
Join us virtually on Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
This seminar has been approved for 1 substantive CLE credit. Register HERE for this CLE Seminar.
Monday, June 23, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Custody Conciliation: A PPBP Pro Bono Project
(In Person CLE Seminar)
This CLE will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Custody Conciliation process in Allegheny County, with a focus on equipping participants to provide pro bono legal advice guidance to parents navigating this process and who are otherwise pro se. The session will present information on the custody process in Allegheny County, strategies for conciliations, tips for working with clients, and a checklist for these proceedings. The demand for Custody Conciliation pro bono services is huge in Allegheny County, and the difference in outcomes is enormous for families and children who have the benefit of an attorney to assist in navigating this process. The Custody Conciliation Pro Bono Project is a Signature Project of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership.
Join us in person on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Meyer Unkovic and Scott in the Henry Oliver Building, located at 535 Smithfield Street, Suite 1300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Registration will begin at 8:30 am and will include breakfast courtesy of the event host.
This seminar has been approved for 2.5 substantive CLE credits. Click HERE to register!
Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Landlord/Tenant Community Mediation Brief Advice Pro Bono Project
(In Person CLE Seminar)
Join Neighborhood Legal Services in person to learn how you can assist tenants facing eviction who are preparing for virtual, community-based mediation with their landlord through Just Mediation Pittsburgh. If you have joined us before, we have updated the training based on feedback from past participants.
This CLE will provide an overview of relevant landlord/tenant law with more detail on substantive law, and prepare attorneys to provide crucial legal advice to renters in our community who are facing eviction. We will have guests from Just Mediation Pittsburgh, time for role plays with real client fact patterns, review logging in to Legal Server to access case files, add notes and time, text clients, etc., and go over updated samples of templates for working with clients and recording legal advice.
Join us in person on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, located in Four Gateway Center, 444 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Advance registration is required. Registration will begin at 11:30 am and will include lunch courtesy of the event host.
This seminar has been approved for 2 substantive CLE credits and 0.5 ethics CLE credits. Register HERE for this CLE Seminar.
Friday, November 7, 2025 | TBD
Helping Domestic Violence Victims Obtain Protection from Abuse Orders (PFA Pro Bono Project)
(In Person Seminar)
Save the Date! Registration Link Coming Soon!