Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Pro Bono Christmas Tree at the Hamilton County Courthouse this year. The tradition involves a tree festooned with handmade cards, each containing a description of a pro bono case in need of a volunteer attorney. Attorneys may visit the tree throughout the holiday season and take a case for representation. Local judges have been invited to help decorate and light the tree Wednesday at noon EST. The group is also running a “12 Days of Pro Bono” challenge on social media to match cases across its region with lawyers by the end of the year. Follow along on Facebook or Instagram for details. For more information contact Mary Frances DeVoe.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold four clinics next week. A phone clinic will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. to provide general advice. The first 15 callers will be accepted. On Wednesday, LAS will hold a clinic specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 S. Spring St., Murfreesboro 37130. And on Saturday, a clinic will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the McHugh Clinic, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. All times central. To volunteer contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all December clinics.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts is joining the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in providing free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a clinic on Dec. 16. Issues to be covered include questions about business formation, corporate governance, contract review and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible businesses may receive up to one hour of assistance. Companies may sign up online. To volunteer, email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

The National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) have filed a joint amicus brief in support of Haitian migrants. The groups have filed the brief against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayokras to “to prevent DHS from illegally deporting and continually denying due process to the thousands of Haitian migrant children, woman, and men who have journeyed to the United States to seek refuge from the perilous conditions in Haiti.” The brief addresses the issue of the potential irreparable harm suffered if the migrants are continually expelled under Title 42 without an asylum hearing. The NBA has partnered with the Haitian Bridge Alliance to provide pro bono legal services to those affected by the Haitian migrant crisis and is still in need of volunteers. Those interested can contact Johanna Leblanc to get involved.

Attorneys who can volunteer or provide reduced-cost services are needed to help Afghan refugees arriving in Tennessee. Because of the emergency nature of the evacuation from their country, the majority of our Afghan allies have come to the United States under the designation of Humanitarian Parole, a document granted for short-term urgent humanitarian relief that gives the recipient official permission to enter the United States. These evacuees are eligible to apply for asylum through USCIS, but many need legal assistance to do so. Agencies assisting with the resettlement — Catholic Charities and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) — can connect attorneys with those in need. To help, contact Max Rykov, 615-315-9681.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold two clinics this week. A phone clinic will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. to provide general advice. The first 15 callers will be accepted. On Wednesday, a clinic will be held specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. All times central. To volunteer contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all November clinics.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts is joining the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in providing free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a clinic on Nov. 18. Issues to be covered include questions about business formation, corporate governance, contract review and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible businesses may receive up to one hour of assistance. Companies may sign up online. To volunteer, email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold four clinics this week. A phone clinic will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. to provide general advice. The first 15 callers will be accepted. On Wednesday, LAS will hold a clinic specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 S. Spring St., Murfreesboro 37130. And on Saturday, a clinic will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the McHugh Clinic, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. All times central. To volunteer contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all November clinics.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) and Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. (MALS) are joining forces to host a hybrid virtual/drive-through wills clinic this month. On Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. CST, attorneys will meet with qualified applicants via Zoom to gather information for the will. Applicants will then attend a drive-through event on Nov. 20 from noon until 2 p.m. CST to sign the wills and have them witnessed and notarized. The clinic is limited to advice only and there is no expectation that CLC, MALS or other volunteer attorneys will follow up with clients. Register for the event here.

The Knoxville Bar Association and its Bankruptcy Section, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight, will hold a Pro Bono Debt Relief Clinic on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. The event will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office. Judge Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and other solutions for clients before volunteer lawyers meet with them to discuss their options.