The TBA Young Lawyers Division is joining forces with Vanderbilt University Law School and the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services to host a virtual TN Free Legal Answers clinic on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Law students will be paired with volunteer lawyers in Zoom breakout rooms to answer questions submitted on the TN Free Legal Answers website. Volunteers may select the questions they want to answer. Email YLD Access to Justice Coordinator Alix Rogers with Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands to sign up.

Housing advocates warn that a surge in eviction cases is imminent and while emergency rental assistance programs may help some who are struggling to keep up with rent and other bills, many individuals need legal support. The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands (LAS) is offering training for attorneys interested in volunteering to help tenants facing eviction in both urban and rural areas. The one-hour live webcast will take place Oct. 5 at noon CDT and will cover the application process for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and how to access funds through the Tennessee Housing and Development Agency (THDA). Presenters include LAS attorneys Amelia Miller Luna, Katie Ovalle and Linda Blackwelder. Learn more about the CLE and register here. Contact Trent Craig at LAS with questions.  

This month, Tennessee lawyers are joining colleagues across the country to increase meaningful access to justice and commitment to pro bono work. Now in its 13th year, Tennessee’s statewide Celebrate Pro Bono Month initiative brings together legal services providers with bar associations, law schools, law firms and individual volunteers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. The month of October is an opportunity to focus attention on the significant need for pro bono services as well as a time to celebrate the outstanding work of those in the legal community who volunteer their services throughout the year. Events, including virtual and remote opportunities to volunteer, will be promoted in TBA Today, via social media and on the TBA website. If you have information about an event please share it with TBA.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold three clinics next week. On Tuesday, the group will hold a phone clinic at 2 p.m. CDT 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. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. Finally, next Saturday, a general advice clinic will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. CDT at the McHugh Clinic, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204. To volunteer for any of these clinics, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all October clinics.

The American Bar Association Commission on Immigration has joined eight other organizations to co-sponsor monthly online clinics to help Haitian immigrants complete applications for temporary protected status. The organizations are seeking volunteer lawyers, paralegals, law students and translators to assist in the effort. The clinics will be held on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday each month. Upcoming events are set for Oct. 21-23 and Nov. 18-20. Training and support is available for all volunteers and work can be done remotely. Sign up here to help.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic providing general advice at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer for either clinic, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. 

Volunteers are still needed for a virtual debt relief clinic on Oct. 2 from 9-11:30 a.m. EDT. The clinic is hosted by Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight will provide an overview of the process the morning of the clinic. Attorneys will then enter Zoom breakout rooms to meet with clients. Sign up here.

October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month and the Tennessee access to justice community is planning events throughout the month. As a kick-off, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page will share a thoughtful message about pro bono service while Russell Fowler, director of litigation and advocacy at Legal Aid of East Tennessee, will educate and entertain about the history of access to justice and its relevance today at a virtual presentation Sept. 30 at noon CST. Learn more and register here. Events in October, including opportunities to volunteer, will be promoted in TBA Today, via social media and on the TBA website. If you have information about an event, please share it with the TBA. 

Knoxville area legal organizations will hold an in-person veterans’ legal advice clinic on Oct. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St. Those seeking advice should preregister at 865-637-0484. Lawyers who would like to volunteer can sign up online. Masks are required. Volunteers also must accept the terms of the KBA COVID-19 safety acknowledgement and liability waiver. Volunteers may choose to continue volunteering by telephone.

Housing advocates warn that a surge in eviction cases is imminent and while emergency rental assistance programs may help some who are struggling to keep up with rent and other bills, many individuals need legal support. The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands (LAS) is offering training for attorneys interested in volunteering to help tenants facing eviction in both urban and rural areas. The one-hour live webcast will take place Oct. 5 at noon CDT and will cover the application process for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and how to access funds through the Tennessee Housing and Development Agency (THDA). The training will shed light on the recent influx of cases as well as practical steps legal aid attorneys are undertaking to represent clients facing eviction and how pro bono attorneys can help. Presenters include LAS attorneys Amelia Miller Luna, Katie Ovalle and Linda Blackwelder. Learn more about the CLE and register here. Contact Trent Craig at LAS with questions.