Legal Aid of East Tennessee, in partnership with McNabb Center, YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley and the Knoxville Family Justice Center will hold a free legal advice clinic for victims of domestic violence on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. The clinic will be held at the Knoxville Family Justice Center, 400 Harriet Tubman St., Knoxville 37915. Masks will be required and social distancing observed. Those interested in volunteering should contact Caitlin Torney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee ctorney@laet.org.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week for those with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of all September clinics.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will begin holding weekly phone clinics to help those with questions about eviction actions. The clinics will run from 2-5 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays. Volunteer lawyers will provide advice only on topics such as repairs, security deposits and tenant rights. By providing advice to these clients, volunteer lawyer will free up LAET staff to provide direct representation for those facing immediate eviction. All volunteers will be covered under LAET’s malpractice insurance. Those who are interested in providing direct legal representation for tenants in detainer court should contact the office to be added to a list of available advocates. To volunteer for either the clinics or direct representation please contact Caitlin Torney, 865-251-4951.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week for those with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of all September clinics.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Belmont University College of Law are partnering together to host a TN Free Legal Answers clinic on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CDT. For this clinic, law students will be paired in small groups with attorney volunteers and work to answer questions submitted on the TN Free Legal Answers website. Attorney volunteers are still needed and can participate both in person and virtually. Please contact YLD Pro Bono Coordinator Alix Rogers, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, to help out.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts and the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings will provide free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a clinic on Sept. 16. Issues 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 U.S. Justice Department this week urged attorneys across the legal profession to volunteer their time to assist the surge of tenants expected to be forced out of homes now that a COVID-19 pandemic-related eviction moratorium has ended. In a letter addressed to "members of the legal community," Attorney General Merrick Garland said eviction filings are expected to spike to roughly double their pre-pandemic levels and that lawyers have an ethical obligation to help the most vulnerable. Garland encouraged lawyers to volunteer at legal aid providers or help tenants apply for government emergency rent relief, Reuters reports. A number of law school deans, including Chris Guthrie at Vanderbilt University Law School, signed onto a statement supporting the call.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) is ramping up pro bono efforts to assist Louisianans affected by Hurricane Ida. Attorneys play a vital role in helping disaster survivors recover after a disaster, including accessing post-disaster assistance from federal and state programs and responding to other needs. The DLS is asking interested attorneys to register to assist with the anticipated legal needs. Additionally, the Louisiana State Bar’s website has information about how to assist attorneys affected by the hurricane in their state, including providing office space, technology and housing.

Save the date for a virtual debt relief clinic set for Oct. 2. The clinic is being planned by Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Legal Aid Society and is sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Bankruptcy attorneys are needed to volunteer. 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.

Knoxville area legal organizations will hold an in-person veterans’ legal advice clinic on Sept. 8 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 optional but should be worn pursuant to CDC guidelines. Volunteers also must accept the terms of the KBA COVID-19 safety acknowledgement and liability waiver. Volunteers may choose to continue volunteering by telephone.