Legal Aid of East Tennessee recently announced a partnership with Hamilton County judges and local attorneys designed to help low income people during the holiday season, Chattanoogan.com reports. On Friday, LAET set up a Pro Bono Christmas Tree at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Local judges then decorated the tree with pro bono cases for local attorneys to take, starting today. Lawyers also can visit www.laet.org to sign up for a case. The effort is designed to give back to the community, which has seen many impacted by the pandemic.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics will take place on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

The Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance will host the Legal Access for All Summit on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. CST. The program will focus on challenges faced by those with language and documentation barriers when trying to access free legal resources and what interpreters and volunteer attorneys can do to help. The Faith and Justice Alliance, in collaboration with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative and others hope to show attendees the role they can play in helping community members find the legal help they need. Register here for the program which will be held via Zoom.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics will take place tomorrow from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See all clinics for the month of December.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold two phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics will take place tomorrow from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See all clinics for the month of December.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee honored Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel as the 2020 Pro Bono Firm of the Year during its annual Community Justice Pro Bono Celebration, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The award recognizes a firm that has significantly impacted its community through pro bono legal work. In addition to recognizing the firm, Legal Aid inducted Chambliss shareholder Mike St. Charles into its Hall of Fame. Over 35 years of practice, St. Charles has contributed hundreds of hours of pro bono representation and supported Legal Aid in numerous ways according to the group. At the firm, he handles commercial lending and financial transactions, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and securities, and real estate transactions.

Nominations are being accepted for the TBA’s Public Service Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Nominations should be submitted via the TBA website no later than Dec. 11. Submissions should include a narrative of the individual’s accomplishments and supporting documents and videos are welcome. For more information, contact TBA Access to Justice Director Liz Todaro.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three phone clinics next week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics will take place Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See all clinics for the month.

The Knoxville Pro Bono Community will gather virtually on Thursday at 6 p.m. EST for the 2020 Forging Justice Pro Bono Night Celebration. Among the evening’s activities will be the presentation of several awards. Clint Wren will receive the Pro Bono Student of the Year Award, Katie Jones will receive Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, the McNabb Center will be recognized as the Pro Bono Community Partner of the Year, London Amburn will be recognized as the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year, and Dave Yoder will receive the Donald F. Paine Memorial Pro Bono Hall of Fame Award. View the invitation or register to attend. Tickets are $50. All proceeds benefit the pro bono work of Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Also, check out the planned online auction and Race for Justice.

The American Bar Association TIPS Animal Law Committee is seeking a Tennessee lawyer to advise an animal shelter on strengthening its foster care program as part of a pro bono project to help shelters build resilience during the pandemic. Use your contracting and lawyering skills — no animal law experience required. Through the project, you’ll receive template foster care agreements and access to an experienced attorney mentor. Learn more and sign up here.