Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Kingsport Bar Association will host a free legal advice clinic by phone this month for members of the public who are dealing with issues such as bankruptcy, child custody and support, debt collection, employment and landlord/tenant issues. Those interested in receiving free one-time legal advice must register between April 21-28 by calling LAET at 423-794-2487. A volunteer attorney will then contact the registrant on April 29.

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services staff attorney Kirsten Jacobson will “takeover” the American Bar Association’s Grassroots Action Center Twitter account tomorrow to talk about her experience with the public service student loan forgiveness program. The Twitter discussion is part of a three-day conference in Washington, D.C. in which bar leaders take to Capitol Hill to advocate for the legal profession and honor select ABA advocates and lawmakers for their commitment to “Justice for All.” The conference will be virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jacobson’s Twitter takeover will begin at 1:45 p.m. CDT.  

Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Law will host a free legal advice clinic by phone this month for members of the public in Knoxville who are dealing with issues in adoption, bankruptcy, child custody and support, employment and many other areas. Those interested in  receiving free one-time legal advice must register between April 20-24 by calling Legal Aid at 865-637-0484. A volunteer attorney will then contact the registrant on April 28, 29 or 30.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and the Nashville Bar Association will host a telephone-based legal advice clinic for small business owners struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 29. Volunteer attorneys are needed to help for one hour between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. During the one-hour shift, attorneys will meet with two clients for 30 minutes each. The NBA will provide a training webinar in advance of the clinic. Those with experience in the following areas are especially needed: insolvency, rent abatement, unemployment benefits, SBA EIDL loans, Paycheck Protection Act and COVID-19 employment law issues. Register to help here.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three legal clinics via phone this week. General clinics will take place on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m., on Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m.  On Wednesday, an Operation Stand Down Phone Clinic will be held for veterans in the Nashville area only from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Those needing assistance may call 800-238-1443 to speak to an attorney during any of these times. Please contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131, for more information. See all phone clinic dates for April.

The Nashville YWCA is holding its annual “Stand Against Racism” program virtually on April 22. The event will run from 11 a.m. to noon CDT. This year’s theme, Justice in a Time of Crisis, will focus on civic engagement, voting rights, health disparities and a fair census. Speakers include Freedom Rider Ernest "Rip" Patton; Tennessee Human Rights Commission Executive Director Beverly Watts; Fabian Bedne with the office of Nashville Mayor John Cooper; Barbara Gunn Lartey with Metro Human Relations Commission; and YWCA President Sharon Roberson. Register for the free event.

Faith leaders, judicial branch members and community partners from across Tennessee will gather online on April 21 for the 2020 Tennessee Faith and Justice Summit. Participants will consider the ways faith and justice intersect, learn about free legal resources and build bridges locally and statewide for a better future. This is the second year the summit is being held as part of Help4TNDay. The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission, Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance, University of the South Office of Civic Engagement and School of Theology Beecken Center. Registration is free but is required.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) will host a public briefing via Zoom on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. EDT. LSC Briefing: The COVID-19 Health Crisis, Civil Legal Needs and State Courts will feature panels of experts from across the nation who will discuss the effects COVID-19 is having on state courts, access to justice and legal services organizations and their clients. Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins is set to speak on a panel with justices from California, Texas and Michigan. The briefing is open to the public and dial-in information and a link to join by computer can be found on the event’s invitation.

The Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) will host a “MOMentous” weeklong celebration later this month in honor of mothers and the organization’s 2020 Hall of Fame inductees. Around lunchtime during the week of April 27, TJC will share stories from Hall of Fame inductees Sadiatou Jallow, Tony Garr, Judge William J. Haynes Jr., Carol Westlake and Robert Ashford, who will be honored posthumously. As a grand finale, Bill Purcell will emcee a virtual live gathering on May 1 at noon CDT to celebrate heroic moms and those who champion them. Watch the luncheon on Facebook live or RSVP to attend the Zoom meeting.

Lawyers in the 15th Judicial District will hold a free phone legal clinic in Wilson County this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Local attorneys will offer free assistance on legal issues for those affected by the March tornadoes. Those needing assistance may sign up here or call 615-451-1880 to schedule a time.