Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

"The help I received from Legal Aid Society is immeasurable. Had it not been for Legal Aid Society, I would’ve lost my home. The attorney who represented me truly cared about my situation and really worked hard to resolve it."

Jump to a Section: Types of Cases & Locations | Cases Available | Volunteer at a Clinic | Special Pro Bono Projects | FAQs

Breaking Barriers: Rethinking the Need for Justice

A message from our Executive Director

At the heart of every Legal Aider is a fiery passion for justice and a desire to empower the most vulnerable in our society.

In fact, Legal Aid Society was born from this very belief – ensuring equal access to justice for all. As James Baldwin eloquently stated, "If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country...One goes to the unprotected – those, precisely, who need the law’s protection most! – and listens to their testimony."

Baldwin's words are a reminder that the true measure of a just society lies in how it treats its most vulnerable.

In 2023, Legal Aid Society, together with volunteers and strategic partners, helped over 13,000 Tennesseans obtain legal assistance. These individuals, and their families, represent the voices

often ignored and while echoing the concerns raised by Baldwin.

It's a humbling experience to witness the courage of those who seek our help, and we are filled with immense gratitude for the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners who help us meet that need.

In the pages of this report, you will read how our work transcends simply providing free legal help.

2023 was about restoring dignity, providing access to legal resources and education, and most importantly, breaking barriers that have historically kept generations of people in a cycle of poverty.

In community,

Darkenya W. Waller

Executive Director

Metrics that Matter

In 2023, we showed that above all else, our communities matter. Because of you, we....

Represented over

people, including 5,000 children

Secured over

million dollars in benefits and savings for our clients

Received

million dollars in pledges through our Equal Justice to create second chances and brighter futures for Tennesseans

LAS offers a wide array of in-person and remote opportunities for direct representation throughout Middle Tennessee. These opportunities are a great way for attorneys licensed in Tennessee to assist clients one-on-one with legal matters ranging from appearing in court to drafting documents. Volunteer opportunities exist in the following areas:

7 Bankruptcies
Wills
Powers of Attorney
Conservatorships
Orders of Protection
Adoptions
Tax Issues
Consumer and Debt Collection Defense

LAS screens each pro bono matter to ensure that it is appropriate for a volunteer. Review our pro bono case catalog below to see a listing of the people in need of legal representation right now. Search the catalog by location and/or keyword to narrow the results, and filter by legal problem and opportunity type to find the perfect pro bono opportunity for you.

Pro Bono Cases Available

You can use our brand new pro-bono catalog below to find a list of middle Tennesseans in need of a volunteer attorney. If you see a case that interests you, fill out the form under the “interested” tab and we will reach out to you. Please see a short informational video on Pro Bono Matters.

Will you still be embedding from Pro Bono Matters? If so, we will need the embed or iframe code.

Volunteer with Us

Community-Centered Volunteer Opportunities

LAS has partnered with community organizations throughout Middle Tennessee to create a variety of community-based legal clinics. These clinics provide opportunities for clients to receive free legal advice so they can better understand their legal issues and options. Some clinics cover a variety of civil legal issues and provide clients with the opportunity to receive a free consultation from a qualified private attorney. Other clinics focus on specific legal issues like criminal record expungements, estate planning, and bankruptcies, and may require volunteer lawyers to draft documents before the clients arrive. Here is a sampling of the clinics we now offer:

Operation Stand Down Clinic for Veterans Only
Occurs twice each month on the second and fourth Wednesdays.
Located at Operation Stand Down: 1125 12^th South, Nashville, TN 37203
Gallatin Clinic
Occurs on the second Tuesday of each month.
Located at 210 Albert Gallatin Ave., Gallatin, TN 37066
Greenhouse Ministries Legal Clinic
Occurs twice twice each month on the second and fourth Thursdays.
Located at Greenhouse Ministries: 309 South Academy St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Upcoming Clinics

McHugh Clinic

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June 14 @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

1409 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Nashville, 37203 United States

Operation Stand Down Clinic (Veterans Only)

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June 25 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

1125 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203 United States

Operation Stand Down Clinic (Veterans Only)

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June 11 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

1125 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203 United States

Currently, VLP operates more than 100 clinics each year. By volunteering just 2 hours of time at a pro bono clinic, a volunteer lawyer can provide essential legal services without taking on additional obligations.

Sign Up for One of Our Special Pro Bono Projects

In addition to our regularly scheduled clinics, LAS offers additional pro bono opportunities through special pro bono projects. We have designed these projects to close the justice gap for specific legal issues and communities in Tennessee. Through these projects, LAS is able to maximize its impact on the communities it serves.

Nashville Conservatorship Pro Bono Project

The Nashville Conservatorship Pro Bono Project is a collaborative pro bono project led by LAS, Nelson Mullins and the Office of Conservatorship Management. This project provides free legal representation to low-income caregivers seeking legal conservatorship for profoundly disabled young adults who are unable to make decisions for their own health and safety.

Currently attorneys from Bradley, Butler Snow, Bass Berry and Nelson Mullins, with the support of paralegals, represent pre-screened caregivers/parents filing uncontested petitions for legal conservatorships. This process involves:

Uncontested petitions in friendly probate court
No prior probate or litigation experience needed.
Straightforward court forms
Limited time commitment of 8-10 hours
Appearance with clients at uncontested final hearing
Digital manual with step-by-step guide and sample work product. YouTube training video.
Educating clients about their conservator rights and responsibilities

Volunteers enjoy these cases because the petition process is straightforward, the need for help is profound, the probate process is friendly, and the families involved are heroic.

Pro Bono Adoption Project

Started by Bass, Berry & Sims and LAS, our adoption project helps families in need by providing free legal representation during the adoption process. K&L Gates has since joined the project and continues to lead our pro bono adoption efforts in Nashville. This project enables families to devote their time, love, and resources to ensuring that the children in their care thrive.

No prior family law or litigation experience required.
Predictable legal process
Limited time commitment of 10-15 hours spread across 2-3 months.
Free training and mentoring for volunteers.

Pro bono attorneys prepare documentation to finalize adoptions and represent adoptive parents at unopposed hearings. By volunteering just a few hours of your time, you can make an immeasurable impact for one family.

Virtual Debt Relief Clinic

The Virtual Debt Relief Clinic is a pioneering clinic for Tennessee residents that combines the pro bono resources of LAS, Legal Aid of East Tennessee and West Tennessee Legal Services. At each Virtual Debt Relief Clinic, pre-screened clients log into a private Zoom meeting where a sitting bankruptcy judge introduces the clinic and delivers a concise bankruptcy presentation. Once the judge’s presentation ends, volunteer lawyers meet with clients in private breakout rooms to deliver free bankruptcy consultations.

1-2 hour time commitment for volunteers on the Saturday morning of the clinic
Opportunity to interact with a sitting bankruptcy judge
Pre-screened client files are provided to volunteers
No legal work is required before the clinic
Volunteers are not required to file a bankruptcy petition for any client after the clinic.

Debt is a heavy burden, but you can help relieve it. Provide invaluable guidance to clients who want to improve their financial health but don’t know where to turn.

Virtual Name Change Clinic

The Virtual Name Change Clinic is a collaboration among LAS, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, the TBA Young Lawyers Division, and Belmont School of Law. Through this clinic, volunteers assist adults seeking to change their names. In private breakout rooms, volunteer lawyers and law students meet with pre-registered clients to draft petitions, answer questions, and help those clients prepare for a name change hearing.

1-2 hour time commitment for volunteers on the Saturday morning of the clinic.
Pre-screened client files are provided to volunteers.
No legal work is required before the clinic.

Wills Clinic

Through the Wills Clinic, trained volunteer lawyers work with pre-registered clients to prepare estate planning documents like simple wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Clients leave each Wills Clinic with printed, executed, and notarized documents of their own. Every person should enjoy the peace of mind that comes with securing one’s legacy. Help eligible clients save time, money, and stress for their loved ones in the future.

2-3 hour time commitment at one time
Clients are pre-screened by LAS staff
LAS sponsors a free CLE training for volunteer lawyers right before the clinic

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cases does the Volunteer Lawyers Program help with?

How do I know whether I’m eligible to get help from the Volunteer Lawyers Program?

At LAS, we are only able to work on civil legal issues with low-income clients in middle Tennessee. To be eligible for volunteer assistance, you must satisfy all of these requirements:

You must live in one of the 48 counties in our service area in middle Tennessee.
Excluding your primary residence and primary vehicle, your assets must be worth less than $10,000.
You must be a United States citizen or have lawful residency status in the United States.
Your income must be below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Please call LAS if you have questions about whether you are eligible.

I called LAS and the Volunteer Lawyers Program to request assistance. When can I expect a call back?

Within 3 business days from your initial call to Legal Aid, a VLP staff member will contact you directly to perform what LAS calls an “intake.”

During an intake, our staff member will ask you questions about your legal issue and background, including things like your income, expenses, and demographic information. LAS is required to collect this information so it can decide whether to accept your legal matter and whether you are eligible for LAS. LAS keeps all information confidential.

I have already provided all of my information to VLP and Legal Aid Society. What is the next step of this process?

Staff from the Volunteer Lawyers Program meet to discuss the legal matters and potential clients that were referred to them during the previous week. At that meeting, VLP staff decide whether they are able to provide assistance.

If your case is accepted, LAS will send you paperwork to sign and return. At that point, LAS will work to find a volunteer lawyer to assist you.
If your cases is rejected, LAS will send you a letter providing a list of resources and referrals so that you can pursue help elsewhere.

My case has been accepted. How long should I plan to wait before I know whether an attorney will help me?

Why might it take a long time to find a lawyer for my case?

How do I attend one of your free legal advice clinics?

Go to our Calendar and pre-register for the clinic that you’d like to attend. You will receive an intake form to complete and return to us before the clinic. If you are eligible for our services, we will then let you know before the clinic date.

If you do not complete an intake form before the clinic, you are still welcome to attend the clinic and complete an intake form in-person. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to speak with an attorney that day.

What can I expect at a legal clinic?

I arrived at a clinic before other people. Why do you take people out of order?

Normally, we attempt to see individuals in the order they arrive. However, we may have to take people out of order if:

The person requires a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The person needs to meet with an attorney who has special expertise, and that attorney is only available for a limited time.
The person’s case is urgent, and he or she must file a document that day.

What can I do to make sure that I am using my time efficiently before I am seen at a clinic?

You should complete our intake form to the best of your ability before you attend a clinic. That way, we can work to ensure that we have the best available volunteer lawyer there to assist you. Please bring to the clinic any paperwork that you would like the lawyer to review. Please also bring any background materials that you think would help the lawyer give you the best possible legal advice.

If I have suggestions, criticisms or concerns, how can I let LAS know?

"It was great to have someone fight for us where we couldn't. The sense of relief we felt knowing someone was in our corner treating us like people and not a burden was incredible. Thank you for all your help!"

John D.

Client

I am so grateful for your clinic in Murfreesboro, I had 5 previous "so called attorneys" that never got anything done with regard to my Mom's estate/my trust. My current attorney I met at your clinic is by far a superior attorney and person!!

Michael

Client

Wonderful staff! I was pleasantly surprised at the level of "niceness" I felt here. If you are going through something you need help with, and can't afford a lawyer, this is definitely the place to go. The lawyer was super nice, and the ladies I met there were also super nice, and all very helpful. Amazing.

Annonymous

Client

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

Breaking Barriers: Rethinking the Need for Justice

A message from our Executive Director

Metrics that Matter

Pro Bono Cases Available

Volunteer with Us

Community-Centered Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Clinics

McHugh Clinic

Operation Stand Down Clinic (Veterans Only)

Operation Stand Down Clinic (Veterans Only)

Sign Up for One of Our Special Pro Bono Projects

Frequently Asked Questions

John D.

Michael

Annonymous

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands