Legal Aid Society hires 3 new attorneys

NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 2, 2016 – Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest non-­‐profit law firm, announced today that three new attorneys have been added to their firm.

Paige Hamby Barbeauld joins Legal Aid Society’s Clarksville office after having volunteered there for over a year.  Prior to this, she served as in-house counsel for Environmental Research Center in Fort Oglethorpe, GA.  During law school where she was an Ellen Ewing Fellow as well as an Academic Fellow, she did work with the Oldfather Law Firm, Brandeis Law Clinic, Jefferson County Attorney’s Office and Legal Aid Society, all in Louisville.

“Paige has graciously and effectively volunteered in our office for over a year, providing invaluable service to our clients and being a tremendous help to us,” said Kevin Fowler, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s office in Clarksville. “Her extensive experience with survivors of domestic violence has already been and will continue to be an asset to our work.”

Barbeauld earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and her undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from the University of Tennessee.

Edward Means Baylor IV is the newest attorney in the Family Law Section of the Nashville office of Legal Aid Society.  In addition to practicing general family law, he will spend half his time working with the Civil-Legal Advocate Program.  Through a grant from the City of Nashville, Legal Aid Society recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to represent survivors of domestic violence on the Order of Protection dockets in Davidson County courts.  Baylor most recently worked as a staff attorney for Child Support Services of Tennessee where he represented the State of Tennessee in pursuing child support.  Prior to that, Ed worked as an attorney in private practice, focusing on criminal and civil contempts, divorces, visitation and custody, neglect and dependency, as well as other areas of law.

“Ed comes to Legal Aid Society with high recommendations from Judge Phillip Smith of the 4th Circuit Court of Davidson County and Judge Sheila Calloway of the Juvenile Court,” said DarKenya Waller, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Nashville office. “They both described Ed as a zealous and tenacious advocate.  We are pleased with the expertise he can share with us to benefit our clients.”

Baylor received his Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University.

Sonya G. Bellafant is the newest staff attorney for Legal Aid Society in Columbia.  She has extensive experience with legal aid programs, having worked for 3 different nonprofit law firms in Michigan. Bellafant also has experience with several corporate legal departments.  She will have a general caseload, with some concentration on health and benefits.

“Sonya has a servant’s heart as evidenced by her past work with numerous legal aid programs, “said David Kozlowski, director of advocacy and managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Columbia office. “She particularly has expertise with seniors and veterans which will help with our senior outreach.  We are pleased she has chosen to join our firm.”

Bellafant is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and Oakland University where she received a B.A. in Journalism.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands advocates for fairness and justice under the law. The non-profit law firm offers free civil legal representation and educational programs to help people in its region receive justice, protect their well-being and support opportunities to overcome poverty. It serves 48 counties from offices in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge and Tullahoma. Legal Aid Society is funded in part by United Way. Learn more at www.las.org, or by following the firm on Facebook.