Legal Aid Society Seeks Support in Washington, D.C.,for Middle Tennessee Residents’ Civil Legal Needs

Representatives from three Tennessee legal nonprofits visited Washington, D.C., in early April to discuss the importance of constituent access to the legal system on issues like fair housing, veterans’ benefits, domestic violence and burdensome medical debt in Middle Tennessee.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands Executive Director DarKenya W. Waller, West Tennessee Legal Services Executive Director Ashley Holliday and Legal Aid of East Tennessee Executive Director Deb House joined attorneys from every corner of the nation to mark the 50th anniversary of Legal Services Corporation supporting civil legal aid across the United States.

While in Washington, leaders from the Tennessee legal nonprofits met with Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Bill Hagerty’s staff.

“Five decades after Legal Services Corporation was established to bring equal access to justice to low-income Americans, we continue to fight in courtrooms across the country to guarantee these same basic rights,” Waller said. “I was proud to join my fellow attorneys in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the progress we’ve made, but also to recognize the work that remains ahead of us to deliver access to civil legal aid to all Americans.”

The largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, LSC was established by Congress in 1974. To mark its historic 50th anniversary, LSC has embarked on an outreach campaign — “Protecting the Promise” of equal justice.

LSC held its quarterly board meeting in conjunction with a forum on Access to Justice and a gala on April 8 and 9. Among the speakers was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who helped found Legal Aid of Arkansas and also served as president of the Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors, tripling its budget in the late 1970s.

LSC’s 2022 Justice Gap report found that low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems.

About Legal Aid Society and Legal Services Corporation

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands advocates for fairness and justice under the law. The nonprofit 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 las.org, or by following the firm on Facebook.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Published by Tennessee Bar Association May/June 2024