As people across Chattanooga open presents on Christmas morning, they might find some unexpected surprises under their trees. From jewelry, to a puppy, to the keys to a new car, the possibilities are endless. But perhaps the most grateful recipients of all will be those who unwrap a lawyer.
In a unique endeavor to draw attention to the many people who have legal issues they cannot afford to pursue, Legal Aid of East Tennessee last week premiered its inaugural Pro Bono Christmas Tree. In addition to traditional ornaments, the tree is festooned with cards containing a description of a case for which Legal Aid needs an attorney. Local indigent children created the handmade decorations. In a show of support for pro bono work, several local judges gathered together to hang the ornaments on the tree, which is located on the ground story of the Hamilton County Courthouse. Before the ceremony, Judge Marie Williams said pro bono work is a vital part of the legal system in the U.S. “Our courts are open to everyone, and economic status should not give one person the advantage over another. There are times when people simply can’t come up with the money they need to be represented, and lawyers have a moral and an ethical responsibility to assist them without compensation when they can,” she said.
Judge Neil Thomas III agreed, and said it’s important for both litigants in a courtroom to have representation. “It’s difficult to judge a case in which one of the parties isn’t represented because people rarely know what to do. And it wouldn’t be fair to the person who’s represented to bend the rules for the person that’s not represented. When a pro bono lawyer steps in to help, it’s easier to judge the case.” Legal Aid attorney Charlie McDaniel encouraged lawyers to stop by the courthouse, select a case on which they believe they can help, and then contact him. “We’ll take care of the rest,” he said.
The cases on the pro bono tree cover a range of legal issues. Opening one decoration reveals the story of a single mother who’s trying to give her child a good life, but her landlord won’t make the repairs the law requires. Another calls for an attorney to help a father who paid his child support directly to the mother instead of through the State, and now the State wants him to pay again.
Then there’s the case of the client whose employer deducted child support from his paycheck, kept the money without telling him, and then went bankrupt, leaving the client culpable for the unpaid child support. The cases also vary in complexity. One decoration sporting a smiling Santa Claus and the phrase, “Ho, ho, ho,” on its cover contains a plea from an elderly person for help writing a will. Another urges attorneys to assist a woman who’s escaped an abusive relationship and needs a divorce. McDaniel has more decorations waiting in the wings, should he need to replenish the tree. Russell Fowler, associate director of Legal Aid, praised the judges for participating in the ceremony and said he hopes the Pro Bono tree will draw attention to the legal plight of the indigent. “We have the best judges and chancellors in the world in Hamilton County. And we hope this tree will highlight the need for attorneys to help provide equal access to justice.”
For more information, call McDaniel at 423-756-4013, extension 1113, or email him at cmdaniel@laet.org. v