The Tennessee Supreme Court in March and April will sponsor free legal advice events as part of its statewide Access to Justice initiative, allowing all Tennesseans to receive free civil legal help online or in person at walk-in clinics near them. Educational events in which people can learn about their legal rights and how to resolve disputes without going to court will also take place across the state.
“Ensuring fair access to justice by providing legal advice to those Tennesseans who otherwise cannot afford legal representation in civil matters is the primary focus of this initiative,” says Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. “We want to ensure all Tennesseans have equal access to representation. Through civil legal clinics, the citizens of our state will have a convenient place to get answers to their legal questions.”
The Access to Justice event will kick off in mid-March with press conferences across the state in which communities will hear from Tennessee Supreme Court justices as well as Tennesseans who have been helped through the program. Justice Cornelia Clark will speak in Chattanooga on Tuesday, March 21 (time and location to be determined).
Free legal advice events will then take place through mid-April. The Chattanooga office of Legal Aid of East Tennessee (535 Chestnut St.) will host several clinics during this time:
March 22
Placement clinic with Buz Dooley
9 a.m.-noon
By appointment only (756-4013)
March 29
Placement clinic with Buz Dooley
9 a.m.-noon
By appointment only
April 1
Habitat for Humanity Wills clinic
Chattanooga Housing Authority
801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.
9 a.m.-5 p.m
April 13
Child Support Advice Clinic
Hamilton County Juvenile Court
1600 E. 3rd Street
1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Check www.laet.org or contact Paige Evatt at pevatt@laet.org for up-to-date information on events that are still being planned.
Sources: Tennessee Supreme Court and Legal Aid of East Tennessee