Free legal clinic will be held on Saturday, May 21 at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce
SMITH COUNTY, Tenn., May 13, 2016—Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm, announced today that it will host a free walk-in legal advice clinic on Saturday, May 21st, at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce, located at 939 Upper Ferry Road in Carthage, Tenn.
From 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., licensed attorneys will provide free advice on civil legal issues, such as family law, debt collection and housing. Legal Aid Society is working with attorneys in the private bar and the Tennessee’s Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (TBA YLD) to coordinate the clinic.
While the clinic will not provide any advice related to pending or existing criminal charges, Legal Aid Society’s Skadden Fellow Vidhi Joshi, who focuses her work on re-entry issues, can provide advice regarding expungements, criminal court cost issues, assistance with access to federally subsidized housing and other civil issues related to a person’s criminal history.
“With 15 percent of Smith County citizens living in poverty—per U.S. Census Bureau data— and similar economic conditions in the surrounding communities, it’s essential that we bring free legal advice directly to residents and not wait for them to travel to our offices in Gallatin, Cookeville or Nashville,” said Cherrelle Hooper, attorney with the Gallatin office of Legal Aid Society and the District 8 representative of the TBA YLD. “Often, just a simple conversation with an attorney can give people the information they need to prevent an eviction, stop debt collectors from harassing them or pursue justice through the civil legal system.”
The clinic will not accept walk-in appointments past 11:30 a.m. on the day of the clinic. If you have any questions, contact Legal Aid Society’s Gallatin office at (615) 451-1880.
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.
