Legal Services
Provides enforcement of legal rights of persons with disabilities through disability technical training, information and referral and advocacy about disability rights, investigation of abuse of persons with disabilities. Also provides Client Assistance Program which provides services to any person with a disability who is seeking or is receiving services from an agency funded under the Rehabilitation Act such as TN Vocational Rehabilitation Services, TN Blind Services Agency, Center for Independent Living, Projects with Industry. Assistance is provided to access and benefit from rehabilitation services leading to employment, independent living and community participation. Agency also provides assistance for parents/guardians at IEP meetings at schools. This is the Knoxville office which serves all the counties of east TN.
The mission of the Family Justice Center is to provide victims of domestic violence with a single location to access advocacy and other services necessary to build a future of choice, safety and opportunity. We do this by: 1. Providing a coordinated, comprehensive approach to family violence 2. Helping to provide safety for victims and their children 3. Working to end the cycle of violence in families 4.Improving the criminal justice system’s response to family violence.
Mission Statement: 1. Provide for the care, protection, and wholesome moral, mental, and physical development of children coming within its provisions; 2. Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to remove from children committing delinquent acts the taint of criminality and the consequences of criminal behavior and to substitute, therefore, a program of treatment, training, and rehabilitation; 3. Achieve the foregoing purposes in a family environment whenever possible, separating the child from his or her parents only when necessary for the child’s welfare or in the interest of public safety; 4. Provide a simple judicial procedure through which these functions are executed and enforced and in which the parties are assured a fair hearing and their constitutional and other legal rights are recognized and enforced. (from TCA 37-1-101)
Designed for those who need a referral to a private attorney. Will arrange a consult by phone or in-office visit to speak with an attorney directly regarding legal situations. Anyone who can afford legal services and needs to consult with an attorney is eligible. No charge for referral or initial consultation but normal fees apply after. No legal advice is given.
Provides free legal assistance for low-income individuals, groups, seniors, and victims of domestic violence. Services provided in following areas: Housing, SSI/Disability, Food Stamps/Family First, Tenn Care/Medicaid, Elder Abuse/Exploitation, Health Care, Employment, Utility Problems, Consumer Problems, Family Problems, Education, and Community Based Problems.
The Pro Bono Project is a joint project of Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Inc. and the Bar Associations of Knox, Blount, Loudon, and Sevier Counties. The Pro Bono Project utilizes volunteer attorneys, paralegals, students, and others to provide legal representation to some of the clients who cannot be served by the Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Inc. due to their limited staff and budget. The Pro Bono Project attorneys do not charge attorney fees, but clients are responsible for court costs and other expenses of their cases. Clients must meet financial eligibility guidelines. No criminal cases are accepted. Civil cases including family law, landlord/tenant, bankruptcy, consumer problems, tort defenses, and wills. Interpreters available for Spanish-speaking families with advance notice.
This website allows qualified users to obtain free legal advice from a pro-bono attorney. Users must be TN Residents who are at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline, not incarcerated, and have less than $5,000 in total assets. Once they log on and qualify, they can set up a user profile. They can then type in their legal question and an attorney will answer it. To get the best answers, users are encouraged to make their questions direct and to the point. Users are notified via email when their question has been answered.
Provides several different resources to people who have or are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Services include an Emergency Assistance Fund Program, a Resource Library, and an Immigrant Legal Clinic. Also provides educational workshops to the community.
This program provides legal representation by law students under supervision of faculty at U.T. School of Law.