What is Legal Aid?
Navigating Legal Aid Services in Jackson, TN
Legal aid is an invaluable service. It provides support to individuals who cannot afford private attorneys but are arguably in the greatest need of professional representation. It’s often easy to think of legal aid as a lower-tier service, but for many people it’s the only option they have. It’s common misconception that the use of legal aid services makes one a "welfare queen" or a male equivalent. The reality is that legal aid is provided to individuals from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. It isn’t reserved for one socioeconomic status or race or gender. It is available to anyone, anywhere, who requires legal services and who cannot afford to pay for those services. In this sense, legal aid is an excellent equalizer in our justice system. Legal aid is available in many forms . Some legal aid offices offer "help desk" provisions, providing legal information and walkthrough of legal processes. Other offices function as a full legal aid service, providing comprehensive legal advice and representation to qualified individuals. Many people qualify for legal aid services but are unaware that the services exist at all. There is no federally imposed cutoff for who can and cannot use legal aid services, but simply looking at the issue from an administrative perspective underestimates the challenges that most people with legal needs face. Some people are not aware that they even require legal assistance or do not realize they have an option to seek legal aid until it’s too late. Overall, legal aid services are a vital part of what makes our justice system accessible to everyone. Without legal aid, many people would have serious unmet legal needs.
Getting Legal Aid in Jackson TN
Many times applicants will be in need of legal aid services, but may not realize that income restrictions apply. The purpose of this program is to provide assistance and representation to low-income residents in need of legal advice and representation. Those with sufficient income and resources are urged to seek the assistance of a private attorney or represent themselves. Legal aid services is a privilege not a right.
The amount of income considered acceptable is based upon the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Federal Poverty Guidelines. Persons with an annual income of 125% of poverty are eligible for civil legal assistance; those with an income at or below 200% of poverty are eligible for civil legal assistance through the Neotnor Tennessee Legal Services program. However, given the number of applicants in need of legal services, eligibility alone does not guarantee that legal services will be provided. Determ decisions as to eligibility for services are made on a case-per-case basis.
Legal aid [sometimes] represents persons who are indigent or who have incomes that are 125% – 200% of poverty based upon the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Federal Poverty Guidelines. Additionally, legal aid will represent indigent persons in criminal matters if specific eligibility criteria is met.
Legal aid services covers a variety of civil matters including assistance with:
The legal aid program does not typically represent clients in family law matters.
Applying for Legal Aid in Jackson, TN
To apply for legal aid services in Jackson, TN, individuals must first contact the local legal aid office to determine the availability of services and whether they meet eligibility criteria. The application process typically begins with an initial phone screening, during which the applicant will be asked about their financial situation, legal issues they are facing, and other relevant information that will help legal aid personnel assess their need for legal assistance.
Once the initial screening is complete, eligible applicants will likely be asked to provide a series of documents and information. Categories of information that applicants may be required to furnish include:
In some instances, legal aid offices may offer online applications, allowing applicants to fill out the necessary forms and submit their information electronically.
After the initial application has been processed, the legal aid office will contact the applicant regarding the status of their case. Due to the volume of applicants, there may be a significant wait time before applicants are contacted.
Local Legal Aid Agencies
The following is a list of some local legal aid organizations that provide assistance in and around Jackson, TN:
Union University School of Law Legal Aid Clinic
This is a free legal aid clinic offered by Union University School of Law to members of the West Tennessee community. The law students volunteer at the clinic under the supervision of licensed attorneys from the school.
38125 American Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
731-344-5914
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands
This nonprofit law firm provides free legal aid to people living in 48 Tennessee counties in the west and middle part of the state . It assists people in various legal areas, such as reuniting parents with their children, obtaining protective orders in domestic violence cases, preventing foreclosures and evictions, and settling landlord-tenant disputes.
2813 Trotwood Avenue, Suite 101
Columbia, TN 38401
888-641-4466
Tennessee Justice Center
This nonprofit organization provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and families throughout Tennessee. Its attorneys protect client’s rights to essential public services and prevent unfair and illegal treatment by government agencies and other private businesses.
300 E. Main Street, Suite 103
Nashville, TN 37204
615-255-0331
Cases You Can Get Help for from Legal Aid
In Jackson, Tennessee, legal aid services are primarily offered by West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS). As a legal nonprofit, the organization provides free assistance to several underserved and low-income groups in the area, including individuals over the age of 60, veterans or active-duty military personnel, people living with a disability, and low-income families. WTLS works with many community partners to provide outreach in the area and provide assistance to the staff of other nonprofit organizations that help those in need.
The attorneys and legal professionals at WTLS can assist with a wide range of cases throughout the Jackson area, including:
Family Law When people think of family law, it’s almost always the case that divorce is the first thought that comes to mind. However, there is a lot more that a family lawyer can do as well. There is an entire world of juvenile law and family legal matters that involve children, such as:
Regardless of your legal matter involving your family, WTLS attorneys can help navigate the issues you face.
Housing Many people simply take for granted the ability to maintain a roof over their heads, but affordable housing is a big issue for people who can’t afford it. If you are facing issues on the housing front, the legal and service professionals at WTLS help with all kinds of housing matters, including:
Consumer Protection In this age of consumerism, there are many issues that can arise between the consumer and the industry. Depending on your circumstances, the legal team at WTLS can help with matters involving credit reporting agencies, loan modifications, and foreclosure. A huge part of consumer protection is preventing unfair debt collection practices, which WTLS can assist with as well.
If you are receiving debt collection calls repeatedly, or you have been denied the loan you applied for with no reasonable explanation, it may be time to turn to WTLS for guidance and perhaps some representation in the legal matters you are dealing with.
Criminal Law Some legal matters are more serious than others, such as criminal charges that you may be facing. If you’ve been charged with a crime such as shoplifting, domestic violence, or DUI the attorneys with WTLS offer free criminal law assistance to low-income and underserved people. There are some individuals who may not qualify for this pro bono assistance, but at least a consultation with an attorney is available to talk with them about the crime with which they have been charged and evaluate the options they have.
There are many types of legal issues arising every day which require the assistance of a skilled attorney, and many, if not most of those individuals simply cannot afford legal representation. This is why organizations like WTLS exist.
Legal Aid Success Stories
A single mother with two children in Jackson, TN, found herself struggling with navigating the court system after separating from her abusive husband. She had little income and was struggling to keep a roof over her children’s heads. She reached out to a local legal aid service, where she was assigned a pro bono attorney that helped her through the divorce and secured a restraining order against her abusive spouse. The divorce was granted swiftly and her family was able to move into a home of their own without fear of violence or harassment.
A senior citizen in Jackson, TN, had been served with eviction papers from her landlord. With a fixed income and no means to pay the full rent balance owed, she was fearful of the losing her housing. With the help of the legal aid clinic, she was able to fight the eviction in court, secure an extension on her rental agreement with the landlord and set up a manageable payment plan for her back rent without the use of threats or harassment from her landlord.
A couple in Jackson, TN , was having trouble with the child support system after the father of the children lost his job to downsizing. His new job only provided part-time work, which made it difficult to pay child support in a timely manner. His wife began getting threatening calls from collection agencies at all hours of the day and night. With the help of a legal aid organization in Jackson, the couple was able to modify their child support agreement to adjust their monthly payments while his income was low. After this, the calls from collection agencies died down significantly.
A Jackson, TN, man was arrested just before a scheduled court date for a speeding offense. While he failed to appear in criminal court, he did appear in civil court to get the restitution he was owed from the accident. After a considerable amount of help from the legal aid clinic, he was forced to attend an arraignment in criminal court, where his lawyer helped him negotiate reduced fines and plea deals. This allowed him to pay back the money he owed to the other driver and get back on the road.