Legal Aid of East Tennessee celebrates attorneys giving time to close justice gap

For people facing eviction, domestic violence, custody disputes or other civil legal problems, having an attorney can mean the difference between navigating a difficult situation alone and having someone in their corner. Legal Aid of East Tennessee celebrated the attorneys who help close that gap during its 2026 Tri-Cities Pro Bono Luncheon Sept. 25 at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. The luncheon served as a kickoff to Legal Aid's annual Pro Bono Month celebrations in Tennessee and recognized attorneys who volunteer their time to help clients who otherwise may not be able to afford legal representation. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Kyle Hixson attended as a special guest. "The courthouse doors are open, but if you're a citizen who can't afford legal representation, that's where legal aid steps in. And it gives those people a voice, it gives them representation and equal justice under the law," Hixson said. Legal Aid of East Tennessee provides free civil legal assistance across 26 counties in East Tennessee. Its work includes helping people maintain stable housing, obtain orders of protection, address domestic violence, navigate divorces and parenting plans and resolve other legal issues involving basic needs and family stability. In 2025, Legal Aid served 5,616 individuals representing households of 12,652 people, including 5,693 children, according to the organization. The agency also generated more than $12.3 million in economic impact across its service area. The organization's pro bono program expands that reach by connecting clients with private attorneys willing to volunteer their time. Amanda Simpson, managing attorney of Legal Aid's Johnson City office, said the local office has five attorneys serving a 12-county region and helps several hundred people each year, though demand exceeds what its staff can handle. Matt Sharp, a staff attorney in the Johnson City office and the pro bono coordinator for the region, said the volunteer attorneys effectively multiply the organization's local reach. "Our pro bono project is really able to expand on the services that we can offer and how many clients that we're able to assist," Simpson said. "Despite our smaller staff attorney numbers, we're able to recruit private attorneys who very graciously volunteer their time to assist our clients with different legal issues." The need varies throughout Northeast Tennessee, with larger counties generally having more attorneys available to volunteer and rural communities sometimes having only a handful of attorneys practicing locally. The luncheon also celebrated the long-standing roots of Legal Aid's mission. Aaron Chapman, immediate past president of Legal Aid's board of directors, said the organization's growth should never overshadow why it began. "The growth, it's important to watch the growth, but we can't let the growth be the identity," Chapman said. "We have to look back and say that our roots, as legal aid, was lawyers coming together to help those in need. And that's exactly what today's luncheon is celebrating." The need remains particularly strong around housing and personal safety, Simpson said, with eviction prevention and orders of protection among the issues that most frequently bring people to Legal Aid. "Those are things that people call on us for the most," she said. "We're very grateful to be able to do the work that we're able to do. This is our home. These are our people."