CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm, announced a partnership with First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville to launch the Presbyterian Legal Assistance Network (PLAN).
Staff attorneys from Legal Aid Society’s Clarksville office will provide a free legal clinic at a meal program, Loaves and Fishes, which operates out of the church six days per week.
Volunteers recognized a need for access to free legal advice when meal attendees began sharing their legal problems. Eventually, church members began referring people to Legal Aid Society, but as needs for civil legal counsel continued to arise, the single-referral system has grown into a community-wide initiative.
With the new PLAN initiative, Legal Aid Society attorneys will provide free civil legal advice at Clarksville’s First Presbyterian Church every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.—coinciding with Loaves and Fishes. At that time, individuals can seek advice on family issues, housing and landlord disputes, taxes, auto accidents and other civil legal problems. When necessary, Legal Aid will provide further legal assistance to the individual. The program will also involve local private attorneys.
“PLAN will allow us to meet individuals where they are,” said Kevin Fowler, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Clarksville office. “Our collaboration with First Presbyterian Church means people can seek free legal help at the same location where they receive a meal, avoiding any additional obstacles that might stand in the way of access to legal aid—such as lack of transportation, time or awareness that free legal help might be an option. Also, we will be able to provide more extensive legal services, when necessary.”
In addition to the personalized advice provided by Legal Aid Society attorneys, First Presbyterian Church members who volunteer as receptionists for PLAN can direct individuals to free educational materials on a variety of civil legal topics. They can also take requests and organize appointments for those who need to speak with an attorney after their meal.
PLAN will operate out of the First Presbyterian Church located at 213 Main St. in Clarksville. For further information, contact the Legal Aid Society’s Clarksville office at (931) 552-6656. Legal Aid is located at 109 South Third Street in Clarksville.