Legal Aid Society Announces Promotion and New Hire at Nashville Office
Legal Aid Society Announces Promotion
and New Hire at Nashville Office
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 30, 2018 — Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm, announced today two personnel changes in its Nashville office. Kerry Dietz has been promoted to housing and consumer law attorney and Linda Obregon has been hired as a victim advocate.
Dietz has been an attorney at Legal Aid Society’s Gallatin office since 2017. In her new role, Dietz will provide assistance with legal issues related to homeownership, rental property and public housing. She will also be working with clients who have been victims of unfair or predatory business practices or corporations that have broken consumer law regulations.
Before coming to Legal Aid Society, Dietz worked as interim counsel for Congressman Jim Cooper, focusing on legislative issues related to intellectual property in the music industry, as well as healthcare and education policy. She has also worked previously for Ozment Law and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
“Kerry has done impressive work for clients in our Gallatin office,” said DarKenya Waller, executive director of Legal Aid Society. “She cares about the people she works with and we know she’ll continue to be a smart, effective champion for their legal rights.”
Dietz graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She earned her J.D. from Belmont University, where she was awarded best performance in contracts and sales, constitutional law and evidence. During her time there, she also served as editor in chief of the university’s Law Review.
Obregon, as a victim advocate, will be representing victims of domestic violence and helping them gain independence from abusive situations. Before coming to Legal Aid Society, she worked at Brentwood-based collection company PASI, most recently as a quality assurance specialist. Obregon is fluent in Spanish, and has served as an interpreter on mission trips to Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala through her church.
“Linda’s fluency in Spanish and background in mission work will be a great benefit as she joins Legal Aid Society as a victim advocate,” Waller said. “In addition, her previous jobs have demonstrated her patience and passion for assisting those in need. We’re glad to have her aboard.”
Obregon received her life, health, property and casualty Tennessee licenses from Kaplan University and her bachelor’s in business administration/business management from Tennessee State University.
About Legal Aid Society
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.