TN Launches 'Law School Virtual Legal Advice Clinic' Project

Knoxville, Tenn. (September 29, 2014) –The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is partnering with Tennessee law schools to launch 'Law School Virtual Legal Advice Clinics'. Law students across Tennessee will join experienced attorneys to provide free civil legal advice to low income Tennessean's through the statewide virtual legal clinic - Online TN Justice (www.onlinetnjustice.org).

The project kicked off at the University of Tennessee Knoxville - College of Law. More than ten Tennessee attorneys paired with law students to answer civil legal questions posted to the Online TN Justice website by low-income Tennesseans. This virtual legal advice clinic allowed law students to see real-world legal issues and help low income Tennesseans receive advice on their civil legal issue. See photos from the event here.

The project is modeled after a program in South Carolina, which adopted the virtual legal clinic model from Tennessee. Pam Robinson of the University of South Carolina's Pro Bono Program said of their experience, "The best results come when the lawyer has a good discussion with the student... Watching and taking part in group problem solving is unique and grows on everyone."

Online TN Justice is a project of  TALS, the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA). the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission and Baker, Donelson , Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowtiz P.C.