Chattanooga lawyers, local military advocates and area churches have launched a legal partnership effort dubbed “Operation Gospel Justice” in order to help the growing number of individuals who go without legal help "simply because they cannot afford an attorney."
"An estimated 1 million Tennesseans face some type of civil legal issue each year and many are unable to afford legal representation, qualify for low-income assistance or simply don’t recognize that they have a legal issue that requires the help of an attorney. That equates to one in three people in Tennessee who go without professional legal assistance every year," officials said.
The Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative, Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance and Christian Legal Society are among those working together on a growing effort to expand Access to Justice in Chattanooga by offering legal assistance programs in area places of worship.
A general legal clinic is set for Nov. 14 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road in Chattanooga. The clinic is open to the public. Volunteer attorneys will be available to meet with individuals seeking help with any civil legal issue. Local advocates will also be available to help military veterans struggling with legal issues and other needs.
More clinics are being offered every month at White Oak United Methodist Church in Red Bank. These clinics are offered on the third Saturday of each month. More information about both of these events is available below.
"Local houses of worship have recognized the importance of supporting social justice ministries as a means of reaching the poor and hurting in our communities," officials said.
Last Thursday, White Oak United Methodist Church was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Award of 2018 from Legal Aid of East Tennessee for the church’s justice partnerships with the Family Justice Center and Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative. It is the first time a church has received the award. "Currently it is estimated that less than 1 percent of churches in the United States offer such services or recognize the critical connection between spiritual restoration and the need for better access to help with legal issues," officials said.
Improving equal access to justice was declared a priority by the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Access to Justice Commission was formed in 2009 in an effort to expand equal access to justice across the state. The Access to Justice Commission created the Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance on the premise that many individuals with legal issues will first seek assistance at their local houses of worship. The TFJA offers training of local pastoral leadership to bridge the legal gap and build better legal referral networks.
Attorney Nancy Cogar established the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative last year in Chattanooga. She has offered pro bono legal clinics through Chattanooga GJI and spearheaded the partnership efforts. She was honored last week with the Bruce Bailey Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award from Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Tennessee Supreme Court also recognized her as a “Justice Attorney” for 2018 for her work to assist the poor and vulnerable in our community.
All of the clinics are open to anyone with a civil legal issue or question. People interested are advised to call in advance so that attorneys with an expertise in the specific area of concern can be available to assist. No appointments are necessary for the clinic on Nov. 14 at Ridgedale Baptist Church. Each attendee will be screened to determine if they are eligible for Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET). If they are eligible for LAET there is no charge. If they are not eligible for LAET, a $30 administrative fee is customarily charged through the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative, which goes to support the legal ministry which is qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. No one will be turned away based on an inability to pay and no other fees will be required to consult with an attorney.
Appointments are recommended for those interested in meeting with a lawyer at the monthly office hour clinics at White Oak United Methodist Church. The next office hour clinic will be held on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m.-noon at White Oak United Methodist Church, 2232 Lyndon Ave. in Chattanooga. Walk-ins are also welcome, but will be served on a first-come basis.
For information about this event or the partnership, contact Attorney Nancy Cogar, Chapter -president of the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative at 423-521-5410 or 423-269-7460, or email her at Chattanooga@gji.org.