LAS' Volunteer Lawyers Program Presents 2014 Pro Bono Leadership Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2014 – Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm, announced today that its Volunteer Lawyers Program presented its annual Pro Bono Leadership Award to the Nashville Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (NBA/YLD).

The award recognizes the NBA/YLD’s ongoing support of a legal clinic at Casa Azafrán, which provides free legal assistance every month to Nashville’s immigrant and refugee communities. Twenty lawyers from the NBA/YLD have worked with the Volunteer Lawyers Program since the first clinic was held at Casa Azafrán in May.

“We knew that there was an increasing need for legal help in our area communities for immigrants and refugees,” said Lucinda Smith, director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program. “The commitment of the NBA/YLD provided the legal support that was needed to partner with Conexión Américas at Casa Azafrán, which has helped us to meet that need. The number of clients served since we started this clinic is more than triple the number that we had reached in 2013. Needless to say, we are grateful for this talented and generous group of young lawyers.”

Smith presented the award to the NBA/YLD at the Nashville Bar Association’s Annual Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 4.

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, educational programs and advice to ensure people in its region are able to protect their livelihoods, their health and their families. 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.