In East Tennessee, justice can feel out of reach for those who can’t afford a lawyer. To make matters worse, there’s often a misconception that an attorney will be provided to those without means.
However, that’s only the case for criminal charges. That rule doesn’t apply to civil matters.
So, upon finding themselves with a civil legal issue and no representation, many Americans give up, lose hope, remain in unsafe situations and go without food, medication, benefits they have earned or the stability of a secure home.
For many of our neighbors – seniors facing eviction, survivors of domestic violence seeking protection, veterans navigating bureaucracy and hard-working families simply trying to keep food on the table – civil legal aid is often the only way to access the protections the law promises all of us.
That’s why federal funding through the Legal Services Corporation is vital for Legal Aid of East Tennessee and for the tens of thousands of Tennesseans who depend on our help every year. Without LSC funding, the basic right to equal justice under the law would be little more than a slogan for many of our most vulnerable citizens.
LAET serves a 26-county area stretching from Chattanooga to Mountain City, across communities rich in history but facing severe challenges such as limited transportation, lack of internet access, job scarcity, geographic isolation, an undersupply of health care providers and repeated natural disasters.
LAET provides free civil legal help to people in this region who can’t afford a lawyer, thereby resolving urgent issues and life-altering problems. Examples include helping domestic violence victims obtain Orders of Protection, defending seniors from unlawful evictions, protecting children from abuse and neglect and assisting veterans and people with disabilities in accessing critical benefits.
In 2024 alone, LAET assisted almost 15,000 Tennesseans and their families, with each case representing a real person, a real crisis and a lasting resolution. These are not abstract legal issues; they are actual families avoiding homelessness, seniors staying safe in their homes and children escaping abusive environments. And in nearly every case, grants from LSC played a crucial role in making that help possible.
While the U.S. Senate’s bill for Fiscal Year 2026 includes a $6 million increase for LSC funding, the House of Representatives’ bill includes a $260 million cut to LSC’s budget. This 46% reduction would drastically change how much support LSC could provide to community legal services providers like LAET and to 129 other nonprofit law firms across the country.
Congress established LSC in 1974 because of the American ideal that justice should not depend on the size of one’s bank account. Funding for legal services receives bipartisan support because the need for fairness in our justice system transcends party lines.
Cutting LSC would have a direct and devastating impact on LAET’s ability to serve East Tennessee. Rural counties, already facing lawyer shortages and limited legal resources, would be hit the hardest. Fewer attorneys would mean longer wait times, fewer people helped and more families falling through the cracks.
Beyond the lifeline that legal aid provides to individuals and families, it’s also a wise investment that’s been proven to boost the economy. Studies show that legal services generate substantial economic benefits due to reduced strain on courts and emergency services and improved housing stability and public safety. For example, helping a family avoid eviction not only prevents homelessness but also reduces the burden on local shelters, schools and health systems. All of this leads to increased community stability for ourselves and our neighbors.
Nationally, for every $1 invested in legal aid, there’s an average return of $7 for the community. For East Tennessee, that number is even higher. Adjusted for the region, for every $1 invested in LAET, there’s a community benefit of almost $15.
As federal budget negotiations continue, it’s important to understand the impact these funds have in our community. Legal Aid of East Tennessee remains dedicated to extending equal access to justice to as many Tennesseans as we can.