Pro Bono Project

Pro Bono Project Attorney Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Serving the Legal Community in Assisting Low-Income Persons To Navigate the Justice System

University of Tennessee College of Law class of 2020 student Clint Wren has worked as a clerk at Legal Aid since 2018. Mr. Wren was hired on as the Pro Bono Law Clerk in the fall of 2018 and has served in that position for almost two years, working hard to match cases with local attorneys and support the Pro Bono Project. In the 2020 interim between Pro Bono Attorneys, Mr. Wren kept the Pro Bono Project afloat by matching cases and responding to client and attorney inquiries. Mr. Wren is always a positive and resourceful addition to any project at Legal Aid and we are delighted to name Clint Wren Pro Bono Student of the Year for 2020. “Being nominated for this award was an unexpected bright spot this year. While I have only been a part of the Knoxville community for little under 4 years, I have fallen in love with this city and its people. I believe that each person is given unique gifts to better the lives of those around them, and I am happy to begin using mine. Thank you to all of the students, attorneys, paralegals, clerks, and friends that help push us towards our goal of making Knoxville a wonderful place to live for every person that finds themselves here.” – Clint Wren

Katlyn Jones is a Sevier County attorney and Secretary of the Sevier County Bar Association who coordinates the volunteer attorney program every other Friday in Sevier county Order of Protection court. Personally volunteering almost every session, Ms. Jones will sometimes spend the entire day representing clients pro bono in OP court and takes the lead in recruiting local attorneys to join her efforts. “I was really honored to receive the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. I have always been very passionate about volunteering and giving back to my community. When the opportunity arose for me to give back in the courtroom once I was sworn in, I didn’t hesitate to volunteer in a legal capacity. The courtroom can be intimidating for anyone, but even more so for someone who is trying to get protection from someone that could harm them. Order of Protections seek to give citizens that protection, and I feel privileged to help my community navigate that process. I look forward to continuing to volunteer and helping my community in any way I can. “ – Katlyn M. Jones.

McNabb Center is a premier behavioral health center that partnered with Legal Aid of East Tennessee to form the Mental Health Law Partnership (MHLP), a first of its kind health law partnership in Tennessee focusing on mental health issues, the social determinants of health and the legal solutions that can impact the health outcomes for the patient. Over the last year, McNabb Center graciously allowed LAET to embed on their treatment floor and work with their staff and clients to assist in offering wrap around services for people in need. Because mental health issues very often lead to a manifestation of problems throughout a person’s life, the opportunity to solve a legal issue can relieve a stressor and allow someone to be able to worry less and focus more on their health. MC’s deep commitment to our communities and their staff’s tireless efforts to help improve people’s lives have made them a dynamic partner for LAET for whom we could not be more grateful.

London Amburn is a staunch supporter of the Pro Bono Project as a firm and London Amburn employees are very active in the pro bono efforts in our area. Attorney Spencer Fair started the monthly Veteran’s clinic and Attorney Ian Hennessy has been heavily involved in the Faith and Justice Clinic. London Amburn attorneys also consistently give at the highest levels to the Forging Justice annual fundraiser. We are proud to honor London Amburn as 2020’s Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year.

Dave Yoder demonstrates his commitment to Pro Bono work as a consistent and reliable volunteer attorney for myriad in person clinics since his retirement. Mr. Yoder is also a cofounder of Tennesseans for Historical Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to investigating unsolved civil rights crimes in Tennessee. Dave was born in Elkhart, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University and was awarded a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1974. Dave began his career as a legal aid staff attorney in Michigan. In 1982, he was selected as Executive Director of Legal Services of Northwest Indiana. In 1993, he was hired as Executive Director of the Knoxville Legal Aid Society, which later became Legal Aid of East Tennessee. He retired from LAET in 2015. Dave and his wife have a son who is a lawyer and a daughter who is an urban planner. He thanks them for their support as he has pursued his career. For recreation Dave enjoys Autocross, a form of sports car competition. “I am very honored to be selected for the Don Paine Pro Bono Hall of Fame by Legal Aid of East Tennessee. It was a career highlight to work with Prof. Paine while he volunteered for the KLAS/LAET Pro Bono Project. Don helped make the Project nationally recognized. I always have believed that as a Legal Aid lawyer and especially as an Exec. Dir., I’ve had a special responsibility to try to lead by example and do more for the public good than my employment commitment. While I’ve retired from LAET, my commitment to try to do good continues. I encourage every lawyer to enjoy the incredible rewards of Pro Bono.” – Dave Yoder