2015 News Articles

September 22, 2015 – The Commercial Appeal: Le Bonheur enters partnership with U of M Law School, Legal Services Agency

In what officials called the first local partnership of its kind, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital will collaborate with Memphis Area Legal Services and the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law to address the legal and social issues affecting patient health, representatives of the three institutions announced Tuesday. Called Memphis CHiLD (Children’s Health Law Directive), the partnership will provide legal services, education and advocacy for children and their families. It will feature a variety of training and educational programs and a legal clinic at Le Bonheur where U of M law students have devoted space to work on cases and referrals and meet with patients and medical professionals.

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September 22, 2015 – MyFoxMemphis: Le Bonheur announces new program aiming to help families with social, health issues

Time and time again, FOX13 has shown you stories of how poor living conditions have caused health issues. Now, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is offering a way to help families in these situations. It’s a new program called Children’s Health Law Directive, or Memphis CHiLD, that partners with the University of Memphis law school as well as Memphis Area Legal Services. It provides Le Bonheur patient families with legal help on-site from University of Memphis law students.

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June 11, 2015 – Memphis Flyer: Getting Straight

“The hardest thing about being a convicted felon is finding a job. The economy isn’t bad, but you have so many people out there without a felony record who need jobs, and they will get picked over you every time,” Brittni said. She’s been turned down for job after job, and her dreams of working in law enforcement are likely squashed for good. It’s an issue faced by so many Mid-Southerners with felony convictions. They’ve done their time and yet they remain held back by their past actions. There is a little hope though. Programs like drug court, both in DeSoto County and Shelby County, can help people move past their addictions. And Memphis and Shelby County has a newly formed Office of Offender Re-entry to help felons with job training, job placement, and life skills. Additionally, a new Tennessee law can help some felons in this state gain employability certificates, which prevents employers from discriminating against those with felony records.

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May 12, 2015 – Press Release: MALS Conference Room Named to Honor Kirkland

The family of Lloyd Kirkland Jr., including daughter Magistrate Judge Diane Vescovo, honored him by purchasing the naming rights to Memphis Area Legal Services’ small conference room. The new name of the conference room is now the Kirkland Conference Room. Family and friends of Kirkland enjoyed a brief birthday celebration and an unveiling of the plaque renaming the conference room on April 30.

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April 30, 2015 – The Commercial Appeal: Carnival Memphis To Salute Legal Industry

Carnival Memphis will highlight the Mid-South legal industry Tuesday.  According to the group, which was founded in 1931 in the city, Memphis lawyer Lewis R. Donelson III will receive the Cook Halle Award for outstanding contributions to the Mid-South. U.S. Circuit Court Judge Julia Gibbons will receive the King’s Award. The President’s Award will be presented to S. Shepherd Tate. W. J. Michael Cody will receive the Chairman’s Award. Organizations being saluted include Apperson Crump PLC, Evans Petree PC, Farris Bobango PLC, Glankler Brown PLLC, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh PLLC, FedEx Corp.’s legal staff, Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. and the University of Memphis law school.

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March 9, 2015 – Memphis Business Journal: Local Law Firm Awarded For Pro Bono Services

A Memphis law firm was honored over the weekend for its exceptional pro bono work.  The local office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP received the Tennessee Bar Association’s Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Law Firm Award at the TBA’s ninth annual Corporate Pro Bono Initiative Gala in Nashville.  Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs received the award for its “commitment to provide free legal services to low-income families in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale counties.”  Linda Warren Seely, the director of pro bono projects with Memphis Area Legal Services, nominated the firm.

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