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 Póngase en contacto con nosotros en el (901) 523-8822.
2009 – A Year of Challenges, Opportunities and Successes
 2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. as a partner in the quest for equal access and justice for all!
Reflecting on our journey through 2009 will set the stage for our work and activities for 2010. It was a year in which the recessed economy left many of our neighbors in a world of economic hurt. It was a year in which the unemployment rate was the worst in a quarter of a century, when people not only lost their jobs, but also lost their homes. Foreclosures hit record highs in 2009 and predictions for the first half of 2010 don’t paint a brighter picture in the near future for the people of Memphis and Shelby County, Tipton, Fayette and Lauderdale counties.
But all is not bleak at MALS. 2009 brought some great and memorable highlights. Fortunately, that best-of-times list is longer than the worst of times.
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In addition to traditional client services provided through normal intake procedures, and with the help of special funding and support, MALS operates the following projects and provides additional services to clients in various areas. Participation in some programs may require specific eligibility.
Attorney of the Day Project
Each Thursday, starting at 1:30 pm in Room 134 of the Shelby County Courthouse, located 140 Adams Avenue in downtown Memphis, volunteer attorneys meet with walk-in clients and provide advice, counsel and referrals. Clients are seen on a first come, first served basis. This project is a collaborative between Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. and the Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee.
EarnBenefits Program
Through funding from SEEDCO, MALS conducts an EarnBenefits program which provides convenient screenings for dozens of programs that connect individuals to benefits in areas including Health and Nutrition, Housing and Utilities, Families and Children, and Education and Income. It all starts with one simple call, (901) 523-8822, ext. 442.
Family Law Advice Group (FLAG)
MALS’ office located 899-A Highway 51 South in Covington, TN, hosts a Family Law Advice Group meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 3 pm to 5 pm. During the meetings, members of our staff discuss and answer questions about divorce, the Parenting Plan law, mediation and child support. If you are interested, please contact us at (901) 476-1808 to be screened for participation. Residents of Fayette and Lauderdale counties may call toll free (888) 207-6386.
Home Preservation Project
The Home Preservation Project at MALS was created to help the tens of thousands of families in Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale and Fayette counties who face the prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure in the coming months, largely as a result of irresponsible lending practices. This program is available free of charge to anyone having trouble meeting their mortgage obligations. It utilizes attorneys working closely with trained foreclosure counselors to restructure loans to allow the homeowners to succeed in paying their mortgage, retaining their home, and acquiring wealth by building equity in their home. If you or someone you know is facing potential foreclosure, please contact the Home Preservation Project at (901) 255-3444.
Memphis Fair Housing Center
The Memphis Fair Housing Center, through funding from federal and local grants, provides legal assistance to victims of fair housing discrimination and predatory lending, renters with landlord/tenant issues, and those facing foreclosure due to mortgage default. To apply for assistance, call (901) 432-4663.
Opportunity Plus Program (OPP)
The OPP provides domestic violence victims the opportunity to become self-sufficient and self -sustaining survivors through intense case-management, referrals, counseling, and financial assistance. Participants in the program are selected on a case-by-case basis. If you are victim of domestic violence and interested in participating in the OPP or to get more information, please call (901) 523-8822, ext. 210.
Pro Se Divorce Workshop
MALS holds a monthly pro se divorce workshop in its Memphis and Covington office locations. Aimed at low-income couples wishing to pursue a divorce without the expense of retaining an attorney, these workshops provide individuals with information and materials necessary for filing a pro se (Latin term meaning “for self”) divorce in court. Members of our staff provide forms needed to file and complete an uncontested no–asset divorce, assist in completing the forms, answer questions and give information about the legal issues and procedures involved. Click here to learn more about whether you might qualify for participation in this workshop. Please contact us at (901) 523-8822, ext. 440 to be screened for participation at our Memphis office and at (901) 476-1808 (or (888) 207-6386 if calling from Fayette or Lauderdale County) to be screened for participation at our Covington office.
Rural Outreach Legal Clinic
MALS conducts an outreach legal clinic each Wednesday, from 1pm to 4pm, at the Fayette County Commission on Aging, referred to by locals as “The Senior Center,” located at 108 Kay Drive in Somerville, Tennessee. While we make every effort to see walk-in applicants, to ensure an opportunity to talk with our staff, you are encouraged to call (901) 476-1808 (or (888) 207-6386 if calling from Fayette or Lauderdale County), to make an appointment. Please note that adjustments may be made to clinic dates and times due to conflicting court dates, emergencies or other special circumstances.
Saturday Legal Clinics
A joint project of MALS, the Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee and the Memphis Debt Collaborative, these clinics provide an opportunity for members of the community to meet with an attorney to discuss their legal issues. The clinics are held on Saturdays from 9am to Noon at different locations across Memphis. All attorneys and paralegals are volunteers and provide advice, counsel, referrals and sometimes extended services if needed. Clients are seen on a first come, first served basis and the clinic stops taking new clients at 11:45 am, so please arrive before then to ensure sufficient time to discuss your problem. To learn where the next clinic will be held, please call (901) 523-8900.
Senior Component
Through funding from the Aging Commission of the Mid-South, special assistance is provided to persons age 60 and over regardless of income. These services include Advance Directives (such as Wills and Powers of Attorney) assistance with Medicare and/or nursing home care, SSI, etc. To apply for assistance, please contact us at (901) 523-8822 if in Shelby County, at (901) 476-1808 in Tipton County, or (888) 207-6386 if calling from Fayette or Lauderdale County.
University of Memphis Legal Clinics
MALS and the University of Memphis School of Law operate a legal clinic, through which third-year law students from the Law School, working under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney-instructor, provide legal advice and court representation to clients. Located within MALS’ Memphis office, the legal clinics are a part of MALS’ Private Attorney Involvement program, to which clients are referred through our normal intake procedures.
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Information contained on this website is provided for its informational content and for educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein should be construed as specific legal advice. Individuals desiring legal advice about a specific situation should consult an attorney licensed in the area having jurisdiction.