Access to Justice
Contrary to popular belief, people are not guaranteed access to an attorney when they encounter civil legal issues. As a result, people who cannot afford an attorney are left to handle a variety of legal issues on their own.
In response to this growing problem, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its number one strategic priority and formally announced their Access to Justice Initiative in December 2008.
In April 2009, the Supreme Court formed the 10-member Access to Justice Commission.
2016 Pro Bono Report
2015 Pro Bono Report
2014 Pro Bono Report
2013 Pro Bono Report
2012 Pro Bono Report
2016 Strategic Plan
2014 Strategic Plan
2012 Strategic Plan
2010 Strategic Plan
September 21, 2018
Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank W. Drowota III and Memphis attorney Amber Floyd were announced as the winners of the 2018 Janice M. Holder Award at the Tennessee Alliance for Legal...
August 3, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has released its fifth strategic plan, covering 2018 through 2020, for improving access to justice in Tennessee. The plan furthers the...
May 16, 2018
Ten years ago, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its top strategic priority, and over the years one thing has become abundantly clear: improving access to legal services in Tennessee...
May 15, 2018
The 22-year-old man wanted to find a better job, but like many Tennesseans he had a criminal history that kept him stuck in a rut of unsteady, low-wage positions. To make matters worse, the man owed...
January 18, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed Michael L. Forrester, John L. Farringer IV, and Alexander McVeagh to serve on the Access to Justice Commission. They will serve a three-year term beginning...
January 8, 2018
The Administrative Office of the Courts will provide grants to ten Tennessee counties to launch court kiosks in 2018. The court kiosks will allow court clerks and their staff to direct self-...
December 19, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court recognized Memphis-area 2017 Attorneys for Justice on at the Memphis Bar Association Annual Dinner. Justice Holly Kirby publicly thanked attorneys who provided 50 or more...
November 8, 2017
Lawyers across the Volunteer State donated more than $118 million worth of free pro bono legal services to Tennesseans in 2015, according to an annual report issued by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s...
October 25, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently recognized attorneys and law students who performed over 50 hours of pro bono service in the previous calendar year as 2017 Attorneys for Justice. The ceremony...
October 18, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Access to Justice (ATJ) program recently joined forces with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) to honor attorneys who earned the Court’s prestigious “Attorney for...
Justice for All Website
As part of the Supreme Court's Access to Justice initiative, the Court has launched a website with forms, information and other resources for people who need legal assistance and attorneys and community members who wish to volunteer. Click the button above or visit JusticeForAllTN.com.
Contact
For more information about the Acess to Justice program, please contact:
Anne-Louise Wirthlin
Access to Justice Coordinator
615-741-2687
anne.louise.wirthlin@tncourts.gov