By Laura Yepes, Communications & Development Assistant

The National Bar Association recognized October 20-26 as Celebrate Pro Bono week, along the theme of “Making Justice a Reality in Our Communities.” In honor of this celebration, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors recognizes and thanks those attorneys who offer pro bono representation, allowing the organization to expand its capacity and make a greater impact in the community. 

"We are incredibly grateful for our pro bono partners,” said Tessa Lemos Del Pino, Executive Director at TNJFON. “The need for immigration legal representation far exceeds our small office's capacity. Pro bono attorneys help to bridge the gap so that more individuals who could not otherwise afford an attorney will have the representation they need."

Deemed by the National Bar Association as “a professional responsibility and an individual ethical commitment of each lawyer,” pro bono is when attorneys offer their services without charge. Short for the Latin phrase pro bono publico, meaning “for the public good,” the practice has been around as long as the legal profession itself, and allows those who are experiencing economic hardship to have access to fair representation or counsel. But it is not just clients who benefit from pro bono work. 

“Just as pro bono attorneys provide a valuable service to clients, clients enrich the lives of pro bono attorneys,” said Bethany Jackson, Senior Counsel at TNJFON. “Because most of the pro bono lawyers we work with are not immigration lawyers, it is an opportunity for them to learn about a different field and to represent a different kind of client.” 

Lawyers who have lent their services to TNJFON share that the experience can be eye-opening in both good and challenging ways. Wesley Love, a senior litigation attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims recounted what his experience has been like representing two clients seeking asylum from Afghanistan. On the one hand, he learned about an area of law that he knew nothing about and experienced some of the most triumphant moments.

“Those days that I received those letters were two of the best days of my legal career,” Love said, referring to the moment when he learned of the decision granting asylum to his clients.

 On the other hand, hearing about his clients’ experiences escaping the dangers back home, and the knowledge of what would happen if they were not granted asylum, weighs heavy. 

“I don’t normally get to do things like this in my normal practice,” Love said. “It’s worlds different representing two people who could be sent back to a country and possibly be tortured or killed.” 

Amy Sanders Morgan, also with Bass, Berry & Sims as a Senior Healthcare Attorney, expressed similar feelings of fulfillment at the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of those going through the difficult process of trying to establish a new home. 

“It’s wonderful to be able to bring a sense of security to these families, a knowledge that they have a home here,” Morgan said. 

The involvement in these cases will often lead to an emotional investment as well for the attorneys, a desire to want to know how the families are doing even after their part in the case is done. For Love, it led him to choose to continue representing his clients as their cases progressed through the lengthy immigration process. Morgan shared that she appreciates the updates she receives from TNJFON on the clients she has helped. 

“I’m privileged to have the set of tools that I do, as an attorney, and it’s an honor to be able to give back by providing legal services to those who might otherwise not be able to access them,” Morgan said. 

TNJFON works closely with a dedicated team at Bass, Berry & Sims to facilitate these opportunities for attorneys. Pro bono work represents a tremendous service to clients. It is also an opportunity for Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors to educate others in the legal profession about the challenges facing immigrants, and to inspire them to take action. 

Through collaborations like these, TNJFON and its pro bono partners send a resounding message that everyone deserves access to zealous representation. In honor of Celebrate Pro Bono, TNJFON thanks Bass, Berry, & Sims, Bradley, Baker Donelson, and all attorneys who provide pro bono services.