How does the Lawyer Referral & Information Service work?
Speak with a Consultant
Helpful staff will interview you over the phone to determine the nature of your legal issue. If appropriate, you will be referred to a private attorney for a free initial consultation.
Depending on the circumstances, staff may also direct you to a government or social service agency. Information provided by callers is not shared with anyone other than the attorney to whom a caller is referred.
Call an Attorney
You will be given the name and telephone number of an attorney to contact who has experience with your type of legal problem. The referral and the consultation time of the attorney are free. If additional services are needed beyond the initial consultation, you would be expected to pay the attorney his or her normal fees for services.
Legal Help, Right Away
Our Service
- We refer you to a licensed and insured attorney based on your specific legal need, not a paralegal or document preparer.
- Our attorneys will speak with you directly, typically within 24 to 48 hours after the referral.
- All attorneys on our service are in good standing with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility and the Knoxville Bar Association.
- Through our survey and review process, we monitor client satisfaction with the referral and consultation.
- LRIS attorneys average 20+ years of legal experience.
Our Staff
Sometimes you need a lawyer, sometimes you just need general information, and sometimes it is hard to know what you may need. When you call the Lawyer Referral & Information Service you will speak to a member of our trained and friendly staff who can provide you with personalized service. If your question does not require legal help, our staff may direct you to a government or social service agency.
Our Commitment
There are times in life when you need legal help. This is especially true in situations involving life events or changes. When it matters most, knowing where to go for legal help can make all the difference. Our service is the only non-profit lawyer referral service in our community, and we have been providing attorney referrals for over 60 years. We offer experience, integrity and a commitment to public service.
The Lawyer Referral & Information Service has attorneys in over 100 areas of law including:
Automobile Accident, Bankruptcy or Credit Problems, Buying or Selling a Home, Business Law, Consumer Protections, Contracts, Criminal Law, Elder Law, Family Law/Divorce or Child Custody, Foreclosure, Intellectual Property, Personal Injury, Property Matters, Social Security, Traffic Violations, Wills, Estate & Probate, Workers’ Compensation, Wrongful Termination. And many other legal concerns.
Lawline Online
A free public service of the Knoxville Bar Association
www.knoxbar.org/Lawline
Lawline Online is a free public service program of the Knoxville Bar Association designed to help members of the community understand the law by means of information in easy-to-understand language available on the Internet.
By going to the Knoxville Bar Association website at www.knoxbar.org/Lawline, you will find numerous sections describing legal issues by topic. These sections are meant to help the public understand common legal problems, recognize potential pitfalls and learn about how the justice system works. Information on where to go if further help will be needed is also provided. The sections are written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner using everyday language. Although it is not intended to replace the advice of an attorney or to provide specific legal advice, the service provides general information on over 70 topics.
Speakers Bureau
(865) 522-7501
www.knoxbar.org/speakers
The speakers from the Knoxville Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service won’t be outspoken. That is, they intend to be second to none when it comes to speaking out about the law. Attorneys experienced in a wide range of practice areas will speak to your group or organization without charge on the subject of your choice.
You may call the Lawyer Referral & Information Service at 522-7501 or submit your request at www.knoxbar.org/speakers. Four weeks’ advance notice will ensure our ability to provide you with an attorney who is experienced in your area of interest.
The Speakers Bureau is offered as a free public service of the KBA Lawyer Referral & Information Service. Presentations may be scheduled at local schools, colleges, community and civic clubs, church organizations and businesses for presentations to groups with 10 or more attendees.
Public Resources Available at www.knoxbar.org
Find guides on these topics at www.knoxbar.org:
- Domestic Violence Handbook
- Legal Resources Guide
- DIY Legal Forms
- Identity Theft
- When You Turn 18
- Intermediary Organizations
These handbooks are available at www.knoxbar.org/resources, have been prepared by members of the Knoxville Bar Association, and have been created to inform and provide general information—not to advise. If you have a specific legal problem, you should not try to apply or interpret the law without the aid of an attorney who knows the facts because the facts may change the application of law.
Want general information about a particular area of law? Need a lawyer? Considering hiring a mediator? Take the time to review all of the resources available on the Knoxville Bar Association website. In addition to this Legal Resources Guide, Lawline Online, and the handbooks outlined here, you will find an easy-to-use attorney referral form, a law firm and lawyer directory, a detailed list of mediator profiles, information about upcoming legal clinics, and much more.
Keep Up with Changing Laws
Follow the LRIS on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/KBALRIS, where we post links, events, and articles to help you keep informed of your legal rights.
Be Cautious When Using DIY Legal Forms
Don't use any form until you understand it. People sign contracts every day after giving them a halfhearted glance. But your signature on the bottom of a contract indicates that you understand and agree to what you have read. You wouldn't buy a car unless you knew it had all its parts, but people sign legal documents all the time without knowing their rights and whether the documents contain the necessary wording. It doesn't make sense.
Document preparation services and legal software programs are not able to give you legal advice regarding your particular situation, nor are they licensed to do so. A Tennessee attorney has received years of legal training and can give you advice which is tailored to your specific needs.
Legal Resource Guide
Finding Legal Assistance in Knoxville
A Public Service of the Knoxville Bar Association
The Knoxville Bar Association is pleased to provide the following directory of Legal Service providers in our community. Learn about government agencies, nonprofits, pro bono organizations and others who help to ensure that all citizens have equal access to justice.