The eligibility check
Four questions before you write
Answer them for yourself. If most are yes, send us the form below.
- 01
Step 1: Did it happen in or near Memphis?
We work with people in Memphis and Shelby County, and close by when the facts are tied here. If it happened elsewhere, we'll still try to point you to a clinic there.
- 02
Step 2: Was it a public office, officer or business?
Police, jails, schools and city or county offices, or a business open to the public. A dispute with a neighbor or a boss is a different kind of case.
- 03
Step 3: Is money tight?
We take cases for people on low or modest incomes. We ask about income; we don't ask for tax returns, and a hard month counts.
- 04
Step 4: Did it happen recently?
Some deadlines run out in months. If it's been longer, send it anyway and we'll tell you whether time is left.
Send us what happened
Tell us in your own words. A lawyer reads every request, and we reply with a yes, a no or a question.
When the answer is no
Will you tell me why?
Yes. Usually it's that the case is outside the four kinds we take, that the facts are thin, or that we're full.
Where do I go then?
We'll point you to a bar referral line, another clinic or an agency that fits. If time is short, we'll say so.
Can I ask again later?
Yes. New facts, or more of them, sometimes change the answer.