The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order permitting out-of-state attorneys to provide free legal services to residents affected by severe flooding in East Tennessee. This decision follows a joint request from the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) and Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET). They sought the activation of Rule 47, initially enacted after Hurricane Katrina, to aid those impacted by natural disasters.
Under this rule, lawyers authorized to practice in other U.S. jurisdictions can offer free legal assistance to residents in the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Judicial Districts without needing pro hac vice admission or paying any fees. TALS and LAET will oversee these legal services, and the court will issue a separate order to determine when emergency conditions have ended.
Lawyers providing temporary services must complete an application form and submit it within thirty days of starting their services. The form is available at the Appellate Court Clerk's office in Nashville.
This activation of Rule 47 comes after a previous court order on October 4, 2024, which extended certain filing deadlines due to disaster conditions in the same judicial districts. The Governor of Tennessee declared a major disaster and state of emergency on September 27, 2024, following severe weather events that began on September 26.