Uncategorized – Legal Services Alabama

Rural Summer Corps Fellowship Spotlight: PUBLIC SERVICE IS FOUNDATIONAL

Legal Services Alabama — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:10:18 +0000

by: J. Jackson, Communications Manager

As a Cincinnati native Erin Tedtman grew up in an urban setting. Similarly insular to other major cities, the two worlds of “urban” and “rural” rarely meet. Ready access to things like business districts and public transport add to the allure of inner-city living over the suburbs. But surrounding the city, surrounding the suburbs, is the rural expanse small towns call home.

Mysterious to some, romanticized by others, rural living is widely misunderstood.

Unfamiliar with these cultural intricacies, Erin embarked on a journey to deepen her commitment to access to justice by deepening her relationship with the spaces that felt most foreign. Disenchanted by her fellow law students’ desire to immediately plant roots in major metropolises upon graduation, Erin decided on a path of discovery.

“When I learned about the Rural Summer Corps Fellowship I thought it was an interesting space for me. I would learn about another place—a place I probably wouldn’t have ended up otherwise. I applied for a position in the South because it is a place that is often overlooked,” she said.

“I had time to explore and felt I should take advantage of it.”

Through the Equal Justice Works Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC), Erin found her route to exploration, and it led to Alabama.

Equal Justice Works partners with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to “support dedicated law students who want to serve rural communities” through the RSLC program.

Aware of the deep-rooted historical legacy associated with Selma, Erin was drawn to the Black Belt region.

“The root of LSA’s mission, I think, is seen in Selma. This is where we need to be if we really want to fill the justice gap,” she said.

She began to understand lawyering in rural areas as a microcosm of the urban-centered priorities shared by her law school classmates.

“They all want to move to the coasts. If they wanted to go to Alabama I’m sure they would pick a place like Birmingham. They don’t want to go to more rural areas.”

Erin’s challenge to herself turned to facing the legal challenges of working in a law office in a town like Selma. Quickly, she began to meet with the clients where she was able to build a first-person relationship with both residents and the long-term effects of systemic poverty.

“I met 80-year-olds coming in to file bankruptcy. It’s like it just never ends. Truly $200 can change the trajectory of what happens next in their lives,” Erin recounted.

While the vast majority of LSA clients make too little to even qualify for a wage garnishment, consumer issues make up around 15% of LSA’s annual case load. In 2025, over 85% of LSA consumer cases involved bankruptcy or garnishments.

These dire disparities pushed Erin to fully immerse herself in the world of rural legal aid where she began developing courtroom skills while shadowing LSA attorneys.

Surprised by the lackadaisical attitude of debt collection agencies, Erin found that predatory lenders rely on scared and confused clients to pay rather than seek legal counsel. She discovered that frequently the agency wouldn’t even send their own attorney, but rather 3^rd party representation would arrive in court. Unfamiliar with the details of the cases, these lawyers were ill-prepared as legal representatives.

What struck Erin most were the lengths to which a company, like a debt collection agency, would go to extract $200 from a person living with so little.

Selma is housed in a region known as the Black Belt. Named for its rich soil deposits, it is one of the most impoverished areas of the state. It isn’t uncommon for clients to present with debt, with benefits issues, or with a housing crisis.

Homelessness prevention and criminal record expungements were other core service areas that inspired Erin. Knowing that organizations like LSA cannot eradicate the myriad issues that contribute to poverty, Erin was thankful to be part of the fight to close the access to justice gap.

“Just having a brick-and-mortar spot for people to go—I think it is really important. And at least they have the chance to feel heard in this one moment with you. They may not feel that way in any other circumstance, but we can hopefully make them feel supported,” she said.

“It’s a collaborative experience working with clients in any issue area. I didn’t do it on my own—we did it together. It’s our success, not just mine.”

Erin’s time with LSA taught her far more than the ins and outs of civil procedure.

“The first year of law school is famously the worst because it’s all doctrinal and it’s just not fun. And so, coming here, I felt, ‘Okay, this is why I’m in law school,’” she said.

“It’s not because I want to go sit in a classroom for five hours and talk about the law. But to work with people and to see how I can use it to help someone. I think that was very energizing for me.”

Erin’s time with LSA is not the end of her public service training. Her goal now is to maintain similar training opportunities for her remaining semesters of law school. She encourages others to follow her lead.

“These practical experiences, I think that is where you learn the most. It’s the most valuable training. And doing this kind of boots-on-the-groundwork should ground you in the role of a lawyer,” she said.

“Direct client services and public interest work are foundational.”

LSC President Joins LSA Board of Directors to Address Budget Cuts & Service Preservation

Legal Services Alabama — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:16:56 +0000

In anticipation of federal funding cuts to legal aid across the U.S., LSC President, Ron Flagg, joined the Legal Services Alabama Board of Directors to strategize for the continued existence of legal aid in Alabama.

Legal Services Alabama (LSA) was honored to welcome Ron Flagg, President of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), to its June Board of Directors meeting. Flagg met with LSA leadership to discuss the impact of anticipated federal funding cuts to the LSC budget and strategies to preserve access to vital civil legal services for hard-working individuals and families across Alabama.

As the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, LSC plays a critical role in supporting LSA’s mission to ensure equal access to justice for all Alabamians, regardless of income. Potential reductions to the LSC budget pose significant challenges to LSA’s ability to continue providing services in areas such as housing, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law and veterans’ support.

According to LSA Executive Director, Guy Lescault, “LSA is fortunate to have the commitment of LSC to help ensure that Alabamians continue to have access to justice.”

President Flagg spoke with LSA board members and leaders about the need for innovative solutions to meet the growing need for civil legal assistance in underserved communities should LSA lose LSC funding.

LSA is 73 percent reliant on LSC funds to maintain daily operations. While grants supplement funding for specific service areas, these awards are not robust enough to replace the funding provided by LSC.

48 states in the U.S. allocate state funding to civil legal aid—Alabama does not. This leaves LSA especially vulnerable in the face of budget cuts.

Cuts to LSC funding will result in staff layoffs and substantial budget cutbacks at Legal Services Alabama, further shrinking an already limited staff capacity. If the current administration chooses to fully defund LSC it will result in the defunding of LSA, creating heightened barriers to access to justice experienced by our residents with limited means.

The Advocate: VII Issue I

Legal Services Alabama — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 21:34:19 +0000

The Fall issue of LSA’s legal journal, The Advocate, is available to read online!

Check out this issue to #CelebrateProBono with ASB President Gibson Vance, learn about LSA’s partnership with the Bradley firm to support Black owned businesses and nonprofits, how LSA is advancing pro bono initiatives with technology, and updates on grant funding to support rural victims of domestic violence.

LSA Announces New 2021 Board Members

Legal Services Alabama — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 20:41:07 +0000

LSA is excited to kick off the new year with the announcement of two new additions to our board of directors.

Jerry Edward Carter, Sr.

Tuscaloosa native Jerry Edward Carter, Sr. is, “extremely grateful and proud to be selected to serve as a board member for Legal Services of Alabama.” Carter is a former Aircraft Mechanic and Medical Administrative Specialist with six years experience serving in the US Air Force. He has also worked at Bryce Hospital and Partlow State School, before beginning a 20 year career as a professional truck driver.

Now retired, Carter remains committed to volunteer work in his community that has included work with team sports and mentoring youth.

Carter is the current President of the Tuscaloosa County Chapter of the NAACP, as well as being a life member of the NAACP. He also serves on the Mayor of Tuscaloosa’s committee for Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization.

Carter expresses thanks for being chosen to join our board and is dedicated to helping the organization grow saying, “During new member orientation I learned that Alabama was one of two states in the country that dosen’t fund Legal Services of Alabama. I find this disturbing under normal circumstances, let alone during a pandemic. I plan to work as hard as I can to get Alabama removed from that list.”

Tyree Scott

Tyree Scott earned an AAS degree in Business Administration from Southern Junior College of Business, with further studies at Alabama State University.

Scott is currently employed with Birmingham AIDS Outreach and works in client services.

He is an ordained Deacon at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, where he also serves as a member of the drama ministry and both the mass and male choruses.

Scott is hopeful that his participation with the LSA board will help him gain further insight into the legal system and the ways we are able to collectively better the lives of low-income people in Alabama.

“My being on the board is not something I take for granted,” says Scott. “I hope to learn more of a way to reach out to others and share the right information to those who are less fortunate. I hope that I can really bring something to the table as well as gain more insight to the legal system.”

Legal Services Alabama Annual Report 2018

Legal Services Alabama — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 15:41:27 +0000

Thank you to our grantors, partners, and volunteers who have joined us in our efforts to provide equal access to justice statewide.

LSA’s 2018 Annual Report is now available to view!