Could you use a one-on-one consultation with an attorney to have your arts-related legal questions answered? The Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) pro bono legal clinics are focused specifically on the needs of Nashville’s creative community.

This clinic provides pro bono legal services to income-qualified artists, emerging arts nonprofit organizations, and creative businesses in Tennessee, including:
  • Drafting and reviewing contracts
  • Protecting your work with copyright and trademark
  • Resolving arts-related disputes
  • Forming nonprofit & business entities

Register for your 30-minute, in-person, private session to receive expert legal advice on the issues surrounding your creative practice. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to confirm the details of your appointment. Please respond in a timely manner to ensure that your appointment is confirmed. If you do not respond, your appointment may be canceled. Questions? Email us at vlpa@abcnashville.org. Pro Bono Legal Clinics for Artists, Musicians & Creatives are presented by the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA), a program of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville. Learn more about legal and professional services offered by VLPA at abcnashville.org/vlpa.

Eligibility requirements* for clients to access the VLPA Pro Bono Legal Clinic:
  • Issues must be arts-related;
  • Clients must be current residents of Tennessee;
  • To access pro bono services, artists and arts organizations must be income qualified.

For residents of the Greater Nashville area (Greater Nashville Counties are: Cannon County, TN; Cheatham County, TN; Davidson County, TN; Dickson County, TN; Robertson County, TN; Rutherford County, TN; Sumner County, TN; Trousdale County, TN; Williamson County, TN; and Wilson County, TN), the adjusted gross household income threshold as of January 1, 2024, is $45,425. For Tennessee residents residing outside of the Greater Nashville area, the adjusted gross household income threshold is $37,000. Clients with incomes above the threshold may still be eligible for paid referrals at full or reduced rates. Qualified arts nonprofit organizations will have an annual budget of less than $1M.

Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) is made possible in part by:

Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts is also being supported in part by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of Treasury.