Social, Political, and Economic Inequality

Legal Representation in Eviction Court: The Effects of Legal Access on Tenant Outcomes and Experiences

Awarded External Scholars

Stephanie Pierce

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Solange Muñoz

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Wendy Bach

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Project Date:

November 2024

Award Amount:

$74,800

Summary

Concerns about tenants’ lack of access to legal representation in eviction court has led some cities to adopt right-to-counsel policies. Yet, little research has evaluated how they affect outcomes for tenants. Public policy scholar Stephanie Pierce, geographer Solange Muñoz, and legal scholar Wendy Bach will investigate how legal representation impacts eviction case outcomes for tenants. They will evaluate the Knox County Eviction Defense Program in Tennessee for their study.

Research Priority

Social, Political and Economic Inequality