Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee's largest non-profit law firm, announced today that two new attorneys have been added to the firm.

Michelle (Miki) Sisco is the newest attorney in the Family Law Section of the Nashville office of Legal Aid Society. She most recently served as a sole practitioner/access attorney of The Justice Bridge Legal Center in Boston, where she advocated for domestic violence survivors seeking abuse and harassment prevention orders and legal help with divorce proceedings.

"Miki's compassion and experience helping survivors of domestic violence will be an asset to our work," said DarKenya Waller, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society's Nashville office. "We are very excited to have her on our team."

Prior to her time at The Justice Bridge Legal Center, Sisco served as Legal Fellow of NuLawLab of Northeastern University School of Law where she connected low-income clients with legal services. She also spent several years advocating for low-income individuals, survivors of domestic violence and the LGBT community through volunteer and pro bono work.

Sisco graduated with honors from Bates College with a bachelor's degree in nthropology. She earned her master's degree in anthropology and women's and gender studies from Brandeis University and her J.D. from Northeastern School of Law.

William Dean Hinton joins the Gallatin office of Legal Aid Society as an attorney under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant--funding awarded to Legal Aid Society by the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs to assist with the firm's mission to help survivors of domestic violence. Hinton will provide legal counsel and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence including safety planning, representation for Orders of Protection and other urgent matters that have an immediate impact on the safety of survivors and their children.

Hinton has spent the last six years as a sole practitioner in Nashville, focusing his practice on family law, civil rights, consumer law, landlord-tenant and debt collection.

"The VOCA grant allows us to carry out our work in helping survivors of domestic violence, and it requires that the VOCA attorney adhere to very specific standards," said Allison Cooley, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society's Gallatin office. "With his vast legal background and experience with the courts, Dean is an excellent fit."

Hinton previously served as a paralegal specialist with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and he also served four years in the U.S. Air Force, where he achieved the highest rank of sergeant and received the Good Conduct Medal.

Hinton graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and philosophy from California State University, Northridge. He received his master's degree in English from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. While earning his J.D., Hinton was senior editor of the university's Law Review, and provided free legal assistance at housing and family law clinics.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands advocates for fairness and justice under the law. The non-profit law firm offers free civil legal representation and educational programs to help people in its region receive justice, protect their well-being and support opportunities to overcome poverty. It serves 48 counties from offices in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge and Tullahoma. Legal Aid Society is funded in part by United Way. Learn more at www.las.org, or by following the firm on Facebook.