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Margaret Held

also known as Margaret B. Held
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2020. Read more
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Avvo Rating6.7
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Licensed for 25 years
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About Margaret

Margaret Held has known she wanted to be a lawyer since she was 8 years old, hearing the stories of her grandfather’s practice in Knoxville. "When you decide to become a lawyer when you are a kid, it’s because you want to stick up for the little guy and take down the bully."

 

As a new attorney, that attitude landed Ms. Held a prestigious Equal Justice Fellowship, awarded by the National Association for Public Interest Law to honor lawyers who make unique contributions in public law. The Fellowship allowed Ms. Held to represent entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations to create and retain jobs in poor neighborhoods. "These folks could not afford corporate counsel," says Ms. Held. "It was great to be a new attorney, working up the legal documents to start a bank, suing the government over its use of economic incentives, and representing welfare moms to start businesses ranging from child-cares to ice cream parlors."

 

After the fellowship ended, Ms. Held continued her mission by founding Held Law Firm. "The Firm exists to support lawyers who have enough little kid in them to love the fight - who wake up each morning excited to take on the big boys, and who haven’t become cynical about ideals like justice and fair play."

Ms. Held represented India Tracy in her lawsuit against the Union County school system for religious discrimination. She represented Citizens for Police Review in its battle for increased accountability within KPD. She helped the Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network to fight for a living wage for Knoxville workers. She obtained a record-breaking settlement for a Department of Energy whistleblower who reported safety violations in Oak Ridge. She represented KnoxRecall in its drive for increased accountability from Knoxville city lawmakers, and Knox County over abuses within the juvenile detention facility. "I suppose that these sorts of lawsuits haven’t made me many friends in certain circles," laughs Ms. Held. "But they weren’t who I went to law school for anyway."

 

"But seriously," she continues, "As fun as those cases are, the issues that matter most to real people are much more personal. Law, for regular people, is about your kids, your job, your business, your neighborhood. That’s why we specialize in family law, employment law, and non-profit law." "My best hope is that we will take the mystery out of the legal process for my clients - that they will know how the legal system works, feel like they got sound advice and a good outcome, and know that, win or lose, we fought the good fight for them. Big cases are great, but there’s nothing more satisfying for me than to represent an honest, hard-working person well."

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Practice areas

Divorce and separationAlimonyChild custodyEstate planning
  1. Estate planning: 25%

    Post-divorce estate planning, wills, division of assets

    19 years

  2. Child custody: 25%

    Child custody, visitation, and child support.

  3. Alimony: 25%

  4. Divorce and separation: 25%

    Divorce, child custody, child support, legitimization, parental rights. Contested and agreed divorces.

    26 years

Photos and videos

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Contact

Held Law Firm

1522 Highland Avenue
Knoxville, TN, 37916

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    TNActive199605/15/2021

    Professional misconduct


    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority.

    • Censured
      issued in TN, 2020

      updated on 09/24/2020

      When an attorney is censured it means he or she did something wrong but may still practice law. Typically in this case the lawyer's poor behavior is exposed to the public in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers25
    Legal guides5
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    Patriotic EmployerEmployer Support of the Guard and Reserve2018
    Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2014
    Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2013
    Peer rated "excellent" for ethics and professionalismMartindale-Hubbell2012
    "Legal Eagle Award"Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network1999
    Annie Selwyn AwardKnoxville Women's Center1998
    Equal Justice AwardNational Association for Public Interest Law1996
    Dean's listUniversity of Tennessee college of law1995
    Public interest fellowTennessee bar foundation fellow1991
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    Managing PartnerHeld Law Firm1998 - Present
    AttorneyKnoxville Legal Aid Society1992 - 1998
    Law clerkGilreath and Associates1989 - 1990
    Law clerkMildred Cunningham, esq.1988 - 1990
    Legal secretaryRainwater, Humble and Vowell1988 - 1989
    Legal secretaryPoore, Cox, Baker, Ray and Byrne1986 - 1987
    File ClerkHunter, Smith and Davis1985 - 1986
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    Knoxville Bar AssociationMember1998 - Present
    National Employment Lawyers Association (Illinois chapter)Affiliate Member2001 - 2004
    National association for public interest lawFellow1995 - 1997
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Co-Authored with Mark Imperial & Leading Divorce ProfessionalsStress-Free Divorce Volume 04: Conversations With Leading Divorce Professionals2018
    Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law ReviewCreating Jobs in Low Income Neighborhoods1997
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    University of Tennessee College of LawJD - Juris Doctor1995
    University of Tennessee, KnoxvilTennesseeBA - Bachelor of Arts1990
    Furman UniversityN/AN/A
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    Family rights for same sex couplesFamily rights for same sex couples2012
    Continuing Legal Education SeminarFamily Law Rights for Gay and2012
    interview with local mediaFacebook and Divorce,2011
    Ut college of law orientationCareers in law2010
    (private speech)First Amendment and Public Education2003
    private speechHate Crimes and Police Brutality Claims1998
    stand-alone speechGovernment Accountability for Economic Development Incentives1997
    private speechThe Use of Public Benefits to Spur Economic Growth in Low Income1996
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    Holley v. HolleyWon
    Pruitt vs. city of ClintonSettled for full relief.
    Tracey v. Union county schoolsSettled for all requested relief
    Knox recall vs. AshePetition upheld
    Westbrook v. UT BattellesWon. Then settled for all relief requested.
    Hinds v. Titan wheel internationalWon. Jury verdict upheld on appeal to sixth circuit
    Gamaleldin v. KcdcSettled for all requested rekief

    Reviews

    (35)
    5 Star
    		97%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		0%
    1 Star
    		3%
    Review Margaret Held

    Held Law Firm - The Winning Team

    Posted by

    I hired Margaret Held to secure visitation with my grandchild because visitation was being denied. My specific circumstances were "unique" and somewhat difficult. However, she fought for me and I received everything I was asking for. Without Margaret Held I would not be able to spend time with my precious grandchild.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Help across state lines

    Posted by

    When we contacted Ms. Held and her firm we had already been turned down by several other firms. The firms that turned us away either stated the case was too complex for them to handle or that there was no reasonable legal route to our goal. Our goal was the removal of my two children from a household where they were being abused and neglected. We had no choice but to continue seeking an attorney who was willing to represent us. We, myself and my parents, are Georgia residents. My children were at the time residents of Tennessee. Ms. Held was undaunted. She took our case. She won. My children are safe as a result. I and my family sleep well at night because of the diligence shown by Held Law Firm. Ms. Held personally represented the interests of myself and my children. She showed herself to be tenacious, insightful, and thorough. And with the stakes as high as they were...nothing less than the excellence and professionalism shown by the staff at Held Law Firm would have been acceptable. I was completely satisfied with the result of the case.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Top Notch, the best in Knoxville

    Posted by

    She always seems to know exactly what direction your case should go on and takes all routes to get to the outcome you desire. Very knowledgeable and understanding and worked to get the best outcome for my child and our family. She has done so much for me and my child and I can never thank her enough for all the hard work and hours she has given us.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    First one who cared

    Posted by

    I've worked with more attorneys than I like to think about, but Margaret is the first one who seems to care about my outcome. She's quick to respond to any questions I have, and she's full of ideas about how to get me closer to what I want. If you're tired of attorneys who seem to keep billing without getting anything accomplished (or who go silent for weeks at a time), Margaret and her team at Held Law Firm are a breath of fresh air.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Stop looking. You found her.

    Posted by

    The day you got married, you never thought you'd need a divorce lawyer. But now you do. You want someone who's competent, professional, knows the law, has her feet on the ground, and a good head on her shoulders. You want someone who will represent your interests fairly, and who will respect your need to keep costs down. You want someone who will respond to your emails! You want Margaret Held. You want Margaret Held and her super-competent, super-professional, super-effective team. I hired Margaret and her team to represent me in what unfortunately turned out to be a "high conflict" divorce. I can't say it was fun. But I can say, I would hire Margaret again in a heartbeat. In a New York minute. You get the idea. When I talk to close friends, friends I love, and they ask me for advice, I refer them to Margaret, without hesitation, and without qualification. She's that good.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Highly recommended!

    Posted by

    Ms. Held and her staff helped me through my divorce and were amazingly supportive during this time when I was so stressed I could barely function. They were all professional and compassionate. I highly recommend Ms. Held; she is the best!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Simply The Best

    Posted by

    My wife and I hired the Held law firm for a highly contested child custody case. The Held law firm is staffed with only the best and they will fight for you in court. They cleaned up a mess made by our previous attorney, and got our case moving forward. Margaret has the experience and skills to get you the best results possible. Margaret has a way of taking charge of situations and not letting things just happen. She is a real fighter in the court room. My wife’s ex tried to block documents, lower child support, and delay the trial. We got the documents, child support got raised, the trial date didn’t change and Margaret actually got them to settle before the trial. Hire them, you won’t be disappointed.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Best Attorney and Law Firm Around

    Posted by

    We used Held Law Firm to handle a custody trial for us. They were amazing. We had tried others firms in the past but they were above and beyond any experience we had come across. The entire office works together as a team and they know the law. Margaret Held has employed only the best in her office so she won't even consider taking your case if she feels she cannot win it. The are more like family to me now than anything else. I would highly recommend them and if they cannot win your case, it can't be won.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Absolutely the BEST!

    Posted by

    There isn't a better group in Knoxville. Very efficient and so easy to work with. I can't say enough about how wonderful Held Law Firm truly is. They went above and beyond for my Mother during her (senseless and ugly) divorce. I wouldn't go anywhere else for something like this. Very highly recommended!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Best attorney in the Knoxville area

    Posted by

    Margaret Held is by far the best attorney in the Knoxville area! I had previously been represented by two attorneys, which resulted in over two years of delayed court hearings, numerous unsuccessful meditations, and costly legal fees. I felt hopeless and was doubtful if there would ever be justice in my case. Hiring Margaret Held was the best decision I had ever made, and I only wish I had hired her in the beginning. She fought for me when no one else would. I can honestly say it does matter the attorney you have. Throughout the case, she provided solid legal counsel, listened, supported and protected me. She is strong, aggressive, hardworking, honest and ethical. Margaret Held always quickly answered my emails, phone calls and genuinely cared about my case. She also made a conscious effort to keep the legal fees low and went above and beyond my expectations for looking out for the best interest of myself and my children. I am extremely grateful for the Held Law firm for giving me "my life back." It is the only Law Firm I will continue to recommend to my friends and family.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney
    See all reviews

    Attorney endorsements

    (23)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    Seth Oakes, Divorce and separation Attorney on Aug 10, 2018
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Margaret is an excellent attorney with a strong working knowledge of family law. I would highly recommend her to any prospective client needing competent guidance through the complex legal system.

    Nicholas Armes

    I absolutely endorse Margaret. I worked with Margaret on an out-of-state divorce, which makes any divorce very difficult no matter the issues. Margaret was very professional and goal oriented, but fully advocated for her client at the same time. Any person seeking a divorce would greatly benefit having Margaret on their side.

    Marjorie Bristol, Discrimination Attorney on Aug 16, 2017
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Margaret is a joy to work with. She fights zealously for her clients, but is practical and solution-oriented. This combination means that her clients are getting the best representation possible. I highly recommend her.

    Deanna Breeding, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jun 19, 2017
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Ms. Held is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the law and works hard to get positive results for her clients. She is a very innovative thinker when it comes to resolving issues. I would readily endorse Ms. Held.

    Amelia Crotwell, Child support Attorney on Jun 12, 2017
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    I recommend Margaret Held and her firm for providing great domestic relations representation. Margaret is a tireless advocate and a creative strategist. She cares about her clients and has high ethical standards. I highly recommend her.

    Edward Holt, Family Attorney on Jun 1, 2017
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    Margaret knows the law and works diligently on every case. I endorse this lawyer.

    Jackson Whetsel, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jan 17, 2017
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    I accepted a position with Held Law Firm because of the firm's reputation for zealous advocacy. Margaret has built both a strong personal practice as well as a successful firm though hard work and diligence. Her energy level is unbelievable. I'm glad to be associated with such a reputable firm.

    Daniel Goodge, Child custody Attorney on Jul 14, 2016
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    I recently worked with Margaret on a child custody case. In addition to having a strong knowledge of custody law in Tennessee, Margaret was a tenacious advocate for her client. However, Margaret also spent untold hours working with my office to find a workable solution for the Parties' case. I would highly recommend Margaret as an attorney or mediator for any divorce/custody case.

    Agnes Trujillo, Employment and labor Attorney on Jun 2, 2016
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    Margaret is an awesome colleague. She brings intelligence and insight to the table with a perspective that is unique in our field. It is rare to find a true advocate in a profession that can often get lost in the day to day legal business.

    Melanie Hogg, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jun 9, 2015
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Robert Gilligan, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 6, 2015
    Relationship: Other

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Vanessa Samano, Divorce and separation Attorney on Nov 15, 2014
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    I endorse this lawyer. She is always passionate behind her causes. Even as an adversary, I respect and enjoy working with the tough attorney.

    William Cremins, Divorce and separation Attorney on Apr 7, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Thomas Smith, Divorce and separation Attorney on Mar 25, 2014
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Margaret is passionate about her clients. She is very thorough and works very hard to protect her clients' interests.

    Mital Patel, Probate Attorney on Mar 5, 2014
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    I endorse this lawyer.

    R. Cole, Child custody Attorney on Nov 4, 2013
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    I fully endorse Margaret Held. She dots every i and crosses every t. She will ethically fight for her clients by building her client's case as thoroughly as possible. More importantly, in custody cases, she will consider the children she is fighting for and will not take positions on behalf of a client that would be harmful to a child.

    Karrah Leary, Child custody Attorney on Oct 28, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. The first time I met attorney Margaret Held, I was a recently-licensed attorney watching juvenile court proceedings and happened to observe a portion of one of her cases. Ms. Held's litigation skills were among the strongest I have ever seen. Her cross-examination was polished, organized, and effective. Ms. Held and her firm are well-respected in the Knoxville legal community, and deservedly so. She is an excellent advocate in family law and custody matters!

    Sarah Easter, Family Attorney on May 16, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. Margaret is always quick to respond and will always ensure the best result possible for her clients. Margaret is able to be easy to work with while at the same time aggressively advocating her her client's rights.

    Luke Shipley, Divorce and separation Attorney on Dec 27, 2012
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    Margaret loves what she does and is really good at it to boot. I've learned more form her than could fit in an endorsement box, but suffice it to say she's as good as they come.If someone is looking for ethics, skill, and honesty they don't need to look any farther.

    Jere Ownby, Child custody Attorney on Jul 10, 2011
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    I have litigated a child custody case with Margaret Held. I was impressed. She was prepared. She was competent. It was obvious to me that she had the Court's respect. Ms. Held was passionate about her client's intrests while maintaining a professional manner. People represented by Margaret Held are well-represented.

    Cost

    RATES
    • Hourly Rates$350-$350/hour
      OTHER BILLING TYPES
      • Retainer Some attorneys require an upfront payment to secure their services before they begin their work.
        Sometimes
      PAYMENT METHODS

      Cash, Check, Credit Card