Phillip Carrigan joined the Public Defender’s Office in 2003. He currently coordinates the Communication Through Arts, Education Through Experience, Reading Workshop, and Recreation programs for the CLO. Mr. Carrigan received a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 1993. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Political Science from UT in 1990. He has worked directly with at-risk youth since 1990 and has assisted youth and families involved with the Knox County Juvenile Court for over 12 years. Mr. Carrigan was named Social Worker of the Year by the East Tennessee Association for Child Care in 1997. He is active with a number of initiatives seeking to improve services to at-risk youth and serves on the advisory boards for the Heart of Knoxville Career Resource Center, the Knoxville Youth Transition Council, and Pacesetters inner city Christian outreach ministry. Mr. Carrigan is also working with representatives from the University, the CLO, and the community to develop a forensic social work certification program.

Laura Chambers joined the Public Defender's Office as Special Project Coordinator in September 1998. Prior to joining the Public Defender’s staff, Laura was Chief Deputy Clerk for the Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerk's Offices for 18 years. She is a certified Public Administrator and attended the University of Tennessee undergraduate program and UT Law School Paralegal Program in 1982-83. She has served as Co-Chair for Blount County Dogwood Arts Patron Program, and has volunteered at a local inner city school as part of a reading program for Knoxville Promise. She participated in the Public Defender "Partners in Law" program with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Roger M. Nooe, Ph.D., LCSW,began working with the Public Defender’s Office in 2000 as a Forensic Social Worker. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, having taught at the university for 30 years. Dr. Nooe received his Ph.D. from Tulane University. In addition to his teaching, he is an experienced mental health practitioner and has conducted extensive research on homelessness. Dr. Nooe is currently directing implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for the Mayors of Knoxville and Knox County.

Chris Smith joined the Public Defender’s Office in July 2006 as a Forensic Social Worker after completing his master’s education at the University of Tennessee’s College of Social Work. During his MSSW program, Chris completed his second year internship at the Public Defender’s Office. Prior to his work at the University of Tennessee, Chris spent 10 years working for and with inner city youth - most recently as a Facility Director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. Chris is currently a CMSW working toward licensure as an LCSW.

Sarah Moss holds a BA in history from Carleton College and a MSSW from the UT College of Social Work. Between undergraduate and graduate schools, she worked in an alternative school in adult literacy, and for several years in child abuse prevention as a home visitor for first-time parents. As a forensic social worker for the Community Law Office, she focuses on helping the chronically homeless, mentally ill, and drug-addicted. She assists staff attorneys in forming alternative sentencing plans and coordinating services for clients to slow the cycle of incarceration. Sarah is a Certified Master Social Worker currently working toward becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She belongs to the National Association of Forensic Social Workers, the East Tennessee Coalition to End Homelessness, the Symposium for the Advancement of Family Therapy, and the Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society.