Thomas “TJ” Pearson is a Staff Attorney at the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council (EHOC). He represents tenants in eviction cases and related landlord-tenant disputes. TJ is from Belleville, Illinois and currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his law degree from Washington University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Grinnell College in Iowa. TJ started his time at EHOC as an intern through the law school’s Civil Rights, Community Justice and Mediation Clinic, then continued at EHOC as an Eviction Prevention Legal Fellow for five months before becoming a Staff Attorney in January 2021. In law school, he was a Staff Editor for the Journal of Law and Policy. He also interned for a Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the Illinois Attorney General, and a local law firm.
Articles written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson
How Does The Repo Man Find Your Car?
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated April 5, 2024
Vehicle repossession occurs when a lender takes a car back from a borrower when the borrower falls behind on loan payments. If you are concerned that your car may be targeted for repossession, there are things you can do to lower your risk of missing payments. Read more to learn what a repo man can and can't do, what happens after repossession, and what steps you can take to avoid repossession in the first place.
Read More →What You Need To Know About the Pay As You Earn Plan for Student Loans
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated November 1, 2023
You might be able to reduce your monthly federal student loan payment with the Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan. This is one of four income-driven repayment plans that bases your monthly payment amount on your income and family size. Only certain federal Direct Loans are eligible for the PAYE plan, but certain FFEL loans are eligible if consolidated.
Read More →Student Loans and Your Credit Score: What You Need To Know
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated August 23, 2023
Payments on your student loans will be recorded in your credit history and ultimately impact your credit score. Making payments on time will boost your credit score, and missing payments or defaulting on your loans will hurt your credit score. Paying your student loans is a great way for recent grads to start to learn about and build their credit. Maintaining a good credit score will help you get good interest rates on credit cards, mortgages, and car loans.
Read More →Are There Any Advantages to a Voluntary Repossession?
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated July 12, 2023
Voluntary repossession is when you give your car back to the car dealership instead of waiting for the lender or collection agency to repossess it. It can be a decent option if you’re having trouble with monthly payments on your car, if you're only able to make late payments, or if you’re going into bankruptcy. Deciding if it’s the right move depends on your personal situation and goals. This article will explain voluntary repossession, how it can affect your credit history, and how bankruptcy may or may not help with repossession issues.
Read More →How To Get Help With Your Foreclosure
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated June 5, 2021
If you're experiencing financial hardship, keeping up with mortgage payments can quickly become difficult or even impossible. Foreclosure is a stressful situation, but there are many free resources available for homeowners facing foreclosure. This article discusses some of those resources and things to think about when you’re looking for help with a foreclosure.
Read More →Eviction Laws and Tenant Rights in Illinois
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated January 12, 2022
Landlords in Illinois can’t just change the locks, toss your belongings out on the front yard, or shut down essential utilities. A landlord must follow the eviction process in order to have a tenant evicted for any reason. Here's an overview of what this means for tenants in Illinois.
Eviction Laws and Tenant Rights in Missouri
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated January 12, 2022
Landlords in Missouri can’t just change the locks, toss your belongings out on the front yard, or shut down essential utilities. A landlord must follow the eviction process in order to have a tenant evicted for any reason. Here's an overview of what this means for tenants in Missouri.
