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
Student Loans and Your Credit Score: Your Complete Guide
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated May 16, 2023
Like all loans, student loans impact a borrower’s credit history, either positively or negatively. A borrower’s credit history then impacts a borrower’s credit score, as assigned by any of the major credit reporting bureaus. Credit scores affect a borrower’s ability to receive future credit with good interest rates and favorable terms generally. It is very important to have a positive credit score, whenever possible. This article explains how student debt and credit scores affect each other and what related information borrowers should consider when taking out student loans.
Read More →What You Need to Know About the Pay As You Earn Student Loan Repayment Plan
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated May 15, 2023
Want to learn how to make your federal student loan payments more affordable? You might be able to reduce your monthly payment based on your income. Going into an income-driven repayment plan is a big decision and there are many factors to consider. This article will explain one type of income-based repayment plan, help you determine if you’re eligible, and give you some tips for deciding if the plan is right for you.
Read More →Are There Any Advantages to a Voluntary Repossession?
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated April 12, 2022
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 Does The Repo Man Find Your Car?
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated August 25, 2021
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 →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.
