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. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 28, 2025
Repossession happens when a lender takes back a car because the borrower has fallen behind on payments. Repo agents use personal details, social media, and tools like GPS trackers and license plate scanners to find vehicles. They can legally repossess cars from public spaces but cannot enter locked or gated private property. After repossession, the lender typically sells the car, and you may still owe a deficiency balance if the sale doesn’t cover the remaining loan and fees.
Read More →Student Loans and Your Credit Score: What You Need To Know
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated April 23, 2025
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 →What You Need To Know About the Pay As You Earn Plan for Student Loans
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated January 30, 2025
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 →Are There Any Advantages to a Voluntary Repossession?
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 22, 2025
Voluntary repossession is when you return your car to the lender because you can no longer afford the payments. Sometimes voluntarily returning your car is better than waiting for the lender to repossess the car, as it may reduce repossession costs, give you more control over the process, and help you avoid the embarrassment of an unexpected repossession. However, it may still be reported as a negative mark on your credit report and hurt your credit score. Also, you may be responsible for any remaining balance on the loan after the car is sold.
Read More →Eviction Laws and Tenant Rights in Illinois
Written by Attorney Thomas J. Pearson.
Updated May 8, 2025
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 May 6, 2025
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.
