JUNE 2007

CONVENTION CELEBRATES 125 YEARS OF SERVICE
The TBA Annual Convention, titled "Be a Part of History," was held in Nashville on June 13-16. TBA members from around the state joined together with the Judicial Conference, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and the Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women to recognize accomplishments of the previous year and welcome new leadership. At the Lawyer's Lunch on Friday, June 15, Marcy Eason of Miller & Martin PLLC in Chattanooga assumed the presidency of the TBA, while Knoxville attorney Jason Long of London & Amburn PC assumed the presidency of the YLD. As part of the convention programming, the YLD offered a one-hour CLE on providing pro bono legal services in the wake of a natural disaster. If you missed the session, you can download the materials at http://www.tba.org/YLD under the heading "YLD releases disaster legal assistance manual."

ELECTION RESULTS
Also in conjunction with the convention, the YLD held its annual meeting and elections. This year, three positions on the board were contested. Candidates for the positions of secretary, treasurer and District 11 Representative addressed the group and shared why they were interested in serving on the board. Following the presentations, the members present voted by secret ballot. The following individuals were elected: Effie V. Bean of Memphis, secretary; Sarah Henry of Nashville, treasurer; and Patrick M. Carter of Columbia, District 11 Representative.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE RECOGNIZED
On the last day of the convention, YLD Immediate Past President Lisa Richter presented the 2007 Young Lawyers Division President's Award to Cynthia Cutler of Baker, Donaldson, Bearman & Caldwell PC in Nashville for her extraordinary work as chair of the CLE Committee. The award recognizes those who exhibit tireless dedication to the improvement of the legal profession and to the TBA YLD. Richter also presented special recognition awards to Katrina Atchley of Sevierville for her excellent work as district representative and David McDowell of Chattanooga for his work revitalizing the YLD's programs and presence in Chattanooga.

In addition, Richter named "star" board members for the year's third and fourth quarters. They are:

Third Quarter
Adam Knight, Mock Trial Committee Chair
Colleen Sweeney, Mock Trial Committee Vice Chair
Robb Bigelow, Mock Trial Committee
Candi Henry, Mock Trial Committee
David L. Johnson, Mock Trial Committee
Jordan S. Keller, Mock Trial Committee
David G. Thompson, Mock Trial Committee
Rachel Moses, produced Cookeville Trial Practice CLE

Fourth Quarter
Marissa Combs, co-authored YLD's first online CLE
Kimberly Pride, co-authored YLD's first online CLE
Stephen Ross Johnson, co-authored YLD's first online CLE
Jenny Rogers, Public Service Committee Chair
Mason Wilson, Public Service Committee Vice Chair

Congratulations to all and thank you for your hard work this past year!

NEW YLD FELLOWS INDUCTED
The Fellows of the Young Lawyers Division held their annual meeting on June 15 and inducted three new members: Joe "Jay" Johnson of Springfield, Jordan S. Keller of Nashville and Andrew V. Sellers of Jackson. Johnson has served the YLD for many years as chair of the Disaster Relief Committee and local mock trial coordinator. Keller served as chair of the 2006 state mock trial competition and authored the case used that year. Sellers has held a variety of positions within the division including district representative, West Tennessee governor, editor of this newsletter and young lawyer delegate to the TBA House of Delegates. The Fellows organization was established in 1991 to contribute to the objectives of the Young Lawyers Division and stimulate the interest of young lawyers in the activities of the TBA. In plain English, it's where "old" young lawyers go when they no longer qualify as YLD members!

NEW LEADERSHIP TAKES OFFICE
The new leadership of the YLD took office this month and will officially kick off the 2007-2008 bar year on July 1. Officers are: President Jason Long of Knoxville, President-elect Michelle Sellers of Jackson, Vice President David Changas of Nashville, Secretary Effie Bean of Memphis and Treasurer Sarah Henry of Nashville. Other executive committee members include East Tennessee Governor Tasha Blakney of Knoxville, Middle Tennessee Governor Jason Pannu of Nashville and West Tennessee Governor Chad Dickson of Memphis.

In addition to these elected positions, Long has appointed committee chairs for the upcoming year:

Annual Meeting -- Cynthia Cutler of Nashville
Children's Issues -- Wes Bryant of Columbia
Continuing Legal Education - Candice Reed of Brentwood
Communications -- Hillary Jones of Knoxville
Disaster Relief -- Ray Runyon of Clarksville
Law School Outreach -- David Bates of Columbia
Membership -- Lee Bowles of Lewisburg
Mock Trial -- Colleen Sweeney of Nashville
Long Range Planning -- David Changas of Nashville
Long Range Mock Trial -- Adam Knight of Nashville
Public Service -- Jenny Rogers of Knoxville
Voter Awareness -- Tara Aaron of Nashville
BOARD TO MEET IN CHATTANOOGA;
INVITES YOUNG LAWYERS TO LOOKOUTS GAME
The 2007-2008 YLD Board will meet in Chattanooga Aug. 3-5 for its annual summer planning meeting. During the meeting, the board will set in place plans for CLEs, membership events and public service projects for the upcoming year. Stay tuned for a report on this important meeting.

If you are in Chattanooga on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 4, please join the YLD leadership for a picnic dinner and baseball game at the Lookouts stadium. Dinner starts at 6:15 p.m. followed by the game at 7:15 p.m. Come join us as the Chattanooga Lookouts take on the Jacksonville Suns. Cost is $16 per person. Please RSVP to Stacey Shrader at (615) 383-7421 or sshrader@tnbar.org
CLE FOR YOUNG LAWYERS
The final session of the Skills Enhancement CLE Series -- Drafting Concrete Contracts & Writing Better Briefs -- will be held Wednesday, July 11 from 3-5 p.m. (local time) in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville. The seminar will cover the secrets of successful contract drafting, educating participants on how to accurately communicate intent and avoid ambiguity and vagueness. The session also will discuss how to present, organize and draft a brief to achieve desired results for clients. An onsite happy hour will follow the CLE in each city. Learn more or register at https://www.tnbaru.com/CLE/catalog_by_date.php

Chattanooga
Sticky Fingers, 420 Broad Street, 423-265-7427
Speaker: Bob Lockaby, Gearhiser, Peters, Lockaby, Cavett & Elliott PLLC

Knoxville
Downtown Grill & Brewery, 424 South Gay Street, 865-633-8111
Speaker: George Kuney, UT College of Law

Memphis
Boscos, 2120 Madison Avenue, 901-432-2222
Speaker: Frank Cantrell, Memphis Area Legal Services

Nashville
BB Kings, 152 2nd Avenue North, 615-256-2727
Speakers: Rick Sanders & Mark Plotkin, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP

© Copyright 2007 Tennessee Bar Association
 Vol. 6, No. 1
IN THIS ISSUE
• TBA Convention Report
• Election Results
• Award Winners
• YLD Fellows Inducted
• New YLD Leadership
• Lookouts Game Outing
• CLE for Young Lawyers

FROM THE EDITOR

E-DICT is back for the new bar year with a new look! We trust you will enjoy this format and find it easier to navigate through the newsletter. Thank you for reading and getting involved. We are here to serve you. If you have news to share with division members or want to publicize a local event, please send details to hjones@latlaw.com. Don't be a stranger; we want to hear from you!

Hillary Jones
Knoxville, Tennessee

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