Scenes from Celebrate Pro Bono Month 2009

Scenes from Celebrate Pro Bono Month 2009
At legal clinics, CLE programs, receptions, lunches and other events, attorneys worked to bring attention to the need for pro bono work and to celebrate the thousands of hours that Tennessee lawyers already contribute to bringing access to justice to all Tennesseans. Find out more about activities taking place across the state.

Bristol legal clinic and domestic violence education forum

Bristol attorney Carter Massengill assists a pair of clients during a Legal Clinic & Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness Forum sponsored by the TBA YLD and Legal Aid of East Tennessee.

A large number of attorneys turned out to help in the Bristol clinic and forum, including (back row, from left) Adam Moore, Matt King, Randy Fleming, Carter Massengill, Eric Miller and David Tipton and (front row, from left) Kaylin Render and Amy Hinkle.

Kingsport attorney Randy Fleming advises a client during the clinic.

Faith Petruna (left), a paralegal with Legal Aid of East Tennessee, and LEAT staff member Carla Forney prepare forms for use during the clinic and forum.

East Tennessee legal community joins in Celebrate Pro Bono events

A luncheon in Knoxville celebrated the 25th anniversary of the creation of IOLTA. Among those in attendance were (from left) former Tennessee Bar Foundation (TBF) Chair Bob Campbell, TBF Board Member Pamela Reeves, former TBF Chair Dalton Townsend, Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee and TBF Executive Director Barri Bernstein.

Also joining in the IOLTA celebration luncheon was Knoxville attorney Harry Ogden of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, who is the chair elect of the Tennessee Bar Foundation.

Knoxville attorney Amelia Crotwell meets with a client during a Celebrate Pro Bono legal clinic. She was one of 18 lawyers and 11 law students who served 24 clients in the Friday clinic.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee staff attorney Kendra Mansur leads a CLE program on Limited Representation of Consumers and Tenants during Celebrate Pro Bono activities Friday in Knoxville.

TBA Bar Center host to IOLTA Luncheon, CLE, legal clinic

TBA President Gail Vaughn Ashworth visits with Wilson Sims after the IOLTA luncheon. An early proponent of the IOLTA program, Sims outlined how it came to be during the program.

A crowd of about 100 people joined in the celebration of the 25th year of the IOLTA program at the Tennessee Bar Center in Nashville.

Former TBA Executive Director Gil Campbell talked to the gathering about the bar's early involvement in the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the IOLTA program.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Connie Clark (center) was one of several judges and officials in attendance. Also attending but not pictured were Justice William Koch, Tennessee Judicial Conference President Carol McCoy and former Justice Frank Drowota.

Tennessee Courts Access to Justice Director Becky Rhodes joins TBA General Counsel Bill Harbison at the luncheon.

Ward DeWitt and T. Edward Lawwell talk with Bill Harbison after the luncheon.

Nashville Pro Bono Director Lucinda Smith (from left) works with TBA staffers Therese Byrne and Pam Johnson in setting up the pro bono clinic at the Tennessee Bar Center.

Beverly Sharpe from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility joined TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur (center) and Tennessee Bar Foundation Chair Riney Green in a live/webcast CLE program on the new IOLTA rules.

Nashville attorney Jackie Dixon was one of a number of lawyers volunteering their Friday afternoon to work with clients.

One of the clients at the TBA-hosted legal clinic goes over paperwork before meeting with a volunteer attorney.

West Tennessee Legal Services produces CLE in Jackson

In Jackson, Russell Fowler talks to Sadia Staton after presenting a CLE program for attorneys interested in doing pro bono work.

About 70 people attended a pro bono CLE program produced by West Tennessee Legal Services in Jackson. The TBA YLD will also be producing a Wills for Heroes event on Oct. 31.

Breakfast honors Nashville pro bono stars

As part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month, the Nashville Bar Association's Pro Bono Program and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands hosted this breakfast (left) to honor "individuals whose efforts have helped blast pro bono into the 21st century." Those honored included Mary Beth Ausbrooks, Margaret Behm, Frank Grace, Chris Cronk, Justin Pitt, Lauren Roberts, Mike Sposato, Jan Jordan, David Taylor and Melissa Wibbens.

Chattanooga Celebrates IOLTA anniversary

In Chattanooga, Hamilton County and Chattanooga city officials joined bar leaders on Monday, Oct. 26, with an official proclamation celebrating Pro Bono efforts. Pictured from left are Chattanooga Bar Association Pro Bono Chair Sheri Fox, former TBA President Bob McMurray, Tennessee Bar Foundation Trustee Donna Pierce, TBA President-Elect Sam Elliott, Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, CBA Executive Director Lynda M. Hood, and former TBA President Charlie Gearhiser.

Memphis Celebrates IOLTA anniversary

In Memphis, a reception recognizing the 25th anniversary of the IOLTA program on Monday, Oct. 26, drew a crowd of Memphis lawyers and public officials, including Attorney General Bob Cooper, Chief Justice Janice Holder, Judge Bernice Donald, Judge Steven Stafford, Judge Kay Robilio and TBA Vice President Danny Van Horn. Judge Stafford spoke about the impact of the rule over the years, while Joel Porter, one of the original signers of the IOLTA order, was there and explained that he was part of a team of attorneys who traveled the state to discuss the IOLTA rule to build support for it.

Franklin legal clinic serves 78 first responders
As part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month, the TBA YLD hosted a Wills for Heroes clinic in Franklin on Saturday, Oct. 24, and 35 lawyers turned out to prepare free wills, powers of attorney and advance directives for area police, firefighters and emergency personnel. The clinic, held at Elks Lodge #72, served 78 first responders and their families.

Special thanks to event organizers David Veile, chair of the YLD Wills for Heroes Committee and attorney at Lowery, Lowery & Cherry PLLC in Lebanon, and Franklin lawyer Joy Day with Sutter, O'Connell & Farchione.

Wills for Heroes is a national pro bono program designed to give back to those who give so much to their communities. The YLD has made it one of its key service projects for the last two years. For more information about the program visit http://www.willsforheroes.org/. If you are interested in having an event in your area please contact Veile at dveile@lowerylaw.com.

Hendersonville lawyer Jim Healy (left) discusses end-of-life planning with a Franklin police officer.

From left to right: Nashville School of Law student Maria Lindsey serves as a witness while notary Erin Reid with Sutter, O'Connell & Farchione in Franklin prepares legal documents for Williamson County first responders.

Legal Aid attorney Rae Anne Seay (center) certifies that a first responder is of sound mind and voluntarily signing end-of-life planning documents.

From left to right: Nashville lawyers DarKenya Waller with Legal Aid and Kristal Boone with Boone Law PLLC join Lewisburg lawyer Lee Bowles for a break between clients.

Lebanon lawyer David Veile (left) with Lowery, Lowery & Cherry PLLC and Franklin lawyer Joy Day (right) with Sutter, O'Connell & Farchione organized the Franklin Wills for Heroes clinic, which served 78 first responders on Oct. 24.