Stay current with legal news in Tennessee. This page features the latest news for and about the Tennessee legal community, either produced by the Tennessee Bar Association or collected from news sources.
Migrant workers' advocate to be honored at luncheon ceremony
NASHVILLE, Jan. 15, 2010 — Nashville lawyer Douglas L. Stevick will be honored as the state's top public service attorney by the Tennessee Bar Association at its annual public service luncheon this Saturday. Held each year as part of the association's Leadership Conference, the luncheon features award winners in several categories and a keynote address by former ABA President Robert Grey.
Award to be presented to Michael Abelow at luncheon ceremony
NASHVILLE, Jan. 15, 2010 — Nashville attorney Michael G. Abelow with Sherrard & Roe will be honored with the state's top award for pro bono work at the Tennessee Bar Association's annual public service luncheon this Saturday. Held each year as part of the association's Leadership Conference, the luncheon features award winners in several categories and a keynote address by former ABA President Robert Grey.
Initiative asks legislators to show support for youth courts during special session
NASHVILLE, Jan. 12, 2010 — As the Tennessee General Assembly gathers this week for a special session on education reform, the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is offering legislators an opportunity to have a little fun and raise money for an important youth program in the state.
Two initiatives in 2009 provided needed legal services for Tennessee's poor
NASHVILLE, Dec. 10, 2009. Two Tennessee Bar Association community service programs have been nominated for the American Society of Association Executive's "Associations Advance America Awards." The programs - Justice 4 All and Tennessee Celebrates Pro Bono - were major initiatives undertaken during the year to enhance volunteer legal services by lawyers across the state.
Tennessee lawyers to offer free legal services at events throughout October
NASHVILLE, Sept. 30, 2009. Tennessee attorneys will offer free legal services to those unable to afford a lawyer at events throughout the month of October. The effort is part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month. Activities will include legal clinics, training for attorneys who handle pro bono work, and events celebrating milestones in Tennessee’s legal aid history. More than 30 events will take place across the state.
TBA President Gail Vaughn Ashworth has appointed a task force to study Tennessee's judicial ethics rules and consider whether revisions are needed. The Task Force on Judicial Conduct Rules will be chaired by Chattanooga lawyer T. Maxfield Bahner. Other members are reporter Sarah Y. Sheppeard, Albert C. Harvey, Buck Lewis, Barbara Mendel Mayden, Lucian Pera, and judges Jerri S. Bryant, Angelita Dalton, Thomas R. Frierson II, Alan E. Glenn, Walter C. Kurtz, Joe G. Riley and Thomas G. Stovall. TBA staff members are Allan Ramsaur and Jenny Jones.
Will focus on access to justice, civics education, diversity, green initiatives
NASHVILLE, June 29, 2009 — Nashville lawyer Gail Vaughn Ashworth recently took office as the Tennessee Bar Association’s 127th president, pledging to continue helping those in need obtain access to justice and working to improve diversity in the profession. Ashworth, a Vanderbilt University Law School graduate and founding partner of Gideon & Wiseman PLLC in Nashville, received the oath of office from Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice Holder on June 19 during the TBA’s annual convention in Memphis.
NASHVILLE, June 26, 2009 — Memphis lawyer Danny Van Horn took office as the Tennessee Bar Association’s vice president last Friday at the association’s annual convention in Memphis. He will take office as president-elect next year and then as president in 2011. Van Horn is the youngest member of the TBA ever to become president, and he brings a great deal of enthusiasm and new ideas to his term in leadership.
Volunteers recognized for service to the public and the legal profession
NASHVILLE, June 26, 2009 — A number of Nashville lawyers recently were honored for their service to the legal profession and the community at the Tennessee Bar Association’s annual meeting in Memphis.
Elliott to take office in June 2010, focus on civics education
NASHVILLE, June 26, 2009 — Chattanooga attorney Sam Elliott took office as president-elect of the Tennessee Bar Association last Friday at the association’s annual convention in Memphis. The move puts him in line to assume the presidency in June 2010. Elliott is a member in the Chattanooga firm of Gearhiser, Peters, Lockaby, Cavett & Elliott, where he practices in the field of civil litigation. His experience includes handling cases involving products liability, personal injury, employment discrimination and eminent domain.
2009 contest celebrates President Lincoln's 200th birth
NASHVILLE, May 8, 2009 — Knoxville fourth-grader Chihye Kim of Cedar Bluff Elementary has won first place in a Law Day art contest sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association, while Nathan House, a senior at Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet in Nashville, won first place the TBA’s essay contest.
Tennessee lawyers turn out in force to serve needy clients
NASHVILLE, April 4, 2009 — More than 1,300 Tennesseans received free legal advice on issues ranging from foreclosure and unemployment to custody and child support as part of “Pro Bono Public Service Day,” a statewide campaign sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association that featured more than 47 projects and involved close to 600 lawyers, who in one day provided nearly $600,000 worth of free legal service.
Free legal services to be offered across state on April 4
NASHVILLE, March 26, 2009 — On April 4, Tennessee attorneys across the state will participate in more than 45 events offering free legal services to those unable to afford a lawyer. This public service day is an historic collaboration among bar associations and legal organizations, legal aid groups, Tennessee’s law schools and law students, and members of the judiciary. It is being organized by the Tennessee Bar Association as part of its 4 ALL campaign.
Award presented to Daniel Ellis at capitol ceremony
NASHVILLE, Jan. 17, 2009 — University of Tennessee College of Law StudentDaniel Ellis of Knoxville today received the Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award from the Tennessee Bar Association at its annual public service luncheon. Held each year as part of the association’s Leadership Conference, the luncheon took place at the state capitol and featured award winners in several categories as well as a keynote address by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice Holder.
Award presented to Charles Grant at capitol ceremony
NASHVILLE, Jan. 17, 2009 — Nashville attorney Charles K. Grant, a shareholder with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was honored today with the state’s top award for pro bono work at the Tennessee Bar Association’s annual public service luncheon. Held each year as part of the association’s Leadership Conference, the luncheon at the state capitol featured award winners in several categories and a keynote address by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice Holder.
Award presented to family of Ross Alderman at capitol ceremony
NASHVILLE, Jan. 17, 2009 — Ross Alderman was honored as the state’s top public service attorney by the Tennessee Bar Association at its annual public service luncheon today at the state capitol. Held each year as part of the association’s Leadership Conference, the luncheon featured award winners in several categories as well as a keynote address by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice Holder.
Supreme Court seeks comments on proposal to raise legal aid funds
NASHVILLE, Dec. 19, 2008 — Needy Tennessee clients who are unable to afford lawyers to address their civil legal problems could receive new assistance under a proposal made by the Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Foundation, Tennessee Association for Justice and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. The state Supreme Court yesterday released the proposal for public comment.
Proposal is part of association's “4 ALL” access to justice campaign
NASHVILLE, Nov. 25, 2008 — The lawyer’s program that provides funding for legal services for the poor by drawing interest on idle client trust funds would get a significant boost under a proposal filed Monday with the Tennessee Supreme Court. The proposal, made jointly by the Tennessee Bar Foundation, which administers the program; the Tennessee Bar Association, representing 10,000 Tennessee lawyers; the Tennessee Association for Justice; and the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services asks the court to require lawyers to participate in the Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program by placing client funds that cannot earn interest, because they are either too small or expected to be held for a short duration, in accounts that pay interest to the foundation.
President Lewis says shortfalls in legal representation even more severe given today’s tough economic times
NASHVILLE, Nov. 20, 2008 — Even before today’s tough economic news, Tennessee lawyers have been preparing to step up their pro bono activity to help folks unable to pay a lawyer. Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court put out for comment the Tennessee Bar Association’s recommendation that the rules on pro bono volunteer legal services be enhanced.
Will call on Tennessee lawyers to do more for the state’s poor
NASHVILLE, June 4, 2008 — George T. “Buck” Lewis, a shareholder in the Memphis office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, will assume the presidency of Tennessee Bar Association at the association’s annual convention next week in Gatlinburg. The transfer of the gavel will take place at a luncheon on Friday, June 13, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
