YLD Committees

Public Service Committees

CHILDREN'S ISSUES COMMITTEE

The Children’s Issues Committee focuses on the partnership between the YLD and the Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, selects a CASA volunteer to honor each year, and facilitates public service programs that benefit children and youth in Tennessee.

DISASTER RELIEF COMMITTEE

The Disaster Relief Committee trains lawyers on how to provide legal assistance to those affected by natural disasters and takes on pro bono cases of its own. It also maintains the YLD’s Disaster Legal Assistance Manual and updates it as necessary.

MOCK TRIAL COMMITTEE

The Mock Trial Committee oversees the high school mock trial program, in which teams of students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a hypothetical trial. The committee hosts the state competition and recruits volunteers to serve as coaches, jurors, scorers and bailiffs.

MOCK TRIAL LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Mock Trial Committee Long Range Planning Committee oversees the long-term operations of the mock trial competition, including procedural and rules changes and redistricting.

Joshua Dougan, Chair & Executive Committee Liaison
The Dougan Law Firm PLLC
200 E. Main Street, Suite 112
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 437-0469
josh@thedouganfirm.com

Committee includes:
Rob Sands, Mock Trial Committee Chair
Kati Goodner, Mock Trial Committee Vice Chair

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE

The Public Service Committee organizes lawyers from across the state to mount a major volunteer effort for the year. The committee also coordinates YLD involvement in the annual Celebrate Pro Bono Month events and helps implement law-related programs for students and the public.

WILLS FOR HEROES COMMITTEE

The Wills for Heroes Committee produces legal service projects across the state that provide basic estate planning to first responders, including police, sheriff’s deputies and fire fighters.

Member Service Committees

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The TBA YLD annually produces a number of educational seminars designed for young lawyers. The Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee is responsible for identifying course topics, arranging speakers, preparing materials and moderating programs.

DIVERSITY COMMITTEE

The Diversity Committee is responsible for proposing and executing programs designed to increase racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, geographic and practice area diversity within the leadership and membership of the TBA YLD. It also runs the Diversity Leadership Institute, a six-month leadership program for Tennessee law students.

LAW SCHOOL OUTREACH COMMITTEE

The Law School Outreach Committee seeks to foster and develop relationships between the TBA YLD and law school students who are interested in practicing in the state of Tennessee.

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Long Range Planning Committee is responsible for developing and amending the division’s long range plan, which sets out the goals and objectives for the YLD for the next five years. The committee is chaired by the current YLD vice president.

Committee includes:
President Ahsaki Baptist 
President-Elect Christian Barker
Reporter Will Holloway
East Tennessee Members: Brittany Thomas Faith and Stanton Fears (terms expire June 30, 2020)
West Tennessee Members: Terica Anderson Smith and Amber Floyd (terms expire June 30, 2018)
Middle Tennessee Members: Cole Rogers and Rob Sands (terms expire June 30, 2019)

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee is charged with encouraging young lawyers in the state to join the TBA and get involved with its Young Lawyers Division. Activities include staffing a TBA information table at the swearing in ceremonies for new admittees and membership social events in key cities.

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE

The Public Policy Committee is charged with monitoring policy issues of interest to young lawyers, educating members on these issues and encouraging grassroots activity. The committee also serves as a coordinating body for the young lawyer members of the TBA House of Delegates and ABA House of Delegates.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

Historically, the Publications Committee produced educational publications, including Basic Legal Resources, a guide to the law for social service agencies and an elder law handbook. The committee now focuses on internal communications products designed to keep YLD members informed of on-going projects and up-coming news through its monthly electronic newsletter E-DICT and social media.

Justin B. Faith, Chair & E-DICT Editor
Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott & Cannon PLLC
320 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 756-5171
jfaith@gearhiserpeters.com