TBA Press Releases

Tennesseans In Need To Get More Help

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.

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TBA Asks Court to Boost Legal Aid Funding

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.

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TBA Asks Court to Make Free Legal Help More Accessible

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.

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Memphis Lawyer Buck Lewis to Take Office as TBA President

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.

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TBA Announces 2008 Law Day Contest Winners

Annual contest challenges students to explore concept of 'rule of law'

NASHVILLE, May 29, 2008 -- Justin Carrasco, a fifth-grade student at Cedar Bluff Elementary of Knoxville, has won first place in a Law Day Art Contest sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association. It was his second year to take the top award. In the TBA's essay contest, Monte Cole Flowers, a senior at Memphis Catholic High School, won first place.

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St. Mary's Repeats as State High School Mock Trial Champion

Will represent state at National Mock Trial Competition

NASHVILLE, March 15, 2008 — St. Mary's Episcopal School from Memphis scored a final round victory over Brentwood High School to win a second-straight title in the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition in Nashville. The team will now represent Tennessee in national competition, May 8-10 in Wilmington, Del.
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Schools From Across the State to Compete at State Mock Trial Competition

Two-day event to be held in Nashville

NASHVILLE, March 12, 2008 -- High school teams from across Tennessee will put their legal skills to the test during the Tennessee Bar Association's annual competition in Nashville this weekend, March 14-15. This year's competition is being held at the newly renovated, historic Davidson County Civil Courthouse downtown. To reach the state competition, the 16 teams had to win district competitions by playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictitious case developed by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

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Free Legal Assistance Available for Tornado Victims

Partnership between Tennessee legal organizations and FEMA helps residents

NASHVILLE, Feb. 26, 2008 — A toll-free legal aid line is now available for victims of recent tornadoes in Tennessee. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, three local legal aid organizations (the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Memphis Area Legal Services and West Tennessee Legal Services Inc.), the Tennessee Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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Nashville School of Law Student Named Law Student Volunteer of the Year

Award presented to Peggy Smith at capitol ceremony

NASHVILLE, January 19, 2008 — Recent Nashville School of Law graduate Peggy Smith of Bon Aqua received the 2008 Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award from the Tennessee Bar Association at its annual public service luncheon. Held as part of the association's Leadership Conference, the luncheon took place at the state capitol. It featured award winners in several categories as well as a keynote address by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

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Nashville Lawyer Named Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year

Award presented to Ross Booher at capitol ceremony

NASHVILLE, Jan. 19, 2008 — Nashville attorney Ross Booher, a partner with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, was honored with the state's top award for pro bono work at the Tennessee Bar Association's annual public service luncheon. Held at the state capitol as part of the association's leadership conference, the luncheon featured award winners in several categories as well as a keynote address by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

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