The TBA Young Lawyers Division’s special Juneteenth podcast series continues today with the release of its third episode featuring Shelby County Chancellor Will Perry. Incoming YLD President Elect Quinton Thompson talks with Perry about challenges Black attorneys face in the legal profession, his advice for young attorneys getting involved in the community and advice for lawyers who are considering making a move from their firm or in their career. The final episode in the Juneteenth series will premiere Saturday. It will feature a conversation between outgoing TBA YLD President Billy Leslie, YLD Diversity Committee Co-Chair Ariel Anthony, YLD Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Chair Dominique Winfrey and former DLI class member Anthony Adewumi on the DLI program and its many benefits. The Juneteenth series can be found on the TBA YLD’s podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division’s Diversity Committee today premiered a special four-part podcast series honoring the first anniversary of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Today’s episode features Nashville attorney Charles Grant. Interviewed by YLD Diversity Committee Co-chair Cherrelle Hooper and YLD member Darius Walker, Grant discusses his illustrious career as a trial lawyer, the mentors who helped him and the challenges and successes he faced along the way. One episode of the series will premiere each day of the TBA Convention. Listen to each episode on the TBA YLD Presents: War Stories podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Attorney Well Being Committee is sponsoring this year’s Contemplative Space during the TBA Annual Convention. The space serves as a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of Convention and will be available to all attendees from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Massages will be available on a first come, first served basis on Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon and Friday from 1:30 until 4 p.m. CDT.  Silence your phone, put down your work and head over to the Contemplative Space to meditate, recharge or practice the wellness activity of your choosing!

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has postponed its Memorial Service scheduled for June 17 due to the current high transmission level of COVID-19 in Davidson County and elevated transmission levels in other counties within the district. The service will be rescheduled at a later date.

TBA President Sherie Edwards last week gave an ethics presentation during the Ninth Annual Mid-South Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference, hosted by the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Edwards’ talk, “Attorney Wellness & Diversity in the Legal Profession: Ethics,” drew heavily from the top priorities she set as TBA president. “…three of my top priorities have been business education, attorney wellness, and diversity,” Edwards said ahead of the talk. She is pictured here with Judge Stephen Vaden, U.S. Supreme Court of International Trade and Harrison Pittman, head of the National Agricultural Law Center.

Lisa Perlen, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, has been elected to serve on the board of trustees of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Perlen is a member of NCBE’s Uniform Bar Examination Committee, vice chair of the Council of Bar Admission Administrators’ Accommodations Committee and a previous member of NCBE’s Character and Fitness Committee. NCBE develops the licensing tests used by most states for admission to the bar. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Seven lawyers are among 44 participants chosen for Leadership Nashville’s Class of 2023. Lawyer participants include: Adolpho Birch, Tennessee Titans; Judge Melissa Blackburn, Davidson County General Sessions Court, Division II; Diane Lance, Metro Office of Family Safety; Eleanor McDonald, Ingram Industries; Phylanice Nashe, attorney, philanthropist and community volunteer; Brian Roark, Bass, Berry & Sims; and Matthew Scanlan, senior director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The program, which aims to strengthen Nashville by forming connections among proven leaders across a variety of professions, industries and identities, will begin courses in September. Read more from the Nashville Business Journal.

The Shelby County Commission has passed a criminal justice reform measure that will allow those who have previously been incarcerated to volunteer for county boards and commissions, the Daily Memphian reports. Sponsored by Republican Commissioner Mick Wright and Democratic Commissioner Van D. Turner Jr., the “Fair Chance to Serve” ordinance removes barriers for people with criminal histories who apply for voluntary county boards and commissions. The measure allows them to reintegrate into society and reduces the chance of recidivism. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris will still vet all county boards and commissions applicants and they will still go before the Board of Commissioners for approval.  

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission has rescheduled the launch of the Tennessee Justice Bus due to tomorrow’s excessive heat advisory. The launch will now take place on June 20 at 9:15 a.m. CDT at the Nashville Supreme Court Building at 401 Seventh Ave. N. The Tennessee Justice Bus is a mobile law office that brings technology to rural and disadvantaged communities. The project addresses the technology gap many rural and disadvantaged citizens face. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

In response to the pandemic, the Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Rule 21, section 3.01(c), which requires lawyers to have seven hours of live CLE credits each compliance year and limits the maximum distance learning credits to eight. 4.02(c), which reiterates the eight-hour distance learning limitation and limits carryover credits to eight hours per compliance year was also temporarily suspended. The court is now considering permanently eliminating limitations to distance learning credits by deleting sections 3.01(c) and 4.02(c) and is seeking comments from judges, lawyers, bar associations, members of the public and all interested parties on the matter. Written comments are due by Aug. 5 and should be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to James Hivner, Clerk, RE: Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21, §§ 3.01(c) and 4.02(c), 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219-1407. Read the order here.