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TBA YLD Receives National High School Mock Trial Championship Innovation Mini-Grant

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Aug 13, 2019
The TBA YLD is a recipient of a 2019 – 2020 National High School Mock Trial Championship Innovation Mini-Grant. The $2,750 grant will be divided between two priorities. First, the largest portion of the award will be set aside to assist Title I schools (schools in which at least 40% of the students are considered low income) with the transportation costs associated with traveling to local competitions outside of the school’s county. Second, the program will allow mock trial volunteers (school staff or an attorney coach) to seek funding to assist students with buying professional clothing to participate in mock trial. 
 
Both aspects of the program are designed to support the teams most in need. We anticipate the grant will make it possible for new schools to participate in the Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition that otherwise would not have the resources to physically get students to the competition. 
 
Special thanks to the Mock Trial Vice Chair Zack Walden for his hard work in securing the grant.

'Back' To Work

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Aug 13, 2019
Happy August YLD-ers! August means a new crop of millennials will be joining the work force, and many of you are celebrating work anniversaries! Congrats to all for hitting another milestone in the profession.  
 
Whether you are just joining the legal profession or looking to re-engage or “fall” (pun intended) in love with the law again, we have a few new things for you to try:
 
1. Commit to YOU. Commit to taking a little more “me” time in the morning, or taking an intentional break during the day to read, listen to a podcast, walk around the block, or do anything other than practice law. You must first take care of yourself, before taking care of others.  
2. Commit to NEW. Remember all of the wonderful tips and resources you learned about during onboarding? Neither do I. But a new set of lawyers joining the workforce, will present training opportunities and refreshers on tools to make life easier. Take advantage of it!
 
We will be sharing “Back to Work” posts all month long on Facebook. Have tips of your own to share? Post them on Facebook!

YLD is on LinkedIn

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Aug 13, 2019

Expand your network. YLD now has a LinkedIn page. Connect with us today!

Travel to D.C. with the TBA, Be Admitted to Practice at U.S. Supreme Court

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Aug 13, 2019

Want to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court? Join TBA leaders as they take their 36th annual journey to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Supreme Court admissions ceremony, Nov. 3-4. In addition to taking part in a private swearing-in ceremony, you will be invited to a TBA President's Reception and a special Celebration Dinner. Headquarters for the event will be The Hay Adams Hotel, across from the White House, where a block of rooms has been reserved for the TBA. In addition, you will receive three TBA prepaid credits to use for CLE programming. Register Today! 

A Tale of Failure to Proof: One Clerical Error, A $1.5 Billion Loss

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 23, 2019
 
By Samuel R. Henninger and M. Allyson Lumpkin
 
Some paperwork mistakes hurt more than others, but many are easily fixed—without serious consequences.  In a recent settlement involving General Motors, JP Morgan Chase, and two of the most profitable law firms in the world, however, one paperwork mistake cost $1.5 billion.  And it could not be fixed.
 
This case serves as a cautionary tale for all lawyers.  In this tale of failure to proofread, a law firm mistakenly included the wrong loan on a UCC-3 termination statement filed with the Delaware Secretary of State.  For those non-transactional lawyers out there, in a lending scenario, a lender files a UCC-1 financing statement to perfect its security interest; and a UCC-3 termination statement to release its lien after its loan is paid off.  
 
Here, however, the UCC-3 termination statement was filed before the loan was paid off!  (Extremely bad news for the lenders.)
 
To fix the mistake, the lenders took their case all the way to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which decided against the lenders.  The lenders persisted nonetheless, and in May, over a decade after the mistaken UCC-3 was filed, the lenders settled for $231 million.
 
Practice Tip:  This was a simple mistake.  But even a simple mistake can have major consequences.  Lawyers can avoid a heart-attack-inducing mistake such as this one by (1) walking away and giving your mind time to “breathe” before that final review of a document; (2) printing out a document for proofing; and (3) having a second person review any documents. 
 
Do you have a tip you would like to share?  Let us hear it on Facebook!  
 

July Recap

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 23, 2019
 
 
July 1 marked the start of our New Bar Year.  Have you made your New Bar Year Resolution yet?  Let’s hear it on Facebook.
 
July is Park and Recreation Month! A program of the National Recreation and Park Association, the goal is to raise awareness of the vital impact that parks and recreation has on our communities! So, get outside, visit a park, and enjoy the fresh air.
  
 
 Tennessee went “hands free” this month.  If you have picked up your phone while driving this month, you were breaking the law!  Effective July 1, it is illegal in the State of Tennessee to hold a cellphone or mobile device with any part of your body while driving.  To find out what is “in” and what is “out,” view the full bill here.  
 
Violation of the law is a Class C misdemeanor, subjecting violators to a $50 fine for the the first and second offense is $50. The third offense is $100 and if you're caught on your phone driving in a construction zone or school zone the fine is $200.  Be safe out there “in these streets.”  Save your life and your wallet. 
 
 

Volunteer Opportunities for Immigrant Population

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 10, 2019
For attorneys looking to volunteer their time, contact one of these organizations below. If you are unable to donate your time, but are interested in making a monetary donation, please consider one of these organizations when making your gift. 
 
State Wide
Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition 
 
The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is a statewide, immigrant and refugee-led collaboration whose mission is to empower immigrants and refugees throughout Tennessee to develop a unified voice, defend their rights, and create an atmosphere in which they are recognized as positive contributors to the state.
 
For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact mary@tnimmigrant.org.
 
Memphis-Based
Mid-South Immigration Advocates 
 
Mid-South Immigration Advocate’s mission is to provide quality, free and low-cost immigration representation to low-income Mid-Southerners, to seek justice for the entire immigrant community, and to advocate for fair immigration policies.
 
For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.miamemphis.org/volunteer/
 
Chattanooga-Based
La Paz 
 
The mission of La Paz is to empower and engage Chattanooga’s Latinx population. 
 
For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.lapazchattanooga.org/volunteer
 
Knoxville-Based
Bridge Refugee Services 
 
Bridge Refugees Services, Inc. is a nonprofit agency operating in Knoxville and Chattanooga that is committed to providing protection and assistance in refugees’ inspiring journey. We recognize their plight, their resilience and their willingness to join our community and make it their own. Become part of America’s proud tradition of welcoming refugees and come join us as we work together, building lives in a new land.
 
 
Nashville-Based
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors 
 
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors provides affordable, high-quality immigration legal services to immigrants, educated the public and faith-based communities about issues related to immigration, and advocates for immigrant rights. 
 
For more information on volunteer opportunities, visits https://www.tnjfon.org/volunteer
 
Out of State 
 
In Response to the Mississippi Raids that occurred in August 2019, these resources were made:
 
*Note - If you have any suggestions for other volunteer groups to add to this list, please submit those to the Young Lawyers Division. 
 
If you have clients or other contacts who are part of a vulnerable population facing ICE threats, please share these resources with them to increase public awareness and understanding of legal rights and obligations. 
 
 
*Note- Posters and Resources were provided by United We Dream. 
 
 

40 Young Lawyers on the Rise

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 9, 2019

The TBA's Young Lawyers Division has not one, but TWO young lawyers honored by the ABA as Top 40 Young Lawyers On The Rise. Brittany Faith (pictured below left) and Bailey Schiermeyer (pictured below right) are both from East Tennessee. For more details on the honorees, please visit the ABA site. 

 

Brittany Faith   Bailey Schiermeyer

Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition Report

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 9, 2019

For the past two years, the TBA YLD has partnered with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) to help shorten the gap to access legal services to immigrant and refugee families in Tennessee. Together, this was our impact:

We Have Pride (Yes, We Do!) - Nashville Pride Recap

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Jul 9, 2019
The Nashville Pride Festival took place at Public Square Park in Downtown Nashville on June 22 and 23. The 31st annual festival featured over 200 vendors, three stages, a kids and family zone, youth area, dance tent, and more. We were happy to show our pride and work the Tennessee Bar booth at the festival. Missed out? Go ahead and mark your calendar for next year! This could be the first item on you new year bar resolution.  
 
Pictured Below: TBA YLD Members Patrick Morrison, Ross Smith, Troy Weston, and Cole Rogers man the TBA’s Booth at Nashville Pride.
  
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