Articles

All Content

368 Posts found
Previous • Page 26 of 37 • Next

2019-2020 Young Lawyers Division Board Information

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Dec 5, 2018

Application Process for the 2019-2020 Leadership Positions


The mission of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, as the state organization of young lawyers, is to provide leadership in serving the public and the profession and to promote excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law.
 
Dear Tennessee Young Lawyer:
 
I am excited to serve as the president of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) for the 2019–2020 bar year. The YLD has been in the vanguard of service to Tennessee’s legal community for nearly 100 years. During that time, we have served the community and the bar association. We are proud of programs like the Diversity Leadership Institute that has trained the emerging leaders in Tennessee’s legal community while garnering national attention and awards. Our high school mock trial competition—now in its 39th year—has consistently incubated nationally competitive teams, including two national championship- winning teams. The YLD has made service its mission. 
 
The TBA YLD is governed by a board of elected officers. Additionally, there are several other positions the president appoints to serve during the bar year. If you are interested in running for one of the officer positions, you should familiarize yourself with that process here. The application process below is only for individuals interested in serving in an appointed position. To be eligible to submit an application, you must be 36 or younger on June 14, 2019, or be in the first five years of your practice. Additionally, you must either be a member of the TBA, or become a member of the TBA by February 28, 2019 (the date on which the application process will close).
 
In the coming year, I will ask all the members of the YLD board to double down in our commitment to being the standard bearer in Tennessee when it comes to professional leadership. We will focus on initiatives that promote lawyer well-being, while at the same time using our talents to benefit Tennesseans through our complement of service-based initiatives. We will work to modernize our approach to communication with our members and the public, and we will expand our discussions to address broad issues of public policy and substantive legal issues. Below, you will find a list of positions for the 2019–2020 YLD board. While prior service on the YLD board is not a prerequisite to your application, I do expect all the leaders who ultimately populate the board to gain institutional knowledge of the YLD and its prior work, as well as demonstrate self-motivation and initiative. I want all board members to come to the spring planning meeting with a solid foundation to begin a busy year. I encourage you to spend time researching the position for which you are applying, including prior projects, and I also encourage you to reach out to current board members with questions. Current board members may be found here. Of course, I am always happy to chat with you, and you may reach me at tweston@eblaw.us. 
 
This year, we will have five in-person meetings at which your attendance will be mandatory. Those meetings are:
 
  • Spring Planning Meeting, April 26–27, 2019 in Abingdon, Virginia
  • YLD Annual Meeting, June 14–15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee
  • YLD Fall Meeting, the week of October 13 or 20, 2019. Precise dates and location will be announced in Spring 2019,
  • TBA Leadership Conference, January 2020. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the TBA’s Leadership Conference. The dates of that conference will announced later in 2019.
  • YLD High School Mock Trial Competition, March 20–21, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.
As a member of the board, you will be eligible to be reimbursed for expenses relating to your attendance at these meetings subject to the TBA reimbursement policy in effect at the time of the meeting. Additionally, throughout the year, you will be expected to participate in ad hoc conference calls and virtual meetings to carry out your obligations. The position description document has specific time commitment expectations.
 
In reviewing applications, I will be looking for candidates who not only have demonstrated leadership experience, but also who are able to effectively communicate their background and motivation. Moreover, I am looking for individuals who have a coherent plan for the position(s) for which they apply. Again, prior experience is not necessary, but having intent and vision are. Lastly, you will see questions designed to get a feel for the personality you would bring to the board; I am interested in bringing a diverse and vibrant group of people together over the next year to tackle the central issues facing the legal industry in Tennessee, and I want to measure how you will fit both within your prospective role and as a member of the larger board.
 
Your decision to apply for a position on the YLD board recognizes your commitment to leadership and innovation within the practice of law. That is a commitment I appreciate. During my tenure on the YLD board, I have been privileged to work on initiatives that have made a difference in the community, but I have also had the matchless opportunity to meet people who have become close friends. I expect that your time on the board will generate the same boons for you. Thank you for making service within the practice a priority.
 
Best wishes,
Troy S. Weston,
2019–2020 YLD President
 
Below is more information about the 2019-2020 YLD Board composition and application. You must read all documents below before proceeding to complete an application. 
For more information or questions, please contact Troy Weston. 

APPLY NOW FOR AN APPOINTMENT

 

Wills for Heroes

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Dec 4, 2018

TBA’s Young Lawyer Division is excited to partner with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands as it unfolds a new format for the State’s Wills for Heroes program. TBA’s Wills for Heroes is implementing an online platform this year, instead of the Saturday clinic format. Volunteer attorneys will now have an opportunity to meet with a first responder at a time that is convenient for both attorney and first responder, while still accruing pro-bono CLE credit. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Erica Marino at willsforheroesondemand@tnbar.org or (931) 455-9301.

 
 

YLD Social Event

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 27, 2018

CBA YLD Social this Friday, November 30 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at Naked River Brewing Company (1791 Reggie White Blvd.). Please join us for a YLD Social at Naked River Brewing Company’s awesome new space on the Southside across from Finley Stadium. We’ll have beer, wine, and appetizers available.

Final Chance to Apply for the 2019 TBA YLD Diversity Leadership Class

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 26, 2018
The final deadline to apply for the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) 2019 Class is this Friday, November 30 at 5 p.m. (central time). DLI is a six-month leadership and mentoring program for Tennessee law students in their second, third or fourth years of study. Now in its ninth year, the program is designed to:
 
• Develop skills to succeed as a law student and attorney; 
• Empower students to contribute more to the legal community; 
• Match students to mentors in a diverse variety of practice areas; and 
• Build relationships among students of diverse backgrounds 
 
If you think you know a qualified and interested individual, please encourage them to apply to be a part of the 2019 DLI class. More information on the DLI and the application instructions can be found here.
 

Wills for Veterans Clinic in Chattanooga

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 26, 2018
On November 12, local volunteer attorneys and members of the CBA Young Lawyers Division assisted veterans in the Chattanooga area with simple wills and estate planning.  The Clinic was a tremendous success as the volunteer attorneys drafted wills and provided guidance with simple estate planning needs at no cost to over 20 local veterans.  
 

TBA Leadership Conference 2019

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 26, 2018
An event you won’t want to miss: The TBA Leadership Conference is set for January 18-19, 2019 in Nashville.  The Conference will be chock-full of dynamic programming, networking and social engagements.  During the two-day Conference, meetings of the TBA House of Delegates and Board of Governors will take place and the TBA Sections, Committees and Young Lawyers Division will share news on their progress from 2018.  Finally, if all of that wasn’t already enough, the TBA will be purchasing tickets to see the Nashville Predators hockey game for that Saturday evening in Bridgestone Arena.  
 
A preliminary schedule and registration for the 2019 TBA Leadership Conference can be found here. 
 

2019 TBA Leadership Conference

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 13, 2018

TBA Leadership Conference will be January 18-19, 2019 in Nashville. This year's event will be headquartered at the DoubleTree Hotel just down the street from the Tennessee Bar Center. Along with meetings of the House of Delegates and Board of Governors, there will be sessions for many TBA Committees, Divisions and Section leaders.

Saturday activities kick-off with compelling leadership training, followed by the Public Service Luncheon, where your colleagues are honored for the good works they have performed during the past year. Saturday night's social event is always a fun chance to unwind after all the meetings and reconnect with other lawyers from across the state.
 
Reserve Your Room at the DoubleTree Now! The TBA has a room block at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Nashville. The rate is $231 per night. As provided in the travel policy, the TBA reimburses only for the negotiated room rate at the host hotel. The room block expires on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. Please make your reservation by contacting the DoubleTree Hotel.
 
Registration information, along with additional details on programming will be coming soon. We look forward to seeing you there.
 

November 2018 Attorney Spotlight- Josh Dougan

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 13, 2018
This week the Tennessee Young Lawyer is unveiling a different format for the Attorney Spotlight. Instead of listing the nominees' professional bio, the newsletter team has created a list a questions we would like for every Attorney Spotlight nominee to answer in hopes of a more fun and creative "interview". We hope week-to-week this builds not only interest, but a deeper look inside fellow attorney's lives and opinions. Enjoy! 
 
November Attorney Spotlight- Josh Dougan
 
 
What's the best gift you've ever received?
I’m the oldest of six children. While my parents provided for us, money were often tight, especially when I was young. When I was in my early teens, my parents gave me a shirt from American Eagle for Christmas. I was just old enough to know how much they would have had to save in order to make that kind of purchase. The tangible evidence of their willingness to make sacrifices for my happiness was deeply meaningful.
 
How do you relax?
If I’m with my wife, Elise, it’s with a beer while we watch FRIENDS. If I’m alone, it’s at a piano in the dark. 
 
What was the most indulgent purchase you’ve ever made?
Some would label a good suit as indulgent. I wouldn’t. 
 
If you weren’t a lawyer, what profession would you be?
A musician in a Gary Moore tribute band. Or, king.
 
What is your favorite place in the world?
80% of the time, any place my four children are. 20% of the time, any place my four children aren’t. 
 
What’s next on your bucket list?
Tenor saxophone. 
 
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Attempts to pluralize words by adding apostrophes. It’s particularly galling on holiday greeting cards. 
 
What fictional character do you most relate to?  Why?
Troy S. Weston’s alter ego and mine are brothers. We didn’t choose the monarchical life; the monarchical life chose us. 
 
What are three books that influenced your life?
Connections by James Burke; The Social Contract by Rousseau; a handful of works by C.S. Lewis.  
 
We hope you enjoyed the new interview format and look forward to the next Tennessee Young Lawyer Attorney Spotlight in December. 

Congrats to all the New Lawyers!

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Nov 13, 2018

About 200 new attorneys were welcomed to the practice of law during ceremonies last week in Nashville. Between the two Nashville programs, the Tennessee Bar Association hosted a welcome reception to introduce the new lawyers and their families to the Tennessee legal community. Other admissions ceremonies were also held this week in Knoxville, Jackson and Memphis. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped manage the events all across the state! To see more pictures, view the slideshow here. 

Trick of Treat

Posted by: Stephanie Vonnahme on Oct 23, 2018
With Halloween just around the corner, aside from gorging yourself with candy, there’s nothing better than sharing some embarrassing, throwback Halloween costume pictures of Tennessee Young Lawyers. 
 
                    
 
Can you spot the Tennessee Young Lawyer? Check the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Facebook page to find out who’s who! 
 

Previous • Page 26 of 37 • Next