The TBA YLD will present “The Rookie Series: Family Law Trends and Challenges,” a one-hour webcast scheduled for March 5 from noon to 1 p.m. CST, offering an overview of family law fundamentals, including marriage, divorce, child custody, support and property division. The program will explore the legal principles governing family relationships, the role of courts in resolving disputes, and current trends and challenges in family law practice, with practical examples for participants. Speakers include Julie Chapman of The Bowders Law Firm in Memphis, Elizabeth Connor of Germantown, Elizabeth "Libba" W. Fyke of Butler Sevier Hinsley & Reid in Memphis, and William Ross of Butler Sevier Hinsley & Reid in Memphis. More information is available on the TBA website.

The TBA Tort & Insurance Law Section will hold its 2026 forum on Feb. 19 as a live virtual event. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST and feature sessions on navigating court approval of minor settlements, medical malpractice and ethical issues in the public adjuster industry. Two general hours and one dual hour of CLE credit are available. Speakers include Paige Goodwin and Jordan Neiderland with Rainey Kizer Reviere & Bell, Raymond Lewallen with Arnett Baker Draper & Hagood, and Christopher Vrettos with Gideon Cooper & Essary. Section members receive discounted rates. Not a section member yet? Join here. Learn more and register for the forum on the TBA CLE website.

The TBA YLD, in collaboration with the TBA General, Solo and Small Firm Section, will present “The Rookie Series: Opening Your Own Firm” on Jan. 29 at noon CST as a live webcast. The one-hour program is designed for aspiring solo practitioners and entrepreneurial attorneys considering launching a solo or small firm and will cover key steps for opening a practice, common pitfalls to avoid and resources available through the TBA. The program will feature attorneys who have successfully made the transition to firm ownership, including Emma Elliott of Peregrine Law, Jesse Harbison of Jesse Harbison Law, Savannah Oliver of the Law Office of David McKenzie and Ryan Terrell of Ryan Terrell Law. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Sessions from the 2025 Animal Law Forum are now available on demand. The sessions explore conservation funding and green business practices at the Nashville Zoo, legal challenges tied to development in sensitive habitats, key issues in equine law and ethical considerations in animal law cases. The forum also included a session on the practical realities of practicing animal law in Tennessee with a focus on dangerous dogs, veterinary malpractice and custody disputes. Additional programming examines the use of K-9s and equine in law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations, with a focus on training, regulation and legal concerns. All sessions are available individually on the TBA CLE website.

The TBA Mentoring Committee, in collaboration with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, will hold a special event — "Developing Lawyers, Developing Leaders: A CLE on Mentorship and Professional Excellence" — on Jan. 30 at Belmont University College of Law's Baskin Center. Make plans now to join TBA President Heidi Barcus; Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart; University of Tennessee Winston College of Law professor Joan Heminway; Amy Schmisseur, chair of Belmont University's Department of Communication Studies; Joseph Hubbard of Polsinelli; and Toyin Edogun of Bass Berry & Sims as they explore topics of mentorship, leadership and communication across one's legal career. The day of "Mocktails and Mentorship" will include lunch and three hours of CLE programming, followed by a networking event and the opportunity to mix mocktails together. The program is free for law students. Register by Jan. 25.

The TBA’s Young Lawyers Division will host the inaugural YLD Business College: Transactional Law Essentials on April 10 in Nashville, offering an in-person program designed as a practical refresher and foundation for new and young attorneys, as well as lawyers seeking to strengthen their transactional practice skills. The program will focus on core concepts, ethical considerations and emerging issues in business law, with sessions covering topics such as closing the deal, business ethics, business formation and hot topics, and will feature faculty including Laura Chastain of the Board of Professional Responsibility, Claire Tuley of Baker Donelson and John Wagster of Eden Firm PLLC. Registration opens at 9 a.m., with programming running from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All times Central.

The TBA will host the 2026 Construction Law Forum on Jan. 23 at the Tennessee Bankers Association’s Bradley L. Barrett Training Center in Nashville. The full-day continuing legal education program, offering 6.5 hours of CLE credit, will offer two learning tracks. The first will offer introductory sessions in the morning covering lien rights, case law updates and common construction law mistakes. The afternoon sessions will focus on the Prompt Pay Act, delay claims, ethics and artificial intelligence in construction law. Participants may register for morning, afternoon or full-day sessions, with programming designed to benefit both new and seasoned construction law practitioners. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Step into the world of Dunder Mifflin and explore the antics of Michael Scott to uncover critical lessons in professionalism with Stuart Teicher. Learning objectives include the need for lawyers to preserve the dignity and integrity of the legal profession through appropriate conduct; demonstrate faithfulness, competence and diligence in client representation; counsel clients effectively on informed decision-making and alternative dispute resolution; maintain civility and respect in dealings with opposing counsel; strive for excellence in advocacy while being a moral voice for clients and society; and model respect for courts through honesty, knowledge and appropriate conduct. Visit the TBA website for more information.

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. CST, the TBA will host “In the Professional Spotlight: Public Speaking for Attorneys”, a program led by Mimi Bliss of Bliss Communications, focusing on practical communication skills for lawyers who speak at conferences, moderate panels, appear on podcasts or address audiences on video and television. The program will provide actionable guidance on building confidence, creating concise and engaging content, moderating effective panel discussions, communicating clearly in virtual and on-camera settings, handling media interviews and responding to challenging questions. Building on techniques from Bliss’s Essential Presentation Skills for Attorneys CLE, the course is designed to help attorneys strengthen their professional presence across in-person, virtual and media platforms. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register.

The TBA will offer 2025–26 Ethics Update on Dec. 30 from noon to 1 p.m. CST, providing attorneys with an opportunity to earn ethics and dual credit before the end of the year. Presented by Heather Piper, disciplinary counsel with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, the one-hour webcast will review recent ethics updates, disciplinary trends and notable rulings, and provide practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls, including issues involving communication and social media. Registration is available through the TBA website.