The TBA's LGBT Section will host the 2026 LGBT Forum Friday at the new Tennessee Bar Association office. The event kicks off Nashville's Pride weekend, offering one dual and two general hours of CLE. Topics to be covered include conversion therapy, the case of Chiles v. Salazar, constitutional rights and other issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. The program also will feature Nashville Metro Council Member-at-Large Olivia Hill, who will discuss her campaign to become the city's first transgender council member. Additional speakers include attorneys Maureen Holland and John Rice, as well as somatic psychotherapist Jeremy Lehmann. More information and the link to register are available on the TBA's website. In addition, there still are a few seats available on Nashville’s Big Drag Bus for a two-hour tour of the city with LGBT Section leadership. Contact TBA Senior Education and Professional Development Coordinator Jarod Word to sign up.

Attorneys can learn how to use artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively in legal writing during a webcast this Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will explore practical strategies for using AI to improve drafts, identify typos and ambiguity, test legal reasoning, monitor tone and streamline the editing process without sacrificing accuracy or professional judgment. The session also will examine effective prompting techniques, common pitfalls that can make AI-generated writing less efficient and ways lawyers can balance AI's capabilities with the human judgment required for effective legal communication. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register. 

Registration is now open for the TBA's Journey to Sicily CLE program scheduled for April 2027. As the largest Mediterranean island, Sicily presents a deep historical and cultural relevance to mainland Italy and is home to splendid sites such as temples, chapels, mosaics and an active volcano. This immersive program will engage with local attorneys, scholars and experts offering poignant commentary on Italian and European Union legal and political systems, art, history, architecture and religion, all while highlighting welcoming communities and iconic cuisine! The core program, scheduled for April 3-7, 2027, is a four-night experience based in Palermo with multiple day trips. Travelers also have the opportunity to explore Catania and surrounding areas by adding on a three-night or four-night extension. View a brochure for the trip or learn more online. Space is extremely limited, so reserve your spot today! The early bird registration rate will expire July 15.

Attorneys can learn how to use artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively in legal writing during a webcast on June 24 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will explore practical strategies for using AI to improve drafts, identify typos and ambiguity, test legal reasoning, monitor tone and streamline the editing process without sacrificing accuracy or professional judgment. The session also will examine effective prompting techniques, common pitfalls that can make AI-generated writing less efficient and ways lawyers can balance AI's capabilities with the human judgment required for effective legal communication. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register. 

The TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Exploration CLEs received rave reviews last year — including, "it was the single greatest CLE I've ever been to," "insightful" and "very original idea." Now make plans to join colleagues for the fourth Exploration CLE at Long Hunter State Park in Nashville on Sept. 25. Take the day to experience the magnificence of one of Tennessee's state parks while earning three hours of CLE credit. The day will include lunch and a ranger-led hike. More information and speakers will be announced soon.

The TBA will host its 2026 Elder Law Forum on July 17 at the Nashville School of Law, offering attorneys a full day of continuing legal education focused on issues affecting older adults and vulnerable populations. The program will feature sessions on conservatorships, fraud prevention, guardians ad litem, special needs trusts, ethics and related topics, with presentations from practitioners and professionals across the state. For more information, visit the TBA website.

The TBA will host its 2026 Federal Practice Forum as a live virtual program on July 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. The program will feature three sessions covering First Amendment issues, ethical rules governing communications with judges and immigration law developments. Speakers will include Audrey Calkins of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee; Michael Holly of the Office of the Federal Public Defender; U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Judge Eli Richardson; and Joseph Jackson of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams. The forum is designed to provide practical guidance and timely updates for attorneys practicing in federal courts. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

Since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, programs intended to help minority students, job seekers, workers and business owners have been challenged, upended and sometimes declared illegal. This one-hour webcast from the TBA will explore the outlook for race-conscious employment policies and what the implications are for Tennessee lawyers. Join Casey Duhart with Acadia Healthcare Inc., Mohamed Faizer with the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, and John Winemiller with Merchant & Gould for this informative session. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

The TBA's LGBT Section will host the 2026 LGBT Forum on June 26 in Nashville, kicking off Pride weekend with discussions on conversion therapy, the case of Chiles v. Salazar, constitutional rights and other issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. The program also will feature Nashville Metro Council Member-at-Large Olivia Hill, who will discuss her campaign to become the city's first transgender council member. Additional speakers include attorneys Maureen Holland and John Rice, as well as somatic psychotherapist Jeremy Lehmann. More information and link to register are available on the TBA website.

The TBA will host its annual Real Estate Essentials program virtually on June 3 from noon to 3:15 p.m. CDT, offering an introductory overview of key topics in real estate law. The program will cover the fundamentals of commercial real estate in its first session, followed by a discussion of FIRPTA, FinCEN and cash reporting requirements. The course will feature presentations from Andy Maloney of Andy Maloney Law in Brentwood and Kirby Yost of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in Chattanooga. The program is designed for attorneys seeking a foundational understanding of real estate practice.