Bring your lunch and join colleagues for Sandwiches & Sidebars, a new quarterly networking meet-up hosted by the TBA Mentoring Committee. This casual gathering is a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network, exchange ideas and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. The first event will take place on July 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT at the TBA Office located at 3010 Poston Ave., Nashville 37203. Free street parking is available. TBA members should drop in as their schedule allows — stay for a few minutes or the full two hours. From experienced to mid-career attorneys to young lawyers to law students, all members of the legal community are encouraged to attend. This event is supported by the Young Lawyers Division. Hope to see you there!

ABA Free Legal Answers, the American Bar Association’s (ABA) national pro bono platform recently surpassed 500,000 civil legal questions answered and is approaching its 10-year anniversary in August. In recognition of this milestone, the ABA Center for Pro Bono is hosting a 10-Year Anniversary Fundraiser on Aug. 2 during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago. The event will take place on a river cruise from 1-3 p.m. CDT and will bring together volunteers, partners and supporters to celebrate the growth and impact of the platform over the past decade. Learn more and register for the event.

A retirement ceremony honoring U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes will be held July 23 at 3:30 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 6B of the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse, 719 Church St., Nashville. A reception in the courthouse rotunda will follow the ceremony. View the invitation. Holmes is retiring on July 31 after 11 years of service on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Before joining the federal court, Holmes practiced as a partner with Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner, where she headed the firm’s commercial bankruptcy and reorganization practice group. Prior to that she worked with the U.S. Trustee’s office. She is a master in the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court and a fellow of the Nashville and Tennessee bar foundations. She also served as president of the Nashville Bar Association in 2002. She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt Law in 1986. The law school has more on her career.

Happy 250th birthday America! The TBA will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day on Saturday. The office will reopen Monday at 8 a.m. CDT. As always, the TBA.org website has continuing legal education options and other information available 24/7. Reach out to staff directly using contact information available on our online staff directory.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on July 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT about state tax obligations for new businesses in Tennessee, as well as other resources that may assist those businesses. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the Department of Revenue and other relevant state agencies. Register on the department's website.

The National Bar Association (NBA) will hold its 101st Annual Convention in Nashville July 25-31, bringing together attorneys, judges and legal professionals from across the country under the theme, "The Rhythm of Excellence. The Power of Promise. The Energy of Now." The convention will celebrate the association's more than 100-year legacy while focusing on leadership development, advocacy, pipeline programs and the future of the legal profession. The event also will highlight the urgency of addressing current challenges facing communities through collaboration, innovation and continued investment in the next generation of Black lawyers and judges. Learn more and register on the NBA website.

A portrait unveiling ceremony honoring former Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Thomas Woodall will be held July 14 at 11:30 a.m. CDT at the Tennessee Supreme Court, 401 Seventh Ave. N., Nashville 37219. A reception will follow the ceremony. Contact Jennifer.Burch@tncourts.gov to RSVP for the event. View the invitation. Woodall retired from the court in December 2020 after 24 years of service. He joined the court in 1996, after having spent two years with a Memphis firm and six years as an assistant district attorney in the 24th Judicial District. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on his career, including his role in creating a judicial assistance program under the Tennessee Lawyer’s Assistance Program.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host its Bench & Bar Celebration on Sept. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St., Knoxville 37902. The event will honor the justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court and celebrate members of the local judiciary who have dedicated their careers to the administration of justice. For more information or to register, visit the KBA website. View a flyer for the event.

The TBA Mentoring Committee encourages attorneys interested in serving as either a mentor or mentee to take advantage of networking opportunities throughout July. Members also are encouraged to support the legal community through volunteer service at two TBA YLD pro bono clinics this month. On July 9 in Cookeville, a Name Change Clinic will be held from 3:30–6:30 p.m. CDT. Contact TBA YLD District Representative Amber Vargas for details. On July 11 at the Sumner County Sheriff's Department in Gallatin, an Essential Documents Clinic will be held from 9–11 a.m. CDT. Contact TBA YLD District Representative Grace Burnett for information. Finally, the inaugural Sandwiches and Sidebars event will be held on July 20 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. CDT at the new TBA office, located at 3010 Poston Ave., Nashville 37203. This casual gathering offers a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network, and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. Drop in as your schedule allows — whether for a few minutes or the entire event. Attorneys at every stage of their careers, from young lawyers and law students to mid-career and experienced practitioners, are welcome to attend.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on June 30 at 9 a.m. CDT about obtaining and using Tennessee resale certificates. Participants will learn the proper procedures for obtaining and using Tennessee resale certificates, including required documentation, appropriate use and common compliance issues. The webinar is part of a free series the department offers to the public. Register on the department's website.