Join the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) on Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT for a free webinar specifically designed for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations for new businesses, as well as other resources that may help their business. 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 DOR, as well as other relevant state agencies.

The Nashville chapter of the American Constitution Society (ACS) will hold its annual U.S. Supreme Court review on Oct. 8 at the offices of Bass, Berry & Sims, 21 Platform Way S., Ste. 3500, Nashville 37203. The program will run from noon to 1 p.m. CDT and feature Georgetown University Law Center Professor Stephen Vladeck, who has argued before the court and is the author of “The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic.” In-person and virtual options are available. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. Learn more about the program or register here.

University of Tennessee (UT) Mock Trial is hosting its annual Mocky Top Invitational tournament Oct. 4-5. The organization will welcome 20 teams from across the country and is in need of volunteer judges. There will be two trial rounds on Saturday and two on Sunday, but volunteers can sign up for as many or as few spots as they would like. Organizers say they have a shortage of judges because the event falls during Knox County Schools' fall break. Any attorney, law student or mock trial alum is eligible to judge. Sign up to volunteer here.

The next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits is set for Sept. 18 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts, and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Prospective clients should register by Oct. 13. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) is hosting an AI event on Oct. 7. “Hype or Helpful: AI and The New Dangers and Opportunities It Can Create” will explore AI’s impact across the IT, legal and compliance fields. The morning session will focus on IT compliance and security issues, while the afternoon session will focus on the practical and ethical issues of using AI in the practice of law. Lunch will be provided. Those interested should register online for the sessions they plan to attend. A suggested contribution of $10 will benefit the law school’s Public Interest Fellowship. For questions, contact Associate Director of the Law Library and Assistant Professor of Law Bianca White at bianca.white@lmunet.edu.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold its annual Pro Bono Celebration at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City on Sept. 26 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. The event will feature inspiring stories, recognition of pro bono heroes and remarks from Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner. The court also will recognize the current Attorneys for Justice at the event. Purchase tickets to attend on the LAET website.

The Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga will honor Judge Curtis Collier, among others, at the Second Annual Bessie Smith Legacy Gala on Nov. 8. The gala "celebrates those whose contributions have not only uplifted the community but have also fostered a spirit of resilience and unity," according to the center's website. Appointed in 1995, Collier made history as the first African American U.S. district judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Center officials told Chattanoogan.com that "proceeds from the gala will directly benefit the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Education Program, which provides dynamic learning opportunities for students, educators and the community through exhibitions, field trips, lectures and outreach initiatives." Read more about this year's honorees under the "Events" tab and get ticket information.

The TBA’s General, Solo & Small Firm Section will host networking events in Johnson City and Nashville next month. The first will be held Oct. 2 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. EDT at Wellington’s in Johnson City, followed by a gathering Oct. 8 from 5–7 p.m. CDT at Monday Night Brewing in Nashville. Section members, as well as any TBA member interested in learning more about the section, are invited to attend. Register for the Johnson City event or the Nashville event to help TBA plan for the gatherings. Thanks to Crystal Cole with CRC Legal Group for sponsoring the Nashville event.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) is seeking attorney volunteers to help commemorate Constitution Day by leading one-hour classroom programs on the U.S. Constitution at three Knoxville elementary schools. The programs will be held Sept. 19 at Fountain City Elementary from 8 to 9 a.m. and South Knox Elementary from 1 to 2 p.m., and Sept. 26 at Dogwood Elementary from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. All times EDT. Organized by the KBA Barristers School Outreach Committee, the interactive sessions will include videos, activities and Q&A opportunities with students. No prior teaching experience is required, and all materials will be provided. Attorneys interested in volunteering can reach out to co-chairs Grace Ewell or Hannah Clyde.

The American Bar Association (ABA) and American University Washington College of Law will host a virtual program, “On the Docket: Looking Ahead at the New Supreme Court Term,” on Sept. 25 from noon to 1:20 p.m. EDT. Panelists will preview major issues before the court when it reconvenes in October, including state bans on transgender athletes in sports, voting rights, campaign finance laws, the death penalty, state regulatory authority, challenges to conversion therapy and redistricting in Louisiana. The event will feature Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Berkeley School of Law; Gregory G. Garre, partner at Latham & Watkins; William W. Berry III, professor at the University of Mississippi Law School; and Boston Globe columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Stephen Wermiel, a professor at American University Washington College of Law, will moderate. Register here.