Jonathan Cole, a lawyer with Baker Donelson in Nashville and chair of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, is among five legal experts who will share their reflections from a recent visit to South Texas, where they observed how immigration law and policy are implemented at the border. The free webinar on Feb. 25 will begin at 4 p.m. EST and address the challenges faced by noncitizens at the border and the efforts of the ABA’s ProBAR staff to uphold due process rights for immigrants and asylum-seekers. Those interested in joining the webinar can register on the ABA website.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Law Review’s 2025 symposium, "The Ripple Effect: Examining the Supreme Court's Impact on the Public's Confidence in the Judicial Branch," will take place next week. The event will explore public trust in state and federal courts with discussions focused on judicial transparency, stare decisis and religious liberty jurisprudence. This year’s keynote presentation includes a panel of federal and state judges and justices to provide a unique "view from the bench." The event will be Feb. 21 at the law school. Register here.

The University of Tennessee College of Law’s Journal of Race, Gender & Social Justice will hold its 2025 symposium on Feb. 20. This year’s program will focus on the topic "Ballots & Barriers: New & Historic Challenges to Voting in Tennessee and Beyond.” The event will feature three panels on topics such as redistricting, disenfranchisement and voter restoration. A keynote address will be given by Case Western Reserve University law professor Atiba Ellis. Attorneys interested in attending can register here. Questions should be directed to Jeremiah McCauley or Emily Seguin. View a schedule for the day.

Join members of the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee for a live interactive roundtable on how best to manage work-life balance as a legal professional. This 45-minute Zoom event on March 26 at noon CDT will feature attorneys discussing their day-to-day practice, and provide effective tools for personal well-being. While geared toward law students and young lawyers, this free event is open to all TBA members, but registration is required. Questions and feedback are encouraged. Submit questions in advance to jword@tnbar.org.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Feb. 20 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. Register by Feb. 17 to participate. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Feb. 12 from 12-1 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland (LAS) will hold a free legal clinic in Antioch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The clinic will take place at the southeast branch of the Nashville Public Library, 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Ste. 202, Antioch 37013. The general civil clinic will assist clients with issues such as landlord/tenant disputes, family law, estate planning and debt collection. Those in need of assistance should register online. Contact Kendra Cheek at 800-238-1443 or kcheek@las.org to volunteer.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced that his seventh State of the State Address will take place on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. CST. The speech will be presented in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol. In the announcement, Gov. Lee emphasized Tennessee's role as a leader in opportunity, security and freedom, and expressed his commitment to innovation for the state's future. He also indicated that he would share his budget and legislative priorities for the year during the address. The address will be live streamed on the governor’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Attorney volunteers are needed on March 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST to help score the District 7 high school mock trial competition. The competition will take place at the Rutherford County Judicial Center, 116 W. Lytle St., Murfreesboro 37130. Contact Morgan Hanna for more information and to volunteer. Attorney volunteers are also needed on Feb.19-20 and Feb. 24-25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. EST in Chattanooga to help score Tennessee's largest mock trial district competition. Click here to volunteer for the District 5 competition. Shelby County needs volunteer lawyers and 2L and 3L law students for their competition on Feb. 20-22 at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Memphis  38103. Click here to volunteer for District 14.  Davidson County is seeking volunteers on the evening of Feb. 21 and the morning of Feb. 22. No mock trial experience is necessary. Click here to select specific times to volunteer for District 9. Those who would like to volunteer at another district competition may find a list of all events on the TBA website.

The Belmont College of Law’s Legal Aid Society will host its annual golf tournament fundraiser on March 25. The “Putt for Pro Bono Golf Tournament” raises funds for law students pursuing unpaid public interest internships, enabling future advocates to gain invaluable experience while making a difference in their communities. Watch for more information to come including a link to register for the event. Contact Natalie Burton in the meantime with any questions.