In recognition of Celebrate Pro Bono Month, Nashville lawyer and TBA Young Lawyers Division Board member Alix Rogers writes in a recent piece about how pro bono work not only helps those in need but also can be a valuable tool for professional growth. In "The Professional Power of Pro Bono: Building Skills, Networks and Purpose," Rogers reflects on her own experience and well as those gleaned from working with law students to outline the ways pro bono work can build critical skills and connections. Rogers is director of career and professional development at Belmont University College of Law. She serves on the TBA's Access to Justice Committee as well as Middle Tennessee Governor on the YLD Board. For many years, she also has coordinated the YLD's pro bono activities.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold two intake/interview sessions next week for prospective clients. On Monday, the group will be at the Marion County Justice Center in Jasper from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. On Tuesday, it will be at the Sequatchie County Chancery (Old) Courthouse in Dunlap from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. For more information, call the LAET office in Chattanooga at 423-756-4013.

The Tennessee Justice Bus will make stops in several locations over the next 10 days as Celebrate Pro Bono Month comes to a close. On Thursday, the bus will be in Dekalb County at the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency in Smithville from 9-11 a.m. CDT for a general legal advice clinic. Later that day, the bus will offer resources at Urban Housing Solutions’ Journeys of Hope meeting in Nashville from 6-7 p.m. On Friday, the bus will be at the Urban Housing Solutions Resource Fair at the Eastwood Court Apartments from 4-6 p.m. in Nashville. On Oct. 29, the bus will be in West Tennessee to participate in an expungement clinic in Decaturville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get details at the links above.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) in Memphis will host an estate planning clinic at City View Towers, 256 S. Camilla St., Memphis 38104, on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. CDT to help seniors with wills, powers of attorney and more. Attorneys and licensed notaries are needed to volunteer. Contact Melissa Hamilton at melissah@clcmemphis.org or (901) 543-3395 x209 for more information.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis will hold the 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Night on Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. EST. The event will take place at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville 37902 and will honor the work of area pro bono attorneys over the past year. Since 1965, LAET has transformed lives throughout the region, and this has been made possible through pro bono attorneys who volunteer their time. Purchase tickets here.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will host its Second Saturday Legal Advice Clinic tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Thanks to Bass, Berry & Sims and the MBA Probate & Estate Planning Section for sponsoring this month’s event. Attorneys always are needed to give legal advice and basic guidance on a range of issues, from divorce to employment law. To sponsor a future clinic, contact Mary Ann Upchurch at maupchurch@memphisbar.org. Questions about the clinic should be directed to Memphis Area Legal Services Pro Bono Managing Attorney Heather Staggs at hstaggs@malsi.org.

The Knoxville Bar Association will hold a celebration recognizing attorneys who volunteered with Knoxville’s Pro Bono Debt Relief Clinic in 2023 and 2024 on Oct. 23. The event will take place beginning at 2 p.m. EDT in the Main Assembly Room in the City County Building, 400 West Main St., Knoxville 37902. Volunteers will speak briefly about their experiences at the clinic and share stories of those they had the opportunity to help. A reception will follow. RSVP by Oct. 21.

TBA is partnering with Belmont College of Law, the Nashville Public Library, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Vanderbilt School of Nursing to hold a power of Attorney clinic on Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT at the Bordeaux Library Branch, 4000 Clarksville Pk., Nashville 37218. The clinic will offer assistance with drafting simple wills, powers of attorney (POAs) and advanced health care directives. Flu shots will also be available for individuals 18 or older, with no registration required. Contact Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu with questions.

Celebrate Pro Bono Month is coming in October with events scheduled across the state. The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will hold its annual pro bono event on Oct. 24 from 4:30 p.m to 7 p.m. CDT at Butler Snow, 6075 Poplar Ave., St. 500, Memphis 38119. The event will feature a presentation of the 2024 Access to Justice Awards. Get more information and register here.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) in Memphis will hold a fundraiser on Nov. 3. The CLCerveza event will take place at Grind City Brewing from 6-8 p.m. CDT. General tickets are available for $30. Client tickets can be sponsored for $20 apiece. All proceeds will go towards the CLC's work in providing legal services. Contact Austin Brown, 901-402-0509 with any questions.