Kathryn “Katie” Reed Edge will retire from the practice of law on Dec. 31, leaving Butler Snow’s Nashville office to assume the role of full-time grandmother to her triplet grandchildren in Austin, Texas. Her practice has centered on representing the organizers of new banks and other regulated financial institutions and serving as corporate and regulatory counsel for financial services companies.

Kathryn “Katie” Reed Edge will retire from the practice of law on Dec. 31, leaving Butler Snow’s Nashville office to assume the role of full-time grandmother to her triplet grandchildren in Austin, Texas. Her practice has centered on representing the organizers of new banks and other regulated financial institutions and serving as corporate and regulatory counsel for financial services companies.

Kathryn “Katie” Reed Edge will retire from the practice of law on Dec. 31, leaving Butler Snow’s Nashville office to assume the role of full-time grandmother to her triplet grandchildren in Austin, Texas. Her practice has centered on representing the organizers of new banks and other regulated financial institutions and serving as corporate and regulatory counsel for financial services companies.

The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center and the law firm of Bass, Berry & Sims have forged a pro bono partnership to make mediation more accessible to low-income families and youth in Middle Tennessee. The groups announced the effort last month during Celebrate Pro Bono Month and National Mediation Week. The center already provides free mediation as an alternative dispute resolution method, but the involvement of Bass Berry will “provide a new stream of mediators” and allow the center to increase the referrals it accepts from Davidson County and surrounding county courts. For more information read a joint release from the groups.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will celebrate pro bono volunteers at its annual “Forging Justice” event this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ironwood Studios. The event will feature live music, food and drink, and a silent auction. The agency also will recognize key volunteers. Tickets are available online.

October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month — check out what’s going on this month and how you can get involved. Now in its 11th year, the 2019 statewide Celebrate Pro Bono Month brings together legal services providers with local bar associations, law schools, law firms and individual lawyers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. Hundreds of volunteers are expected to participate in dozens of events and activities across the state that will offer assistance to Tennesseans in need.

To celebrate, the Journal looks back to one of Tennessee’s earliest lawyers, William Tatham. He led an adventurous life and championed pro bono before Tennessee was even a state. In 1793  there were only seven lawyers on this rough-and-tumble frontier serving a scattered population of nearly 100,000 from the Virginia line to Nashville. Read about Tatham's life and pro bono efforts.

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is hosting a series of virtual legal clinics this month as part of Celebrate Pro Bono. At the clinics, hosted by law schools in the state, attorney volunteers will be paired with a small group of law students to answer legal questions submitted by low income Tennesseans via TN Free Legal Answers (TNFLA). The events include an Oct. 10 clinic at Belmont University College of Law, which is co-hosted by the TBA YLD. Other events will take place Oct. 22 at the University of Memphis School of Law and Oct. 31 at the University of Tennessee College of Law. For more information, contact Kirsten Jacobson, TALS staff attorney and TNFLA site administrator.

October is “Celebrate Pro Bono Month,” and Tennessee lawyers are joining their colleagues across the country to provide free legal services to those in need and honor the good work performed by the legal community every day. Now in its 11th year,  the annual National Pro Bono Celebration brings together legal service providers with bar associations, law schools, law firms and individual attorneys to offer free legal services to those unable to afford a lawyer. The TBA will be promoting events throughout the month. If you have information on an event, please share it with TBA.

The October TBJ has all the details about the Tennessee Bar Association’s new Group Health Insurance Plan, including a word from TBA President Sarah Y. Sheppeard. Also read about how direct primary care legislation in the state can influence public health and medical economics. October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month -- we have the information on what’s going on, plus a look at historic figure William Tatham and his pro bono work. Columns this month include elder law and employment law: help with recognizing and addressing dementia in your clients and whistleblower claims in Tennessee.

Coming up: The October issue will be rolling off the press soon and appearing online, with all the details and answers about the TBA’s new health insurance benefit. Columnists cover recognizing and addressing dementia in your clients, Tennessee whistleblower claims, and a new look at why lawyers should consider stress-reducing practices such as meditation. Also! October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month! Read about how you can get involved, as well as a look back at one long-ago lawyer who helped.