The Knoxville Bar Association’s Diversity in the Profession Committee will present "Difficult Conversation" on Oct. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. The free event will feature Dr. Avice Reid, who will discuss racial disparities, circumstances that create them, how those served by the legal profession have changed, and how to create an environment of trust, accountability and empathy. Reid is immediate past chair of Leadership Knoxville. She formerly served as senior manager of information technology at the Tennessee Valley Authority and senior director of community relations for the city of Knoxville.

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office is observing National Voter Registration Month in September by leading voter-registration efforts in schools and businesses, the Johnson City Press reports. The office also has launched the Anne Dallas Dudley award for high schools that register at least 85% of their eligible students to vote. Any Tennessee business or organization can join “Your Vote Matters” by registering at GoVoteTN.gov.

The Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for its 2021 Pro Bono Awards. Nominations in the following categories are due by Sept. 24: judge, law firm, legal department, attorney, public interest attorney/professional and law student. Applications should include the individual’s name and contact information as well as a brief statement supporting the nomination. Winners will be announced at the Pro Bono Awards Ceremony at the end of October.

A federal judge has alerted the U.S. Marshals Service to at least one threat made to a Collierville family who is suing Gov. Bill Lee over his mask opt-out order for schools. U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl Lipman also asked attorneys for the parents in the case to notify her of any other threats received, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to a police report, the family has received multiple online messages since they brought a suit to federal court, but one Facebook post was particularly “alarming” police said.

Make plans now to attend the TBA’s annual Health Law Primer and Forum being offered virtually this year. The Primer, which will run from noon to 4:30 p.m. CDT on Oct. 20, will provide an introduction to health law practice, including an overview of Tennessee law, fraud and abuse fundamentals, licensing and contracting. Then on Oct. 21-22, the annual Health Law Forum will provide a deeper dive into transactions, fraud and abuse, physician discipline, claims coding, HIPAA, recent state court cases, and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. That program provides 15 hours of CLE credit.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week for those with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of all September clinics.

In addition to rallies supporting death row inmate Pervis Payne in Tennessee this week, Local Memphis reports that rallies took place in cities across the country. Payne has been on death row for more than 30 years. Supporters believe he is innocent of murder charges and should not be executed due to an intellectual disability. According to the Innocence Project, rallies marking the one-year anniversary of the first #FreePervisPayne rallies took place Wednesday in Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Washington D.C. and Martha's Vineyard.

When disaster strikes, the legal aid agencies are available to help those impacted, Bridget Stewart writes in a guest column for the Tennessean. Stewart, a disaster response attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, highlights the ways legal aid can help: assisting residents with replacing lost documents, providing guidance on getting homes restored to a livable condition, helping clients understand insurance policies and rental agreements, helping victims apply for FEMA funds and providing education about price gouging and unscrupulous contractors. Those in Middle Tennessee who need assistance should call l800-238-1443 or visit www.las.org/tornado-relief.

A lawyer generally may invest passively in a law firm that includes nonlawyer owners in jurisdictions that permit such alternative business structures, even if the lawyer practices in a jurisdiction that does not permit such structures, the ABA announced this week. The ABA notes that several jurisdictions, including Arizona, the District of Columbia and Utah, have modified Rule 5.4 to permit nonlawyer ownership of firms and the sharing of legal fees. Formal Opinion 499, released Wednesday, advises that investment in these states is allowed so long as the lawyer remains cognizant of possible conflict of interests that could arise. Read more in this news release or article in the ABA Journal.

The Tennessee Supreme Court and its Access to Justice Commission, the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Tennessee Housing Development agency sponsored an Evictions Summit on Aug. 31 for stakeholders. The virtual event drew more than 300 registrants, including landlords, tenants, judges, court clerks, attorneys and mediators. The summit kicked off with opening remarks from the sponsoring agencies followed by presentations on COVID-19 rent relief, tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities, and alternatives to going to court. The day wrapped up with breakout sessions, allowing those with similar interests to discuss and share trends, strategies and possible policy changes.