Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2024 Annual Convention, set for June 12-15, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Perennial favorites such as the Bench Bar program and lunch, Lawyers Lunch and joint event with the Tennessee Judicial Conference return to the agenda alongside new offerings including a Wednesday night dine-around for all attendees; a Public Service breakfast, where TBA will honor legal aid, private practice and law student pro bono work; a ticketed reception on Thursday night open to the entire legal community; and a chance to be the honorary Peabody Duck Master! This year’s theme — “A Bridge to the Future” — also will bring compelling CLE programs focused on artificial intelligence and how this rapidly expanding technology will impact the practice of law. During the week, the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women, Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers and Tennessee Trial Lawyers' Association also will hold meetings and events at the Peabody, making Memphis the place to be this June. Access registration, hotel reservation information and more on the event website.

The Tennessee Bar Association is accepting nominations for its 2024 Claudia Jack Award and Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award. The Claudia Jack Award honors an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who has served the legal community and clients in an exemplary fashion. It is named after the late Claudia Jack, a public defender and long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged. The Drowota Award is given to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice, as exemplified by the career of former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank F. Drowota III. The deadline to submit nominees for both awards, which will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in June, is April 1.

Thank you for your support of the Litigation Practice Section this bar year! It has been a busy year, led by section Chair Allison Jackson. Earlier this month, the section sponsored an event in Memphis featuring a conversation with Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby and Justice Dwight Tarwater, moderated by Executive Committee members Will Perry and Buck Wellford. If you missed the program, no worries, it is currently available on demand in our CLE catalog. Also, please save the date for the upcoming virtual Litigation Forum on May 16. Our annual forum is a great time to connect with others in your practice area, and remember, you can use your section discount for the CLE.

Thank you for being part of the Litigation Practice Section. If you have thoughts or ideas for future section initiatives, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Isaiah 117 House, a northeast Tennessee-based nonprofit ministry, broke ground on a new facility in Memphis earlier this month. The organization allows children to go to a comfortable environment where trained volunteers can care for them during the period between removal and placement with a foster family. The Daily Memphian reports that in Shelby County, 1,200 children are in state custody. Teenagers make up the largest group, followed by small children from infancy through age 4. The Department of Children's Services (DCS) and Isaiah 117 House leaders began collaborating after they met at a monthly meeting of the Memphis Interfaith Foster and Adoption Ministries, an alliance of churches, agencies, ministries and community advocates who serve foster, adoptive and kinship children and families.

The TBA General, Solo & Small Firm Section is looking for attorneys interested in taking on a leadership position and joining the section executive council. The council members have monthly meetings, discuss relevant legislation and work together to plan continuing legal education programming throughout the bar year. Plus, there is always an opportunity for the section to do more, and we would love to hear your ideas! If you are interested in being considered or would like to recommend someone, please contact TBA Section Coordinator Brooke Leeton at bleeton@tnbar.org by June 15.

The TBA General, Solo & Small Firm Section directory is a great place to find colleagues with a similar focus. The directory provides a list of section members with contact information, as well as listing any other sections or TBA groups to which they belong. This resource provides a great way to connect with like-minded lawyers and find solo/small firm attorneys who are well-versed in other practice areas as well. View the section directory here.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has garnered dozens of pages of comments in response to a proposal to allow fully online law schools to become eligible for provisional and full ABA approval. Law.com reports today that those comments indicate “overwhelming support” for the idea. The ABA began soliciting comments on the proposal in January.

Tennessee’s population growth puts it on track for an additional U.S. House seat in 2032, Tennessee Lookout reports. According to the latest U.S. Census data, Tennessee’s population grew to 7.1 million people in 2023, which, if maintained, would mean it would gain another seat during the next redistricting cycle eight years from now. The paper reports that the state has not had more than nine House seats in some 80 years. After the Civil War, Tennessee had 10 congressional districts before losing one during the 1930 redistricting process, regaining it in 1940 and losing it again in 1950.

The 22nd edition of the Alimony Bench Book is now available. Published by the TBA’s Family Law Section, the book provides a ready resource for dealing with alimony cases in Tennessee. Current Family Law Section members can access their copy at no cost on the Family Law eCommunity page but must be logged into their TBA account. Others may purchase an electronic copy for $25 from the TBA Store.

Belmont Law Review at Belmont University College of Law will host its spring event on April 4 with a panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence’s Breakthrough Into the Legal Field.” The panel will focus on recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and how these developments impact different areas of the legal world, including private law firms, professional responsibility concerns, and entertainment and copyright practice. The event will take place from 6-7:15 p.m. CDT in Room 157 of the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, 1901 15th Ave. S. Nashville 37212. The event is free but attendees must register.