Journal Online

There are opportunities for pro bono that fall within many practice areas, including specialties not typically associated with volunteer legal service. The January Tennessee Bar Journal looks at the varied areas of law that are being used to help others pro bono. This story leads off the issue, which includes an update from the Tennessee Supreme Court’s ATJ Commission, features on this year’s Public Service Award honorees, and a look back more than 800 years when Henry II crafted a novel judicial system. Companies’ hiring of employees using work visas is also covered. TBA President Jason Long thanks the many volunteers who continue to help with the aftermath of the wildfires in East Tennessee. John Day writes about child sexual abuse victims and Marlene Eskind Moses and Benjamin Russ write about the doctrine of “inconvenient forum.” Bill Haltom looks at the flip side of “absence of malice.” 

Sections, Divisions

Writing Contest

The TBA Environmental Law Section has announced the 10th annual Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award writing competition for law students enrolled in a Tennessee law school in 2016 or 2017. The competition is held in memory of one of the section's outstanding founding members and has a cash prize pool of $1,200. It is a juried competition for the best legal writing on a topic of Tennessee or federal environmental law. Entries are due by April 1. The competition rules and announcement are available here in downloadable format.

The 14th Edition of the Alimony Bench Book is now available from the TBA Family Law Section. Produced by the members of the section’s Alimony Committee, the book is available for purchase in a loose-leaf format for $40 or a three-ring binder for $50. To order the book, visit the TBA’s online bookstore or contact the TBA at (615) 383-7421. Members of the Family Law Section can download the new edition at no charge by logging in to TBA.org and going to the Resources link on the Family Law Section's webpage.  

Committees, Task Forces

Corporate Council Initiative

Representatives from all six Tennessee law schools gathered in Nashville over the weekend with leaders from the access to justice community for the fourth Law School Pro Bono & Public Interest Summit, hosted by Nashville School of Law and sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee and the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. About 30 people took part in the program, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee and Nashville School of Law Dean (and former Supreme Court Justice) William Koch.

The TBA Public Education Committee has updated The Legal Handbook for Tennessee Seniors. The Handbook contains practical information on a wide range of topics, including issues such as applying for Social Security benefits, long-term care considerations and estate planning, as well as completely new sections addressing online security and new health care legislation. 

Events

Calendar

Environmental law is a combination of treaties, statutes, regulations and common law that manages and controls the relationship between human activity and our natural environment. This year’s program will discuss environmental considerations in real estate, with a look at transactional liability and redevelopment issues. Also included will be an update in solar power...

Disputes over construction projects can birth many different causes of action. This seminar is for lawyers who are new to this field, but also those who are experienced, and will cover various causes of action, including basic elements, procedure, how courts rule, and the interplay between the differing causes of action. This informational, full-day program will provide 6...

Although the state legislature’s filing deadline is still two weeks away, five bills have already been filed to make changes to the state’s professional privilege tax,...
The Tennessee Supreme Court said Monday it will review the appeal of Lindsey Lowe, a Hendersonville woman who was convicted of smothering her newborn twins to death in 2011....
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