TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Laura Labenberg on Feb 2, 2026

The TBA Mentoring Committee, in collaboration with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, held a special event — "Developing Lawyers, Developing Leaders: A CLE on Mentorship and Professional Excellence" — last week at Belmont University College of Law. Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart; University of Tennessee Winston College of Law professor Joan Heminway; Amy Schmisseur, chair of Belmont University's Department of Communication Studies; Sean Aiello of Schell & Oglesby; Billy Leslie of Wilson Elser; and Toyin Edogun of Bass Berry & Sims explored topics of mentorship, leadership and communication across one's legal career. The day of learning was followed by a networking event and the opportunity for participants to mix mocktails together. Mentorship Committee Chair Ross Smith and Vice Chair Alix Rogers organized the event as a kick-off to the TBA's new approach to mentoring. Throughout 2026, the committee will be promoting monthly "mentoring meet-ups" in the hopes that relationships will form organically through participation in activities, rather than the previous approach of assigning mentors. See the committee's updated website page for a list of upcoming mentoring meet-ups as well as helpful resources for mentoring. Those interested in joining the Mentoring Committee to help plan meet-ups should email llabenberg@tnbar.org.

TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026

Back row (left to right): Ross Smith, Joan Heminway, Amy Schmisseur, Alix Rogers
Front row (left to right): Billy Leslie. Judge Lee Bussart, Sean Aiello, Toyin Edogun

TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026   TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026

TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026   TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026

TBA Mentoring Committee Mentoring & Mocktails Nashville January 2026