TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 10, 2026

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law hosted its 2026 Orr Symposium on June 3, bringing together judges, lawyers, scholars and access to justice advocates to examine attorney shortages in Tennessee's rural "legal deserts" and discuss possible reforms. According to a release from the law school, the symposium explored issues such as alternative pathways to lawyer licensure, the use of trained non-lawyer legal professionals and strategies to expand legal services in underserved communities. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner said the court's recent call for public comment on potential regulatory reforms is intended to encourage statewide discussion about unmet legal needs. The program also highlighted findings from Tennessee's 2025 Civil Legal Needs Assessment and introduced the proposed Legal Desert Incubator Program, which would support new lawyers who commit to practicing in rural areas with limited legal representation.