Volunteer attorneys, notaries and witnesses are needed for the TBA Young Lawyers Division Essential Documents for Essential Workers Clinic to be held Nov. 29, 3-7 p.m. CST at the White County Public Library, 11 North Church St., Sparta 38583. The program will offer free wills, powers of attorney and advanced health care directives to essential workers such as teachers, first responders and their spouses. No prior experience is needed. To volunteer or for more info, email Amber Vargas.

Tennessee Youth Courts are fully operational again after the pandemic forced their closure. The program needs the support of lawyers to volunteer to assist youth court members for their roles before the courts. Volunteer lawyers will receive Youth Court Training (CLE) without charge. Visit tnyouthcourts.org to learn more about the program. Please register to volunteer with Denise Bentley via email with the subject line VOLUNTEER.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold three legal clinics in November. The “Attorney of the Day Clinic” will take place Nov. 2 and 16 from 1-3 p.m. CST at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Room 134, Memphis 38103. The monthly Saturday clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library will take place Nov. 11 beginning at 10 a.m. The library is located at 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38111. For both clinics, clients will be served on a first come, first served basis. For questions or to volunteer contact Heather Staggs or Walter Casey.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold a Thursday afternoon Courthouse Advice & Counsel Clinic this week starting at 1 p.m. CDT at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams St., Room 134. Volunteer lawyers are needed to help clients navigating the court system. This clinic is held the first and third Thursdays of the month. For more information or to sign up to help call 901-523-8822 or fill out this Google form.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts is joining the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings to provide free legal services for nonprofits and Black-owned small businesses in Nashville this Friday. Advice will cover business formation, corporate governance, contracts and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible entities may receive up to one hour of assistance. Clients should sign up online. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands is hosting a Pro Bono Appreciation Happy Hour to thank and recognize its volunteers. The event is this Thursday from 4:30-6 p.m. CDT at 501 Commerce St. at Fifth & Broadway in Nashville, and is sponsored by Polsinelli and K&L Gates. Find more information and RSVP here. 

The Memphis Bar Association YLD is seeking volunteer attorneys to participate in Legal Lines with WREG on Oct. 24 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. CDT. Volunteers will be answering phones and must be able to stay for the entire event. Register for the event or email constance.brown@memphistn.gov for more information.

Attorney and law student volunteers are needed for a Rights Restoration Project being planned by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission (ATJ). The commission will provide a virtual training on Oct. 20 from 1-2:30 p.m. CDT focused on the rights restoration process, available forms and resources, and recent changes in the law. The training is free but registration is required. After completing the training, lawyers will be matched with a law student and a client. Cases will be worked throughout the month of November. Those who would like more information before signing up for the training may watch a recording of an informational meeting about the project (use passcode 8UW#%GnU) and follow along with this slide deck.

The NAACP Sumner County Branch and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold an expungement clinic on Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the Gallaton Shalom Zone, 600 Small St., Gallatin 37066. Registration is required.

The Tennessee Supreme Court and its Access to Justice Commission held a pro bono recognition event Tuesday night at Belmont University College of Law. It was the first in-person recognition event since the pandemic, and honored lawyers for their pro bono work in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Pro Bono Recognition Program honors lawyers and law students who provide at least 50 hours of pro bono service during the year as an "Attorney for Justice" or "Law Student for Justice." In 2021, the court also added the category "Mediator for Justice" to increase the number of mediators providing pro bono services. At this year's event, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby and Justices Jeffrey Bivins and Sarah Campbell were on hand to thank lawyers for their contributions. Belmont College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzales welcomed honorees to the law school, Tennessee Access to Justice Commission Chair and TBA Board member John Farringer congratulated honorees, and Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht gave keynote remarks. See photos from the event.