Each year the Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee recognizes those in the Memphis legal community who show a commitment to pro bono service and the pursuit of access to justice for all. The committee is accepting nominations through Oct. 6 for the Access to Justice 2023 Pro Bono Awards. Award recipients will be announced at the MBA’s 2023 Pro Bono Awards Ceremony on Nov. 8 at a reception hosted by Butler Snow. Submit a nomination via this form. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Access to Justice Commission are hosting the first in-person pro bono recognition event since 2019. All who received recognition as Attorneys for Justice and Law Students for Justice for 2020 through 2023 are invited to this celebration. The event will take place on Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Belmont College of Law. Members of the Tennessee Supreme Court will be on hand to honor pro bono recognition recipients. Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht will serve as the keynote speaker for this celebration. Light refreshments will immediately follow the presentations. RSVPs are requested. 

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold three legal clinics in October. The “Attorney of the Day Clinic” will take place Oct. 5 and 19 from 1-3 p.m. CST at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Room 134, Memphis 38103. The monthly clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library will take place Oct. 14 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.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will host a free virtual clinic on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. EDT to assist adults seeking to change their names. Clients are pre-registered and will be paired with volunteer attorneys and law students to draft petitions and get advice on how to prepare for a name change hearing. LAET is partnering with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Belmont School of Law and Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands to hold this event. Attorneys interested in volunteering should email mdevoe@laet.org.

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) will hold a number of activities this month as part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month and is looking for volunteers to help. On Oct. 5, the group will offer a free CLE to train lawyers how to assist rural clients with conservatorships. A virtual expungement clinic will be held the weeks of Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 to assist clients in Crockett and Obion counties. Two free virtual trainings will be held to help volunteers prepare for this work. Then on Oct. 25, the group will host “Breaking the Stereotype: What Pro Bono Looks Like in 2023,” which will feature Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins and WTLS Pro Bono Coordinator Andy Cole discussing the different ways attorneys can fulfill their ethical obligations to complete pro bono work. One free hour of CLE credit will be available to attendees.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division is hosting an expungement clinic in Nashville this Saturday and is in need of additional attorney volunteers. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Belmont College of Law. This clinic will be a great introduction to expungement work as the Davidson County Clerk’s office will be on site to assist with cases. A short video training also will be available. Contact Alix Rogers or Savannah Quintero to help. Thank you to Nashville law firm Martin Heller Potempa & Sheppard PLLC for sponsoring a breakfast for volunteers.

The Memphis Bar Association will host a legal advice clinic for older adults age 60 years and up on Thursday. The clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in Meeting Room A of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38111. Topics include estate planning, elder abuse, nursing home care, social security, conservatorship, eviction prevention, rent disputes and more. Contact the MBA at 901-527-3573 for more information.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold two legal clinics this week. On Wednesday, a legal clinic specifically for veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Academy St., Murfreesboro 37130 from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT. See all September clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold its Attorney of the Day Legal Advice Clinic tomorrow in the Probate Room of the Shelby County General Sessions Civil Courthouse beginning at 1 p.m. CDT. Clients should have an active or post-judgment General Sessions case to receive assistance and are helped on a first come, first served basis. For more information or to volunteer call 901-523-8822.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold two legal clinics this week. Tomorrow, LAS will hold a wills and power of attorney clinic from 3:30-6:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville School of Law, 4013 Armory Oaks Dr., Nashville 37204. On Saturday, the group will hold a clinic from 9:30-11:30 a.m. CDT at Belmont University, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. See all September clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.