The TBA today launched a new responsive design for the TBA.org website that allows for easier use on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. The site now automatically determines which type of device you are using and reformats information to offer the best display for that device. About 30 percent of all visits to the TBA.org website now come through mobile devices. 

In 2013, 88 percent of TBA members found TBA Today to be VERY USEFUL. Think that percentage is higher in 2015? Take the just launched 2015 TBA Survey of Tennessee Lawyers to have your opinion count. Look for the link in your email from Yacoubian Research. If you didn't receive the email, call or email Will Hampton at Yacoubian Research, 877-250-7890.

TBA Member Services (TBAMS), the wholly owned subsidiary of the Tennessee Bar Association that provides insurance and other services to members, today announced that it has severed ties with insurance agent Graham Swafford III. “We expect a virtually seamless transition for policy holders,” TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur said.

Lawyers who have obtained, or are in the process of obtaining or renewing lawyers' professional liability insurance through the TBA endorsed carrier, The Bar Plan, will get a letter within the next week or so fully informing them about the continuation of service.

"One reason we set up this subsidiary is to be able to offer continual service to our members as agents come and go and that is exactly what we are doing here," Ramsaur said. Kelly Stosik, TBA Membership Director, will handle calls, emails and other inquiries while The Bar Plan's in-house agent will continue to deal with applications and other issues until a new agent comes onboard.

Health, life, and disability brokerage arrangements for policies sold under the TBA umbrella will be ironed out in the next week or two. TBAMS will be seeking out an experienced agent to step in. Any questions? Contact Kelly Stosik or Allan Ramsaur at the TBA at (615) 383-7421 or kstosik@tnbar.org or aramsaur@tnbar.org.

The TBA is improving its website for CLE programming to give you new powers, new tools and new formats for learning. Transition to the refreshed website will take place Sunday evening, so there may be some time when the site is unavailable over the weekend. It is expected to be fully operational by Monday morning.

For the few TBA members who have not yet paid their dues for the 2014-2015 membership year, this will be your last issue of TBA Today until payment is received. After today, all member services – including access to Fastcase online research, discounts on CLE programs and new issues of the Tennessee Bar Journal and other TBA publications – will be discontinued. Don’t let this happen to you. Renew online now to keep these and other services flowing.

With each passing year, more and more Tennessee attorneys decide to "hang their own shingle" and begin a solo or small firm practice. To help these lawyers get a solid start, the TBA has launched the Solo in a Box Toolkit, a new resource offering advice on everything from how to choose an office space to managing client files.

Only a few days remain before the March 31 deadline for obtaining health insurance, so check out the TBA Health Insurance Exchange now. The TBA Health Insurance Exchange offers all of the rates and plans in the public exchanges, PLUS you will also be able to see Private Exchange rates that can offer more plan designs as well as lower premiums in some cases. The Exchange is simple, easy to use and will get you the information you need fast.

The Tennessee Bar Association has joined forces with Clio, the leading provider of cloud-based practice management, time and billing and client collaboration tools for law firms. This partnership program allows TBA members to subscribe to Clio at a discounted rate for the lifetime of their TBA membership. Learn more about Clio now.

UPS, the TBA's newest benefit partner, wants you to save up to 36 percent on shipping and have the chance to win a tablet computer in the process. Here’s how it works. Sign up for a new UPS account by Sept. 26 and receive one entry into the promotion. Find out more or sign up today.

Time is running out. If you have not already paid your 2013-2014 dues, your subscription to TBA Today, access to Fastcase and other Complete Membership benefits will expire today, Aug. 1. To ensure you do not lose any of these benefits, renew your membership online, call (800) 899-6993 or email the TBA. Learn more about all the benefits offered to TBA members, including a brand new benefit from UPS. You will not want to miss out on any of these deals!