TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new with TBA Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Ashley Harbin. Schwarz and Harbin discuss HB40/SB122, legislation prohibiting foreign ownership of real property by nonresident aliens; HB316/SB268, the Money Transmission Modernization Act; HB337/SB489, legislation amending the Small Estate Act; and HB795/SB283, legislation allowing people to bring guns in the buildings where judicial proceedings are held, but not in the courtroom. Legislative Updates airs each week on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division recently rolled out a new benefit for its members. The "Welcome to Tennessee Basket" —  a project led by YLD President Brittany Faith — offers a range of standard forms, helpful links, suggested reading and practice guides. The resource is available to all TBA members, but be sure to be logged into your TBA account to check it out. If you have a form you would like to share please upload it here. To recommend other resources, send details to YLD Coordinator Laura Labenberg. Thanks to Hendersonville lawyer John Murphy and Chattanooga lawyer Charlotte Mattingly for their work on this project.

The TBA YLD is committed to providing members with practical resources that increase their membership value and is excited to announce a new member benefit. The "Welcome to Tennessee Basket" offers a range of standard forms, helpful links, suggested reading and practice guides. Be sure to be logged into your TBA account to check it out. If you have a form that you use on a regular basis and you think other young lawyers would benefit from, please upload it to this link. Though you do not have to have personally created the form, if you did not, then it needs to be publicly available or you should have permission to share it. Forms could be those you frequently access online or one provided by the AOC for your practice area. The TBY YLD Board will go through all forms to review and edit for quality and formatting. If you have another resource you would recommend please send that to YLD Coordinator Laura Labenberg.

The TBA launched a new career center this week offering more resources for employers and job seekers. The newly enhanced JobLink Career Center now offers career development articles on job searching, interviewing and negotiation. Job seekers also can receive career advice, access job market data, get resume reviews and sign up for job matching notifications. Coaching is also available for a fee. Employers can create company profiles, use templates to post jobs and manage candidates, and search resumes. In addition, jobs will be viewable by attorneys across the country, not just in Tennessee. TBA members will receive a Job Flash email twice a month featuring available jobs. 

Time to update and check-in on the digital YOU. If you moved, have a new photo, or need to change your practice areas or profile — now is the time to update. You also can customize your contact information with TBA’s address preferences, which means you can choose different addresses for your directory listing, where you receive mail and where you receive membership and billing notices. Your TBA profile helps clients and colleagues find you so be sure to keep it current. Watch this tutorial on how to update your information. Looking for a fellow TBA member? Search our online directory.

Exciting changes are coming to the TBA’s JobLink service! In addition to job postings, the new career center will offer resume review services, career advice and planning resources and will allow members to post their resumes for employers to browse. Make sure to check back next week for the official launch of the new page and more information on how the JobLink site can benefit your career and practice.

The TBA’s Mentoring Program is seeking volunteers to mentor law students and newer attorneys across the state. This is a flexible program designed by the mentor and mentee based on their schedules and availabilities. The TBA offers a range of resources to guide conversations and assist in the mentoring relationship. To become a mentor, please fill out this online application or contact Young Lawyers Division & Law Student Development Coordinator Laura Labenberg, 615-277-3217.

The TBA Book Club will hold its second discussion event this week on Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. CST via Zoom. Members chose Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things” as the group’s second quarter book selection. The novel focuses on a Black labor and delivery nurse who is assigned to a child of white supremacists. The TBA will welcome author, poet and African American literature and cultural history expert Darius Stewart to the meeting as a special guest to provide context and insight into the book. Former TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson will lead the discussion. Register for the event.

Throw on your best holiday sweater, grab some eggnog and settle in for a special holiday episode of the TBA BarBuzz podcast! Nashville attorney Courtney Leyes of Fisher Phillips co-hosts this month’s episode to discuss upcoming events at the TBA, legal news and special holiday traditions. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and is available on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Book Club will hold its second discussion event on Jan. 11 from 4 to 5 p.m. CST via Zoom. Members chose Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things” as the group’s second quarter book selection. The novel focuses on a Black labor and delivery nurse who is assigned to a child of white supremacists. The TBA will welcome author, poet and African American literature and cultural history expert Darius Stewart to the meeting as a special guest to provide context and insight into the book. Former TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson will lead the discussion. Register for the event.