The Tennessee Bar Journal was today named the best association magazine in the state by the Tennessee Society of Association Executives at its awards luncheon in Nashville. The publication was honored for its coverage in 2015 of its 50th Birthday Celebration, which included feature stories every month showing how the Journal has reflected the changes in the legal world since 1965. You can read back through the articles that covered areas such as technology, women’s issues, continuing legal education, race relations, access to justice, columnists, conventions, awards and the courts.

Columns in the July Tennessee Bar Journal cover subjects from alternative dispute resolution all the way to boxing. Russell Fowler delves into the history of ADR in his column, "History's Verdict" and Wade Davies explains defining and limiting the community caretaking exception in his column, "Crime & Punishment." In "But Seriously, Folks!" Bill Haltom looks at the long, unlikely and complicated relationship between Mohammad Ali and the lawyer, Howard Cosell. Marlene Eskind Moses and Benjamin Manuel Russ update their "Family Matters" column that was published in May with new information after the General Assembly took action that significantly changed the advice rendered in that piece. Read "Legislative Actions Alter QDRO Advice."

What if a person has no good reputation to protect – does defamation law still apply to her? David L. Hudson Jr. looks at the Libel-Proof Plaintiff Doctrine in the July Tennessee Bar Journal while Charles L. Baum examines the details of calculating loss from wrongful incarceration. TBA’s new president, Jason Long, writes about the TBA Special Committee on Evolving Legal Markets (ELM) and its explorations into the changing legal landscape and new ways legal services are being delivered. Read these and other stories in the new issue of the journal.

This month's Tennessee Bar Journal columnists cover a lot of ground: Monica Franklin writes about "Protecting Older Adults from Financial Exploitation: Proposed Federal Laws and Regulations." Edward Phillips and Brandon Morrow explore the issues of one employee recording another's harassment in "O, That Mine Enemy Would Record Me With Her Smartphone." Humor columnist Bill Haltom handles a hot topic with a cold outcome -- a recent lawsuit involving too much ice in Starbucks coffee. The Hon. Creed McGinley reviews Haltom's new book, Milk & Sugar: The Complete Book of Seersucker. Read the review, then come to the TBA Convention on Thursday to have the book signed, following the CLE, "Seersucker and Civility: How to Dress and Behave Like a Lawyer."

Lawyers need to be familiar with technology-assisted review when dealing with documents in data-intensive cases. In the June issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal, out today, Dr. Joel Henry and Michael Pasque explain what you need to know and how technology can be used to help your case. Also, Scott D. Weiss examines condominium smoking regulations -- are they legal? Bill Harbison pens his last column as Tennessee Bar Association president, looking at the "last lines" of many great works of literature. In one of his own great last lines he writes, "Our bar association is a wonderful bridge between past and future, bringing together lawyers from so many perspectives who help to shape our profession. … We should all have lots of optimism for the future of our profession." Read the June issue online.

If you are looking for some weekend reading, catch up on the Tennessee Bar Journal columns that are in this month's issue. Marlene Eskind Moses and Benjamin Russ explain Qualified Domestic Relations Orders and state/local government pensions; John Day writes about surviving spouses and wrongful death claims; and TBA President Bill Harbison explains how important mentor relationships can be. Bill Haltom recalls two mentors he and his family lost recently, Howard and Claude Swafford -- his "two favorite courthouse square lawyers."

In protecting children of divorce, two strong camps exist when it comes to including mental health records of a parent in custody matters. The May Tennessee Bar Journal looks at both sides of this conflict that has arisen from the Culbertson cases, with articles from Memphis lawyer Amy Amundsen and Nashville lawyer Jeff Levy. Also, Chattanooga lawyer Russell Fowler examines Tennessee historical figure Montgomery Bell and the surprising impact he had on the law. Read the May issue.

The Tennessee Bar Journal this month delves into the inner workings of a Momon hearing — who is the best person to ask the questions of the defendant? Jason R. Smith explains. Staff writer Amelia Ferrell Knisely explores the new Davidson County Human Trafficking Intervention Court. It offers an alternative to jail for women arrested for prostitution in an effort to address sex trafficking, which is a growing problem. Sometimes, this court recognizes, the defendant herself is also a victim. Also in this issue, President Bill Harbison writes about the positive and negative effects of competition. Other columns this month cover estate planning by Eddy R. Smith, reverse mortgages by Kathryn Reed Edge -- and Bill Haltom takes a look at the difference between the presidential debates of today versus those in years gone by.  Read the entire April issue.

Journal columns this month touch on trial-related cases and personalities. Wade Davies discusses public records as evidence in criminal cases. Russell Fowler writes about a lawyer known for sensational trial tactics, which brought him fame but eventually ruined him. Bill Haltom writes about Nashville's John Jay Hooker, who died Jan. 24. Haltom's column, “When John Jay Hooker Almost Shot Me" explores the long-time and respectful relationship -- if filled with threats of duels and law suits -- the two shared. Read the March issue.

Depositions are a basic tool for many trials, but are you using them in the most effective way possible? Dan Berexa looks at best practices for depositions in this issue of the Journal. Judge Kenneth Switzer and Jane Pribek Salem explain what you need to know about Tennessee’s Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. For instance, at the trial level an average of 52 days pass from the time a mediator certifies a dispute until a workers’ compensation judge issues an order. Judge Pamela B. Johnson tells you the do's and don'ts of how to practice in the relatively new court. Read these stories and more in the March Journal.