The TBA Law Tech Section will offer a free webinar on Aug. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT to explore the degree to which AI "entities" can be held liable for criminal activity. David Thaw, associate research professor of law and computing & information at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, will provide an overview of the fundamental processes by which contemporary Large Language Models (LLMs) operate — including how they impersonate human-like activity — and then explore how this understanding can inform other areas of legal practice and how criminal law views the concept of volitional action. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

Bring your lunch and join colleagues for the second Sandwiches & Sidebars, a quarterly networking meet-up hosted by the TBA Mentoring Committee. This casual gathering is a great opportunity to meet new people, expand professional networks, exchange ideas and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. The next event will take place Nov. 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST at the TBA office located at 3010 Poston Ave., Nashville 37203. Free parking is available. TBA Members should drop in as their schedule allows — stay for a few minutes or the full two hours. From experienced to mid-career attorneys to young lawyers to law students, all members of the TBA are encouraged to attend. This event is supported by the Young Lawyers Division. Hope to see you there!

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on July 28 at 9 a.m. CDT about key legislative changes enacted in 2026 regarding Tennessee state tax issues and other laws related to motor vehicle titling and registration. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the Department of Revenue and other relevant state agencies. Register for the July session.

Nashville lawyer Jonathan Cole, a shareholder with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, will be the honored guest at a Tennessee reception held in conjunction with the American Bar Association Annual Meeting July 29 to Aug. 4 in Chicago. The reception will take place Aug. 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. CDT in the Crystal Ballroom C in the West Tower of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Any Tennessee lawyers in town are invited to attend. View the invitation. Cole has a long and distinguished track record of involvement in the ABA. He currently serves as chair of the ABA House of Delegates, the group’s 597-member policymaking body, making him the second ranking officer in the ABA. He previously served as a Tennessee delegate to the House of Delegates, chair of the Young Lawyers Division and director of the American Bar Endowment.

Bring your lunch and join colleagues for Sandwiches & Sidebars, a new quarterly networking meet-up hosted by the TBA Mentoring Committee. This casual gathering is a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network, exchange ideas and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. The first event will take place on July 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT at the TBA Office located at 3010 Poston Ave., Nashville 37203. Free street parking is available. TBA members should drop in as their schedule allows — stay for a few minutes or the full two hours. From experienced to mid-career attorneys to young lawyers to law students, all members of the legal community are encouraged to attend. This event is supported by the Young Lawyers Division. Hope to see you there!

ABA Free Legal Answers, the American Bar Association’s (ABA) national pro bono platform recently surpassed 500,000 civil legal questions answered and is approaching its 10-year anniversary in August. In recognition of this milestone, the ABA Center for Pro Bono is hosting a 10-Year Anniversary Fundraiser on Aug. 2 during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago. The event will take place on a river cruise from 1-3 p.m. CDT and will bring together volunteers, partners and supporters to celebrate the growth and impact of the platform over the past decade. Learn more and register for the event.

A retirement ceremony honoring U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes will be held July 23 at 3:30 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 6B of the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse, 719 Church St., Nashville. A reception in the courthouse rotunda will follow the ceremony. View the invitation. Holmes is retiring on July 31 after 11 years of service on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Before joining the federal court, Holmes practiced as a partner with Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner, where she headed the firm’s commercial bankruptcy and reorganization practice group. Prior to that she worked with the U.S. Trustee’s office. She is a master in the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court and a fellow of the Nashville and Tennessee bar foundations. She also served as president of the Nashville Bar Association in 2002. She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt Law in 1986. The law school has more on her career.

Happy 250th birthday America! The TBA will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day on Saturday. The office will reopen Monday at 8 a.m. CDT. As always, the TBA.org website has continuing legal education options and other information available 24/7. Reach out to staff directly using contact information available on our online staff directory.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on July 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT about state tax obligations for new businesses in Tennessee, as well as other resources that may assist those businesses. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the Department of Revenue and other relevant state agencies. Register on the department's website.

The National Bar Association (NBA) will hold its 101st Annual Convention in Nashville July 25-31, bringing together attorneys, judges and legal professionals from across the country under the theme, "The Rhythm of Excellence. The Power of Promise. The Energy of Now." The convention will celebrate the association's more than 100-year legacy while focusing on leadership development, advocacy, pipeline programs and the future of the legal profession. The event also will highlight the urgency of addressing current challenges facing communities through collaboration, innovation and continued investment in the next generation of Black lawyers and judges. Learn more and register on the NBA website.