The National Bar Association announced today that it will present U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald with its Lifetime Achievement Award next month during the its annual Wiley Branton Symposium. The award ceremony will take place Oct. 14. Other awards will recognize visionary leadership, rising stars and unsung heroes. See the full list of award recipients.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will conduct two clinics this week. Tomorrow, the group will hold a phone clinic providing general advice at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 15 callers will be accepted. Then on Wednesday, the group will hold a clinic specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer for either clinic, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. 

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will hold its annual Fall Memorial Service virtually on Nov. 12 at noon EDT. The service will celebrate the careers of KBA members who died in the last nine months. KBA President Cheryl Rice, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee and Rev. Charles Fels will lead the service. See the list of lawyers being remembered or register for the event here.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold its next free webinar on state tax issues on Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. CDT. The September session will cover sales and use tax for specified digital products in Tennessee. Participants will learn about taxation of electronically transferred digital audio-visual works, digital audio works, digital books and more.

Volunteers are still needed for a virtual debt relief clinic on Oct. 2 from 9-11:30 a.m. EDT. The clinic is hosted by Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and sponsored by the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight will provide an overview of the process the morning of the clinic. Attorneys will then enter Zoom breakout rooms to meet with clients. Sign up here.

October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month and the Tennessee access to justice community is planning events throughout the month. As a kick-off, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page will share a thoughtful message about pro bono service while Russell Fowler, director of litigation and advocacy at Legal Aid of East Tennessee, will educate and entertain about the history of access to justice and its relevance today at a virtual presentation Sept. 30 at noon CST. Learn more and register here. Events in October, including opportunities to volunteer, will be promoted in TBA Today, via social media and on the TBA website. If you have information about an event, please share it with the TBA. 

The YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee will hold the next installment in its Stand Against Racism series next Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The session will focus on inadequacies of funding for K-12 and higher education and the impact on students who are poor, Black and brown, English-language learners and those with disabilities. Register here to attend this virtual program. Charles Grant, an attorney with Baker Donelson, will moderate the program. Questions can be directed to Amber Hale, 615-983-5129.

The TBA is offering a free virtual webinar Oct. 6 from 3-4 p.m. CDT on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s recent decision in Milan v. Navistar. The case looked at changes to the economic loss doctrine, which precludes recovery for purely economic losses in tort actions. The Court of Appeals held that the economic loss doctrine bars a plaintiff’s fraudulent inducement claim. The Supreme Court agreed. University of Tennessee College of Law professor Lucy Jewel and retired professor John Sobieski will lead a discussion about the decision. One hour of CLE is available for TBA members for a $45 fee.

Knoxville area legal organizations will hold an in-person veterans’ legal advice clinic on Oct. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St. Those seeking advice should preregister at 865-637-0484. Lawyers who would like to volunteer can sign up online. Masks are required. Volunteers also must accept the terms of the KBA COVID-19 safety acknowledgement and liability waiver. Volunteers may choose to continue volunteering by telephone.

The Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month by honoring a group of Tennesseans who have championed health equity and access in the state. Marvin Berry Jr., Judge Richard Dinkins, Frank and Amy Garrison and Dr. Robert Mille will all be inducted into the TJC Hall of Fame. The virtual gala will be held on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. CDT. Since its founding in 1996, TJC has represented nearly 15,000 children and adults and has worked to advocate for policy reforms that benefit low-income Tennesseans. Register for the 25th Anniversary Gala.