The Knoxville Bar Association and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), will hold a Debt Relief Clinic on March 8 to provide pro bono legal services to income-eligible consumer debtors. The clinic will begin at 9 a.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Judge Suzanne Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and then volunteer lawyers will conduct initial meetings with the clients to discuss their situations and options. Those interested in helping should register online. Clients seeking advice should call 865-637-0484.

The West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) Legal Clinic will host an event on March 1 offering free assistance with drafting wills, powers of attorney and advanced directives. Volunteer attorneys will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at the Memphis Medical Society, located at 1067 Cresthaven Rd. Memphis 38119. Attorneys and law student volunteers are asked to arrive by 9:30 a.m. for preparation. The clinic aims to provide valuable legal support to those in need of these essential documents. For more information, visit the WTLS website.

Jonathan Cole, a lawyer with Baker Donelson in Nashville and chair of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, is among five legal experts who will share their reflections from a recent visit to South Texas, where they observed how immigration law and policy are implemented at the border. The free webinar on Feb. 25 will begin at 4 p.m. EST and address the challenges faced by noncitizens at the border and the efforts of the ABA’s ProBAR staff to uphold due process rights for immigrants and asylum-seekers. Those interested in joining the webinar can register on the ABA website.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Law Review’s 2025 symposium, "The Ripple Effect: Examining the Supreme Court's Impact on the Public's Confidence in the Judicial Branch," will take place next week. The event will explore public trust in state and federal courts with discussions focused on judicial transparency, stare decisis and religious liberty jurisprudence. This year’s keynote presentation includes a panel of federal and state judges and justices to provide a unique "view from the bench." The event will be Feb. 21 at the law school. Register here.

The University of Tennessee College of Law’s Journal of Race, Gender & Social Justice will hold its 2025 symposium on Feb. 20. This year’s program will focus on the topic "Ballots & Barriers: New & Historic Challenges to Voting in Tennessee and Beyond.” The event will feature three panels on topics such as redistricting, disenfranchisement and voter restoration. A keynote address will be given by Case Western Reserve University law professor Atiba Ellis. Attorneys interested in attending can register here. Questions should be directed to Jeremiah McCauley or Emily Seguin. View a schedule for the day.

Join members of the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee for a live interactive roundtable on how best to manage work-life balance as a legal professional. This 45-minute Zoom event on March 26 at noon CDT will feature attorneys discussing their day-to-day practice, and provide effective tools for personal well-being. While geared toward law students and young lawyers, this free event is open to all TBA members, but registration is required. Questions and feedback are encouraged. Submit questions in advance to jword@tnbar.org.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Feb. 20 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Register by Feb. 17 to participate. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Feb. 12 from 12-1 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland (LAS) will hold a free legal clinic in Antioch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The clinic will take place at the southeast branch of the Nashville Public Library, 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Ste. 202, Antioch 37013. The general civil clinic will assist clients with issues such as landlord/tenant disputes, family law, estate planning and debt collection. Those in need of assistance should register online. Contact Kendra Cheek at 800-238-1443 or kcheek@las.org to volunteer.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced that his seventh State of the State Address will take place on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. CST. The speech will be presented in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol. In the announcement, Gov. Lee emphasized Tennessee's role as a leader in opportunity, security and freedom, and expressed his commitment to innovation for the state's future. He also indicated that he would share his budget and legislative priorities for the year during the address. The address will be live streamed on the governor’s Facebook and YouTube channels.