The TBA Access to Justice Committee's Pro Bono & Public Interest Law School Conference will be held Sept. 6-7 at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Law Students, faculty, staff and others interested in this issue are invited to attend any part of the event. The conference will feature presentations by TBA President Cindy Wyrick, Access to Justice Commission Chair Buck Lewis and representatives from law schools and legal aid programs. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on policy issues ranging from mandatory pro bono service for law school graduates to public interest career debt management strategies. Click here to register for this free conference and to view the full schedule. For more information, contact UT’s Access to Justice Coordinator Brad Morgan.

Chattanooga State Community College’s paralegal program has partnered with the Olsen Law Firm and William & Mary School of Law to host a law school admissions informational session on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Omniplex on Chattanooga State’s main campus. Tennessee native Rhianna Shabsin, assistant dean of admission for William & Mary School of Law, will present information to students. For more information, contact the Olsen Law Firm at (413) 648-9390. The Chattanoogan has the story.

The annual Nashville Bar Association Member Picnic will be held Sept. 19 at Hall of Fame Park. This year’s event is co-sponsored by the Metro Law Department. Festivities kick off at 5:30 p.m. with dinner following at 7 p.m. The Hall of Fame Park is located downtown between the Country Music Hall of Fame, Downtown Hilton Hotel and Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The picnic is free for members and their children but responses are requested. Register at the link above.

Five free legal clinics will take place in Nashville this Saturday. Attorneys will be on hand to provide legal advice in all areas of the law from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Locations are as follows: St. Luke's Community House, 5601 New York Ave.; Bethel AME Church, 1300 South St.; Northwest YMCA, 3700 Ashland City Hwy.; East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland St.; and Legal Aid Society, 300 Deaderick St. Debt-related matters will be handled at the Legal Aid Society and St. Luke's locations. The clinics are sponsored by The Legal Aid Society, Nashville Pro Bono Program, Nashville Bar Association YLD, Napier-Looby Bar Association, Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and The Law Offices of James Flexer. For more information visit Flexer's Facebook page.

The National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a webinar focusing on laws enacted in Russia that prohibit the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors. The program, scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, is being offered to the first 90 lawyers and law students who RSVP. The webinar also will cover the European Court of Human Rights case of Alekseyev v. Russia, which directed Moscow officials to allow lesbian and gay pride events to be held. See the line up of speakers or register.

The Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence is offering a statewide legal advocacy training session Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tennessee Health Management in Antioch. Robin Kimbrough, legal counsel for the group, will conduct the training for lawyers and advocates. Topics will include the basics of civil and criminal law in cases of domestic and sexual violence, the role of advocates and attorneys, tips on avoiding the unauthorized practice of law, and benefits for immigrant victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking. The training is free but reservations are requested. Learn more or register here.

If admission to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court is one of your career goals, don’t miss the opportunity to make it a reality during the 30th Annual TBA Academy, Nov. 12-13. A select group of Tennessee attorneys will be able to take part in this private ceremony before the court and enjoy other events at the court and the capitol. A reception and celebration dinner kick off the Academy, which also includes the opportunity to earn three hours of CLE credit. The group will stay at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, where the TBA has obtained a special rate for Academy participants.

The 3rd Annual Solo in the Park autocross competition will be held Saturday and Sunday at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park. More than 100 competitors are expected during the two-day event. Driver check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. with “first car off” at 10:30 a.m. All proceeds benefit Knoxville Family Justice Center and Legal Aid of East Tennessee. For more information, contact Bill Evans at (865) 251-4948.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA), the University of Tennessee College of Law and the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law invite area lawyers and law students to their annual Minority Law Student Reception. The event will take place Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Southern Depot, 318 W. Depot Ave. Curtis L. Collier, U.S. District Judge Eastern District of Tennessee, will be the guest speaker. The KBA also announced a “Buddy Match Program” to pair practicing lawyers with minority law students who plan to attend. To participate in the Buddy Program RSVP to (865) 522-6522 by Sept. 15. Others should respond by Sept. 19.

Gov. Bill Haslam will conduct a joint investiture ceremony for two newly appointed judges in the Third Judicial District. Circuit Court Judge Mike Faulk and Chancellor Doug Jenkins will be sworn in next Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Church Hill Middle School, 211 Oak Street, Church Hill. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.