The TBA Health Law Section has partnered with organizations across the state to provide free advance health care directive clinics in each of Tennessee’s grand divisions. The section is seeking volunteer lawyers to assist with the effort. No previous experience is necessary and there will be experts on hand to answer questions. The first clinic will take place in Knoxville on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. A Nashville clinic will follow on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT. The Memphis clinic will take place Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. Please contact TBA Health Law Section Chair Ian Hennessey with questions and/or volunteer interest at ian.hennessey@amrllc.com.

The Tennessee Racial and Social Justice Collective will host a community roundtable discussion on Sept. 28 at Lane College in Jackson to address issues impacting Black citizens in rural West Tennessee. The event, titled "Defending DEI: Anti-Blackness and Systemic Racism in Rural West Tennessee," will feature discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion; health disparities; voting rights; economics; and the justice system. The roundtable discussion is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee and is open to the public though registration is required. Learn more and register here.

The Belmont University College of Law’s Law Review will host its annual fall symposium later this month. The 2024 event, set for Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT, will focus on “Contemporary Issues in Technology and the Law.” Speakers include U.S. practioners, including three from the Nashville area, as well as from New Zealand. The cost of $20 includes a breakfast and lunch. Learn more or register here.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is planning its first expungement clinic in Campbell County on Sept. 14. The group will be partnering with the Legal Aid Society to expunge criminal records. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon EDT at the Campbell County Justice Center. Volunteer attorneys are needed and should plan to arrive by 8:30 a.m. for an orientation. Experts will be on site to help guide volunteers and answer any questions. To assist, please email Tomi Robb.

The Chattanooga Bar Association on Sept. 10 will present a public reading of a screenplay written by former Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge W. Neil Thomas III about the trial of Ed Johnson. The event will take place from 3-5 p.m. EDT at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 4th Floor – County Commission Room, 625 Georgia Ave., Chattanooga 37402. Thomas is the great-nephew of Will Thomas, one of the attorneys assigned to defend Johnson, who was accused of rape and ultimately lynched in Chattanooga in 1906. The screenplay recognizes Johnson's death and sacrifice and honors the historic efforts of attorneys Noah Parden and Styles Hutchins. Judges, elected officials, attorneys, pastors and community leaders will participate in the event. Download the cast list here. Friends of the Ed Johnson Memorial said of the event: “It is critical for communities across the country, including Chattanooga, to do the difficult work of unearthing and confronting our own histories of racial injustice, while exploring how that history continues to shape the present.” Contact Jane Bowen, judicial administrator, with questions.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Sept. 19 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. Prospective clients should register by Sept. 16. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The Memphis Bar Association’s (MBA) Access to Justice Committee is partnering with the MBA Young Lawyers Division, Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington, Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen and the Sigma Rho Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to host a restoration of rights clinic on Sept. 7. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. Location to be determined. Sign up to help here.

An investiture ceremony for David H. Veile will be held Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. CDT in the Justice Cornelia A. Clark Courtroom at the Williamson County Historic Courthouse, 305 Public Square, Franklin 37064. Veile will take office as a circuit court judge for the 21st Judicial District, which serves Williamson County. Veile, a Franklin trial attorney and former police officer, won the Republican primary for the seat in March. He ran unopposed in the general election earlier this month. Veile serves on the TBA Board Governors as a middle Tennessee governor. View the invitation.

The Nashville Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host its annual Carbolic Smoke Ball fundraiser Aug. 23 at Emerson Hall in East Nashville from 7:30-10:30 p.m. CDT. Attendees will enjoy live music from musicians who have performed in bands such as War and Treaty and with other Grammy-winning artists. All proceeds will benefit CASA Nashville and the Nashville Children’s Alliance, two organizations dedicated to supporting vulnerable and abused children in the community. CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in foster care, providing trained volunteer advocates to be their voice. The Nashville Children’s Alliance offers no-cost services to children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse, including therapy, court support and crisis services. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Start taking steps today to secure your law firm and your client’s confidential data! Join colleagues and Paul Unger with Affinity Consulting on Aug. 22 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT to learn more about how to protect your practice. The session, the second in TBA's Summer Success Series, will cover ransomware attacks, phishing schemes, cloud computing, mobile device management, full disk encryption, secure document management, shadow-IT, two- factor authentication, password management, VPNs, anti-virus, backup, user education and more. Learn more or register here.