A select group of Tennessee attorneys will soon experience the honor of being admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court during the 29th Annual TBA Academy Nov. 26-27 in Washington, D.C. This year's program includes a welcome reception with TBA President Jackie Dixon, group lunch and dinner, breakfast and tour of the court and private admission ceremony. The group will stay at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel and will have the opportunity to network with some of the nation’s leading appellate practitioners. Registration is open through Oct. 15. Get details and directions on how to apply

Students from 12 high schools located in the 10th Judicial District will get to hear three state Supreme Court cases as participants in the Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students (SCALES) program on Oct. 5. Funded by the Frist Foundation’s Ansley Fund, the program will bring more than 1,000 students and teachers to Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens. After hearing arguments in actual cases there, the students will take part in a question and answer session with the participating attorneys. Read the full press release at TNcourts.gov.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department will host Community Night in the Justice Center parking lot Friday, giving families a chance to have fun and visit with officers and other emergency personnel. The annual event, also called a Night Out Against Crime, features food and drink booths, games and drawings for door prizes for both kids and adults, educational booths and free blood pressure checks. The event is 5 to 8 p.m. Read more in the Herald Citizen

Tennessee lawyers will offer free legal services to those unable to afford a lawyer throughout the month of October as part of the national Celebrate Pro Bono initiative. Activities will include legal advice clinics, education programs, public presentations and other events. The initiative kicks off with four legal clinics on Oct. 2, with more than 40 events planned across the state during the month. Last year more than 350 volunteers assisted more than 1,100 clients. "Though the legal community generously donates pro bono services year-round, this special focus is designed to ensure that those in our communities who need free legal help know where to find it,” TBA President Jackie Dixon said.

The Bly Roll Race for Justice will take place Friday on the campus of University of Tennessee Knoxville and will support students pursuing work in public interest law. The 5k event is named in memory of Roll, a member of the 2012 College of Law class. Read more or register for the event at The Informant.

The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy on the UT campus in Knoxville will host a group to watch the upcoming presidential debate and discuss it via videoconference with crowds gathered statewide. DebateWatch begins at 8 p.m. Central Time on Oct. 3, with a viewing of the first of the 2012 presidential debates, moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour. After the debate concludes, those attending will connect with other college campuses statewide by videoconference. Schools confirmed to participate with UT are the University of Tennessee-Martin and East Tennessee State University.  The event is free and open to the public. Learn more from UT

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cumberland County will have a demolition derby Oct. 6 to benefit its work. According to program director Lee Chiomos, it costs $950 per child per year to have a CASA volunteer. In 2011, the group had 13 advocates working with 41 children in Cumberland County. Chiomos said that number could be doubled if there were enough volunteers, but funding is needed to provide the extensive training necessary. Donations of food for concessions and sponsorships are needed, as are volunteers to work at the event, which will be at the Cumberland County Community Complex at 6:30 p.m. Learn more from CASA and The Crossville Chronicle

The Nashville Bar Association's Annual free member picnic is Thursday at the Hall of Fame Park. This year the picnic has a Country Western theme, and a local Nashville band, The Western Swingers, will perform. A barbeque dinner and open bar will also be provided. Register online

On Oct. 4, about 12 United States Attorneys from around the country, along with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securites and Exchange Commission, will host a Regional Investor Fraud Summit at Vanderbilt University Law School (Flynn Auditorium). The morning session is open to the public and anyone interested in learning more about schemes that threaten the investing public, and law enforcement’s efforts to combat fraud is welcome to attend. The public portion of the summit will be 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To attend, RSVP to Darlene.Danielson@usdoj.gov

Lawyer and former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell will talk about how many American cities are experiencing “rebirth” when he presents the inaugural Ashe Lecture on Sept. 24 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy in Knoxville. The Ashe Lecture series was established to honor Baker by inviting mayors and ambassadors to talk about local and international political topics. The Baker Center will host two speakers each year for the next five years. The event, which starts at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public. Learn more