Memphis attorney Jocelyn Dan Wurzburg will be honored with this year's prestigious William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award, which will be presented by the TBA's Young Lawyers Division Fellows at the association's annual virtual convention on June 18. "'Jocie' exemplifies the William Leech Public Service Award, as a modern-day suffragist who has shaped the history of Memphis and Shelby County," YLD Fellows Vice President Bill Haltom said in announcing her selection.

The TBA’s virtual 2020 Convention, which will take place entirely online during the week of June 15, will offer a range of programs and activities for those who want to learn more about wellness. The Better Right Now CLE on Tuesday will focus on mindfulness for lawyers, findings from the research on happiness, and tips for controlling stress to improve productivity and creativity. Want to move more? Then join us Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 a.m. and Friday at 11 a.m. for our Wellness Workouts. All convention events are free to TBA members but registration is required. See all wellness events here.

Federal Public Defender Henry Martin will be honored this month with the Tennessee Bar Association’s First Annual Claudia Jack Award. A distinguished public servant who has dedicated his entire legal career to improving the quality of legal representation to indigent criminal defendants in Tennessee, Martin has served as the federal public defender in the Middle District of Tennessee since 1985. The award is named for the late Claudia Jack, a long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged and a public defender in Columbia. The award will be presented June 18 during the TBA's Virtual Annual Convention.

Chief United States District Judge Pamela L. Reeves will be honored next month with the inaugural Tennessee Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee American Inns of Court. The award is presented each year to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. “Judge Reeves has achieved extraordinary things within the profession,” TBA President Sarah Sheppeard says of Reeves, “but she has also been an incredible leader in her community and a mentor and supporter to those who have followed her. She has worked through a number of organizations to provide leadership training and instill confidence in young women. Many of the current leaders in the Tennessee legal community and beyond have Judge Reeves to thank in significant part for encouraging them to pursue those roles and for equipping them to effectively serve.”

The country is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution this year, and the TBA’s virtual convention, being held entirely online the week of June 15, will include a special program marking this milestone and celebrating the role Tennessee played in the ratification process. Join us Thursday, June 18, for a conversation with noted book author and speaker Elaine Weiss. Then in the afternoon, attend the virtual Lawyers Lunch and watch as TBA President Sarah Sheppeard passes the gavel to Michelle Greenway Sellers and Sellers talks about her upcoming year. That event will be available on Zoom and live streamed on TBA’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Make sure to register to take advantage of all these great free programs.

The 2020 Virtual TBA Convention will take place entirely online during the week of June 15. The event, free for TBA members, will provide up to eight hours of CLE. Join us Monday for two legislative update sessions; on Tuesday for the Better Right Now wellness program; on Wednesday for the Bill and Phil Show from Law Tech 2020; and on Thursday morning for our 19th Amendment Centennial Program and in the afternoon for a choice between pro bono training or Fastcase training. Check out all of the free CLE offerings here. Make sure to register to take advantage of all these great programs. 

The 2020 TBA Annual Convention, originally scheduled to take place in-person in Knoxville, is being converted to an all virtual, FREE event for members of the TBA. The conference will take place entirely online during the week of June 15. Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson released a message to members earlier today about the new event. Highlights of the conference include roundtable discussions on issues affecting law firm managing shareholders, in-house counsel and diversity and inclusion in the practice of law, as well as a legislative update from members of the Tennessee General Assembly, law school alumni mixers, and a program celebrating the ratification of the 19th Amendment featuring Elaine Weiss. Members can earn up to eight hours of CLE credit at no cost. The annual Lawyers Luncheon, featuring the passing of the gavel from President Sarah Sheppeard to Michelle Greenway Sellers, will be accessible to registrants and also live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Register now or learn more about what is to come.