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 TBA Administrative Law Section is accepting submissions for its annual writing competition for law students. All students enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the 2023–2024 school year are eligible to enter. Submissions are due March 27. The section offers this yearly competition to promote an interest in and understanding of both state and federal administrative law, and to strengthen the relationship among administrative law professors, law students and practitioners in Tennessee. The winning submission will be published in the Administrative Law Section newsletter and the winner will be awarded $1,000. Get more information and competition rules in this handout.

The TBA Elder Law and Juvenile Law sections will provide a free one-hour webinar tomorrow at 2 p.m. CDT, covering when you need guardian ad litem in domestic law cases versus when you need guardian ad litem in probate cases. Presenters will discuss the requirements of each role, offering tips for beginners and best practices. CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Learn more or register here.

Join the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT for a free webinar on how to find a therapist who fits your individual needs. The program will feature three speakers: Adam Hill, an estate planning lawyer who teaches mindfulness techniques to attorneys; Chase Pittman, a lawyer and coach at Tin Man, a Tennessee-based company focused on helping people learn leadership skills through one-on-one mentoring, education, training and consulting; and Lauren Castor, a clinical case manager with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP). Sign up here to join the discussion.

Join members of the General, Solo & Small Firm Section this Thursday from 11:30 a.m. CDT to 12:30 p.m. CDT for the first in a series of roundtable sessions aimed at fostering a sense of community among small firm and solo attorneys across Tennessee. Topics include developing future programming that will address the major challenges small firm practitioners face, such as finite resources and building a post-pandemic practice. Come to the roundtable ready to chat with your colleagues about your answers to these questions and help create a list of concerns that the group can work through together. Sign up here.

Members of the TBA's Health Law Section recently wrapped up visits to four law schools in the state. At each school, members presented a panel discussion, held a Q&A session, met with students interested in health law and provided lunch. Section representatives also discussed the benefits of TBA membership and reminded students of their ability to join the TBA and participate in section networking and CLE events at no cost. Schools included in the tour were Belmont University College of Law, University of Memphis School of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law and Vanderbilt University Law School. The section says it intends to visit the state's two other law schools and conduct follow-up events in the near future. Learn more about the section members who participated.

The TBA held its annual Reporters Workshop this past weekend in Nashville after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The event began Friday with introductory remarks from TBA Communication Section Chair Paul McAdoo with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Ron Harris with Neal & Harwell, Lexie Boaz with the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, and TBA Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar. The 13 participating journalists then heard presentations on copyright law, legal and judicial ethics, defamation suits, right to record laws, drone law and the Tennessee Reporter's Shield Law. The program continued on Saturday with sessions on open records and meetings, investigative journalism and covering state and local government. The program wrapped up with a panel of judges talking about covering the courts. Special thanks to the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association for co-sponsoring the program and Neal & Harwell, Sherrard Roe Voight & Harbison and Waller for sponsoring meals for attendees. See photos from the event.

The TBA Appellate Practice Section will host a live virtual event on domestic relations appeals on April 20 at 4 p.m. CDT. The one-hour Zoom event will feature a panel of experts discussing trends, best practices and judicial perspectives on these types of appeals. Questions are encouraged for this interactive program. Don’t miss the chance to learn from top experts and earn an optional hour of CLE credit. The event is free and open to all TBA members. For those who want CLE credit there is a $50 filing fee. Submit any panel questions in advance to jword@tnbar.org.

The TBA Administrative Law Section has announced its Third Annual Writing Competition for Law Students. All students enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the 2021–2022 school year are eligible to enter. Submissions are now due April 25. The section offers this yearly competition to promote an interest in and understanding of both state and federal administrative law. The winning submission will be published in the Administrative Law Section newsletter and the winner will be awarded $1,000. Get more information and rules for the competition.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Reporters Workshop. Sponsored jointly by the Tennessee Bar Association’s Communication Law Section, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association Foundation, the program will be held in person April 22-23 in Nashville. Print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting should apply before 5 p.m. CST on March 1. The 15 journalists selected to participate will receive a stipend to defray the cost of travel.