Each year the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) recognizes outstanding service by attorneys, law students and legal advocates who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to increasing access to justice for underserved individuals and communities in Tennessee. This year, TBA will honor these award recipients at the 2026 Public Service Breakfast set for June 11 as part of the TBA’s Annual Convention in Knoxville. One of those awards, the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, will be presented to Nashville lawyer Garrah Carter-Mason with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. Carter-Mason will be recognized for her work on behalf of Darrell Davis, who was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder in April 2022 and sentenced to life without parole. Read more in TBA's press release.

Each year the TBA recognizes outstanding service by attorneys, law students and legal advocates who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to increasing access to justice for underserved individuals and communities in Tennessee. This year, TBA will honor public service award recipients at the 2026 Public Service Breakfast set for June 11 as part of the TBA’s Annual Convention in Knoxville.

The TBA’s 2026 Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award will be presented to Nashville lawyer Garrah Carter-Mason with Bass, Berry & Sims for her work on behalf of a man wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder in 2022. Over three years, she worked more than a thousand pro bono hours on the case. Her efforts led to a new trial, during which a jury found her client not guilty on all charges, leading to his release from prison. The 2026 Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award will be presented to Jennifer Egelston, a staff attorney in the Knoxville office of Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET). Egelston was selected for her work on several complicated family law cases and her efforts to educate other lawyers about Abrial’s Law, which gives courts new tools to protect parents and children from abusive caregivers. The 2026 Law Student of the Year Award will be presented to Sierra Sidoti, a student at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. Sidoti will be recognized for her work as a pro bono law clerk in the Knoxville office of LAET. During a prolonged staffing gap in 2025, Sidoti helped maintain continuity of pro bono services and train the staff member who ultimately was hired to fill the role. Finally, the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will present the 2026 CASA Volunteer of the Year to Tracy Farmer who serves with Williamson County CASA. Farmer will be recognized for her longevity of service, extraordinary commitment to serve Tennessee children and mentorship of new volunteers. Read more about each award recipient at the links above.

Pre-registration for TBA's 2026 Convention in Knoxville will close this coming Sunday, June 7, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Only on-site registration will be accepted after that point. This year's convention will run from June 10-13. Visit the TBA Convention site for more information, including the the registration form, event schedule, CLE line up and awards to be presented.

The 2026 Convention CLE lineup will offer 8.5 hours of credit, including a presentation from attorney and productivity consultant Paul Unger with the Affinity Consulting Group. Unger will talk about “12 Time Management Things Attorneys Should Do, But Don’t.” Unger is a national speaker and author who coaches lawyers on how to be more efficient with time management. He began his career working for the governor of Ohio. After law school, he practiced law for six years, handling litigation and bankruptcy cases. In 2000, he started a legal technology consulting company. His favorite part of his job is helping people get organized and focused so they can find more enjoyment in their lives and jobs. Affinity Consulting is a TBA member benefit partner. Learn more about the services they offer. Learn more about the convention and register here.

The 2026 Convention CLE lineup will offer 8.5 hours of credit, including a presentation from Tara Cheever, co-founder and chief product officer of LIT SOFTWARE. Since 2010, Cheever has helped lead the design and development of technologies to serve litigators, focusing on practical, accessible technology that supports legal professionals in trial preparation, case analysis and courtroom presentation. Her applications are used by a broad range of legal organizations, including solo practitioners, large law firms, corporate legal departments, prosecutors, public defenders and government agencies. The software also is incorporated into legal education programs at law schools throughout the country. Cheever’s presentation in Knoxville will focus on using technology to transform the way litigators prepare, organize and present their cases from managing discovery to preparing depositions, presenting evidence and collaborating with co-counsel. Learn more about the convention and register here. Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

Programming at TBA’s 2026 Convention kicks off June 11 at 9 a.m. EDT with Catherine Sanders Reach, director of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Center for Practice Management. Every legal tech vendor has an AI pitch, but is your firm actually ready to buy? Reach will cover how to audit current technology for gaps and redundancies, calculate real ROI on the tools already owned, and build a framework for evaluating new products. Reach has spent over two decades helping legal professionals integrate technology into their practices. She has been with the North Carolina Bar Association since 2018. She previously was director of the ABA’s Legal Technology Resource Center and director of law practice management and technology at the Chicago Bar Association. She currently is chair of the ABA Law Practice Division’s Professional Development Board. Check out all the CLE planned for Convention and register today! Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

The Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women (TLAW) will host its annual meeting and breakfast on June 12 from 7:30-8:45 a.m. EDT during the TBA's Annual Convention in Knoxville. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby will deliver the keynote address on "Justice. Leadership. Grace." TBA Convention registration does not include the TLAW Annual Meeting and breakfast. Tickets are $38 and can be purchased at www.tlaw.org. Attendance without breakfast is free, but registration is required. View a flyer for the event.

Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page will be honored next month with the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) prestigious Justice Frank F. Drowota III Award. Nashville attorney Barry Howard, who nominated Page for the award, praised Page’s substantial and enduring contributions to public service and the legal system. A dedicated advocate for access to justice, “he consistently supported legal aid organizations, speaking whenever called upon and championing initiatives to assist underserved communities,” Howard said. Page also played a key role during his time on the bench in advancing resources for indigent defense, including efforts to increase compensation for court-appointed counsel and the creation of an appellate division within the public defender’s office to alleviate systemic burdens. He also worked “to expand access for self-represented litigants by promoting the availability of user-friendly forms and ensuring that pro se parties were treated with fairness, patience and respect in his courtroom,” according to Howard.

In announcing this year’s recipient, TBA President Heidi Barcus said the association is honoring Page for his commitment to ensuring access to legal representation across the state. "The TBA is honored to recognize former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page for his 40-plus years of service to the Tennessee legal community. Throughout his time on the bench, Page has been a strong advocate for access to justice, especially in Tennessee’s rural counties, and has always handled the cases before him with humility and fairness, embodying the spirit of former Justice Frank Drowota." The award will be presented at the annual Lawyers Luncheon set for June 12 as part of the association’s Annual Convention in Knoxville. Read more about Page in a press release from the TBA.

There is still time for register for TBA’s 2026 Annual Convention, set for June 10-13, at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Knoxville. The convention will feature compelling CLE programs and leadership meetings, multiple social and networking events, and will provide opportunities to connect with colleagues. The convention gets underway Wednesday and will kick off with a welcome reception that evening. Thursday will begin with the Public Service Breakfast and University of Tennessee Winston College of Law Breakfast, continue with interactive Lunch & Learn sessions, and wrap up with a reception at the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball stadium. Friday brings the annual Lawyers Luncheon, which will include a look back at TBA President Heidi Barcus’ year in office and the swearing in of new president Charlotte Knight Griffin. See the full schedule. All events are included with full convention registration.

Tyler Whetstone, an investigative reporter with the Knoxville News Sentinel, will receive the TBA’s 2026 Fourth Estate Award for his reporting bringing greater transparency to Knoxville’s judicial system. Knox News Executive Editor Joel Christopher nominated Whetstone, saying his reporting exposed “how extremist and racist speech by a Knox County prosecutor raised constitutional questions about public employees and free speech, and forced scrutiny of the criminal justice system’s safeguards.” Christopher also explains that the reporting went beyond breaking news to explain how a district attorney’s office oversees those entrusted with enforcing the law.

In announcing the award, TBA President Heidi Barcus said, “Reporting by Tyler Whetstone helped bring to light the district attorney’s decision to fire the lawyer as she balanced the constitutional issues of free speech and the fair administration of justice. The Tennessee Bar Association is pleased to recognize Whetstone for his work educating the public about this case and promoting improvements in our system of justice.” The award will be presented at the annual Lawyers Luncheon, set for June 12 as part of the association’s Annual Convention in Knoxville. Read more about Whetstone’s work.