TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. had the opportunity to speak to attendees of Equal Justice University (EJU) in August. He underscored TBA's commitment to continue to advocate for increased legal aid funding, encourage commitment to pro bono programs, deliver quality education and outreach, engage law students, explore new ways to utilize technology and provide support for self-represented litigants, as well as the importance of continuing to work with policymakers to explore, implement and evaluate new approaches and additional resources for those who cannot afford legal representation.

In this issue's Legal Life section, TBA shares news of communications awards, YLD Board appointments and elections, a new episode of the BarBuzz podcast, the first ever conference on artificial intelligence and the law, 2024-2025 committee chairs, and more!

The TBA is embarking on a series of articles across its communication platforms to help educate Tennessee lawyers about the state's system of indigent representation, which plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals who are constitutionally entitled to legal counsel but cannot afford to hire an attorney are provided with competent legal representation. Upcoming primer topics will cover the role of guardians ad litem, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Court (AOC) Claims and Payment system, and examples of programs from other jurisdictions. Read today's first installment, which looks at the basics of the system, including what kinds of cases qualify for appointed counsel and what happened during the last legislative session to increase funding for indigent representation. All primer articles will be accessible from this landing page.

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