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The Tennessee Bar Association presents a number of awards to recognize attorneys and others who have provided outstanding service to the profession, the American justice system or their communities. Here is information on the individual awards.
TBA Public Service Awards
Each year the Tennessee Bar Association recognizes outstanding service by attorneys and law students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to increasing access to justice for underserved individuals and communities in Tennessee. The Public Service Awards are presented at an annual public service award event.
Learn MoreDrowota Award
The TBA's Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award is given to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, our legal system and the administration of justice as exemplified by the career of Justice Frank F. Drowota III.
Learn MoreClaudia Jack Award
The TBA's Claudia Jack Award honors an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who has served the legal community and their clients in an exemplary fashion. It is named after the late Claudia Jack, a public defender and long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged.
Learn MoreTennessee Professionalism Award
The Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award is awarded 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. It is given jointly by the TBA and The American Inns of Court.
Learn MoreJoe Henry Award
The TBA's Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing is given each year to the lawyer who writes the most outstanding article that is published in the Tennessee Bar Journal for the preceding year. The purpose of the award is to encourage practicing Tennessee lawyers to write scholarly yet practical articles that will be of maximum benefit to the members of our bar.
Learn MoreTBA Fourth Estate Award
The TBA's Fourth Estate Award honors courageous reporting on justice and the law. Tennessee-based journalists who have shown exemplary courage in exercising First Amendment rights in the promotion of public understanding of the rule of law and how our legal system works or should work will be considered.
Learn MoreTBA YLD Fellows Leech Award
The TBA YLD's Fellows William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award is given to a Tennessee lawyer who has been of outstanding service to the profession, legal system and the community. The award is named for former Attorney General William M. Leech and was given to him posthumously in 1997. The TBA YLD Fellows select the recipient of the award, which is presented at the Lawyer's Luncheon during the association's annual convention.
Learn MoreLarry Wilks Leadership Award
The Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award recognizes a TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) class member with exceptional leadership qualities. The recipient is selected by each year’s class based on a number of leadership characteristics.
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