Our Law Day Celebration breakfast on Friday, May 18 was a success, with a good turnout at the Westin. The candid remarks of Sen. Bob Corker were the highlight of the morning as he provided excellent insight and thoughtful responses to good questions posed by lawyers in the audience.
Corker was awarded the Liberty Bell Award following his key note address. He was most deserving of this distinguished award for public service recognizing his promotion of a better understanding of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, encouraging a greater respect for the law and the courts, stimulating a deeper sense of individual responsibility, contributing to the effective functioning of our institutions of government and fostering a better understanding and appreciation of the rule of law.
At the Law Day Celebration, Lee Ann Adams, Tonya Cammon and Rusty Gray were announced as fellows of the Chattanooga Bar Foundation. The accolades were well deserved.
Congratulations as well to T. Max Bahner for receiving the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for 2018.
On Wednesday, July 18 from 4-7 p.m. at “Our Lady of Perpetual Health,” during a passport fair, the Chattanooga Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Division of the CBA will again partner with La Paz to assist those in need and to try to educate the minority community as we combat the unauthorized practice of law and its negative impacts.
Employment law, family law, immigration law, landlord-tenant law and personal injury law will be the focus of the educational component. If you’re interested in assisting, let me know (marc.harwell@leitnerfirm.com).
On Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Chattanooga State, the Tennessee Supreme Court will bring its SCALES (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students) program to Chattanooga to educate high school students about the judicial branch of government. Six-hundred-and-fifty students will be invited to participate.
After oral arguments and debriefing, all 650 students will have lunch with the Tennessee Supreme Court, every local judge and other elected officials who might attend, as well as all the volunteer judges and attorneys. Presiding Judge J.B. Bennett will provide the opening remarks.
The CBA is exploring the possibility of teaching a civics course in select high schools in the Chattanooga community. The course materials are prepared and ready. Hopefully, this initiative will help us to forge relationships with high school students and make the mock trial competition even better than it already is. If you’re interested in devoting a few hours of time as a teacher, let me know.
The benefits
In June, the CBA is providing an hour-long CLE at noon each Friday. The schedule is as follows: “Practice Management and Organization” by Bill Colvin on June 1; “Time Management” by Cameron Hill on June 8; and “’Win’ at Trial: Practical Advice From 30 Years in the Courtroom” by Lee Davis on June 15.
Thanks to Bill Colvin, Martha Culp, Misty Harris, Rick Marcus, Nicole Osborne and Drew Reynolds for their work on the CBA legislative committee. Bill has really been spearheading the analysis of proposed rule changes and is working with this fine group so that our CBA is more responsive to calls for comment and to making proposed changes.
The CBA has a new website tool to assist attorneys who have joined the Lawyer Referral Service. The service helps clients find an attorney. If you’re interested in joining the Lawyer Referral Service, contact the CBA at 423 602-9430.
If you’re an attorney struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, the CBA is here to help. We thank Art Grisham for the confidential and supportive counseling and guidance he’s given to our members who are working to overcome this issue. He will continue to chair our Lawyers Helping Lawyers committee.