The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) held its Annual Meeting virtually on Friday, December 11, 2020. The President's gavel was passed from Hanson R. Tipton, a member of the Knoxville law firm of Watson, Roach, Batson & Lauderback, PLC, to Cheryl G. Rice, a civil litigator with Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis, P.C.
President Tipton thanked his fellow board members for their support of his year and recognized the KBA staff for their dedication to East Tennessee attorneys, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incoming President Cheryl Rice thanked Mr. Tipton for his service to the Association, which included innovative virtual programming, construction of a Habitat for Humanity house, and regular town halls with court officials. Ms. Rice discussed how her term as President would focus on ways the Association can better serve members' needs to meet the challenges and struggles imposed upon local attorneys in the current moment, trying to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting, the following KBA members were elected as officers for 2021:
President-Elect - Jason H. Long, London Amburn, P.C. Treasurer - Loretta G. Cravens, Cravens Legal Secretary - Catherine E. Shuck, East Tennessee Children's Hospital
The membership elected the following KBA members to the four open positions on the Board of Governors:
Jonathan D. Cooper, Knox Defense Daniel L. Ellis, Disability Rights Tennessee Eric M. Lutton, Knox County Public Defender's Law Office Carlos A. Yunsan, Tennessee Appellate Courts
Dwight E. Tarwater, Paine | Tarwater | Bickers, LLP, was presented the KBA's highest award, the prestigious Governors' Award, which is given annually to a lawyer whose peers believe has brought distinction and honor to the legal profession. Mr. Tarwater has distinguished himself with a long and tremendous career of service to the bar and the community, including serving as General Counsel to Governor Bill Haslam.
Retired Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz was presented with the Judicial Excellence Award. The Award recognizes judges felt by the Association’s Board of Governors to be deserving of special recognition. The award has existed for many years. It has rarely been given.
The Presidents' Award for 2020 was presented to Denise Moretz of Woolf McClane Bright Allen & Carpenter. Ms. Moretz was recognized for her work on the recently published "Planning Ahead: A Guide to Protecting Your Clients' Interests in the Event of Your Disability or Death" to assist lawyers with succession planning. The awards for outstanding writing were presented to Phillip Hampton and William T. Ramsey for their column, which appears in the KBA monthly magazine DICTA. KBA member Nick McCall was recognized for his long-running series "The Last Word" in DICTA.
Amanda T. Tonkin, an attorney with the Social Security Administration, was introduced as President of the Knoxville Barristers, the Young Lawyers Division of the KBA. It was announced that during the elections earlier this week, the following were elected as Barristers Officers: Vice President - Meagan Collver, London Amburn, PC Secretary/Treasurer - Zack Walden, Eldridge & Blakney Members-at-Large - Matt Knable, Law Office of Matthew R. Knable Charles Sharrett, London Amburn, PC It was also announced that Mitchell Panter and Matt Knable, Co-Chairs of the Volunteer Breakfast Committee, were presented with the Barristers' Presidents' Award for 2020.
The KBA announces our participation in the “21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge ©,” and we invite you to join us. The 21-Day Challenge was created by diversity expert Eddie Moore, Jr. to advance deeper understandings of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy, and oppression. We will be kicking our participation off on July 24 and the participants will receive a daily email reminder.
The KBA plans to follow the syllabus created by the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law. The goal of the Challenge is to assist each of us to become more aware, compassionate, constructive, engaged people in the quest for racial equity. It transcends our roles as lawyers. It is, of course, completely voluntary to do, and participation in the Challenge shall not be construed as agreement with every word of every assignment nor a commitment by any person to a particular professional position or strategy. Further, participants are free to opt-out of participating along the way. There is no grade at the end of the Challenge. While it is not the intention of the Challenge to cause offense, some participants may be offended by some language used in the lessons.
The Challenge invites participants to complete a syllabus of 21 short assignments (typically taking 15-30 minutes), over 21 weekdays, that include readings, videos, or podcasts. It has been intentionally crafted to focus on the Black American experience. The assignments seek to expose participants to perspectives on elements of Black history, identity and culture, and to the Black community’s experience of racism in America. Even this focus on Black Americans cannot possibly highlight all of the diversity of experiences and opinions within the Black community itself, much less substitute for learnings about any other community of color. This syllabus is but an introduction to what we hope will be a rewarding journey that extends far beyond the limits of this project.
Learn more and sign up to participate.
Programs Administrator
The Knoxville Bar Association is an active membership association of approximately 2,000 local attorneys and law students. This position offers the right technology-adept individual the opportunity to execute membership communications, assist in updating the organization’s website, and support member partners and sponsors. The work includes communicating with members, coordinating publications, managing events, data entry, and managing digital marketing campaigns. Small, friendly and fast-paced office environment. Full-time, salary up to $34k depending on experience; health benefits and 401K offered.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, data management, communications or other related field
We are looking for someone who has the following demonstrated skills and abilities:
Interested applicants should submit resume, cover letter with 3 professional references, and salary history for the past 10 years by June 19 to mwatson@knoxbar.org or to Knoxville Bar Association, P.O. Box 2027, Knoxville TN 37901-2027. Applicants should include a detailed explanation of experience with communications and any and all prior involvement with non-profit organizations, volunteer coordination, and database management.
MEDIA RELEASE
Still No In-Person Clinics, but Knoxville Bar Association Offers Online Legal Information during the COVID-19 Pandemic For Immediate Release Contact: Marsha Watson, KBA Executive Director or Tracy Chain, Lawyer Referral & Information Service Administrator (865) 522-6522 In accordance with guidelines from the CDC, Governor Bill Lee, the Knox County Health Department, and local governmental bodies, all legal advice clinics previously scheduled for May remain cancelled. Going forward, as circumstances permit, rescheduled clinics will be posted on the Upcoming Legal Clinics page of the Knoxville Bar Association’s website, and updated information will be communicated at that time.
The Knoxville Bar Association has established and is regularly updating a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page on its public website, www.TNLawyerFinder.org. In the meantime, individuals with legal questions are encouraged to visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page at www.TNLawyerFinder.org. We know that members of the public rely on quality access to appropriate legal services, especially at this time. The Knoxville Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers experience, integrity, and a commitment to public service. COVID-19 has caused additional needs in the areas of contract disputes, employment, insurance, housing, court accessibility, estate/probate, medical accessibility, and business, just to name a few. As always, our team remains available by telephone and online request. Many legal services can be handled remotely. We encourage members of the public who use our service during this time to connect with referred attorneys by telephone and electronically, and encourage our participating attorneys to do the same. The Knoxville Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service may be reached online at www.TNLawyerFinder.org or by telephone at (865)522-7501 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you think you need a lawyer, chances are, you do. But what if you are really not sure? What if you don’t feel ready to discuss your issue, or know what questions you should ask?
The Knoxville Bar Association developed LawLine Online to assist potential clients in determining if they have a matter for which an attorney is needed, or if another type of assistance is needed. In June 1999, with the help of the local courts, governmental and community service organizations and more than thirty-five members of the Knoxville Bar Association, LawLine Online originally became a reality. Thirty-one years later, LawLine Online contains more than 70 topics, grouped in 16 major categories to aid in understanding common legal problems, recognizing potential legal problems, and understanding how the justice system works. If further help is needed, there is information to assist. LawLine material is regularly reviewed for accuracy by attorney volunteers, and as needed when changes occur to Tennessee law. The messages are written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner using everyday language. Not intended to replace the advice of an attorney or provide specific legal advice, LawLine Online can nevertheless provide general information and assist those who aren’t sure where to go for help, or even what kind of help they may need. Click Here to access LawLine Online.
The Knoxville Bar Foundation is pleased to recognize twelve esteemed members of Knoxville’s legal community. The Annual Bar Foundation Fellows banquet was set for June 9 but has been postponed due to the pandemic.
Each year the Foundation inducts a new Fellows Class which is less than one percent of the active bar association. The Fellows represent quality men and women practitioners in our community who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law and service. The Foundation's board of directors reviews numerous nominations, and determines the inductees who have demonstrated superior legal skills and high ethical standards and service to the community.
Hon. William T. Ailor Allison Easterday Alexander Loretta G. Cravens Kathryn St. Clair Ellis Mohamed A. Faizer Steven L. Hurdle Rachel P. Hurt Steven D. Lipsey Jay W. Mader Summer H. McMillan Reuben N. Pelot, IV Shelly L. Wilson
The Knoxville Bar Foundation is a not for profit foundation established to improve public awareness of the legal system in Knoxville, the administration of justice and the delivery of legal services through the distribution of its funds.
Knoxville Bar Association Offers Online Legal Information during the COVID-19 Pandemic For Immediate Release Contact: Marsha Watson, KBA Executive Director or Tracy Chain, Lawyer Referral & Information Service Administrator (865) 522-6522
The Knoxville Bar Association has established and is regularly updating a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page on its public website, www.TNLawyerFinder.org.
In accordance with guidelines from the CDC, Governor Bill Lee, the Knox County Health Department, and local governmental bodies, all legal advice clinics previously scheduled for the months of April and May have been cancelled. Going forward, as circumstances permit, rescheduled clinics will be posted on the Upcoming Legal Clinics page of the Knoxville Bar Association’s website, and updated information will be communicated at that time.
In the meantime, individuals with legal questions are encouraged to visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page at www.TNLawyerFinder.org.
We know that members of the public rely on quality access to appropriate legal services, especially at this time. The Knoxville Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers experience, integrity, and a commitment to public service. COVID-19 has caused additional needs in the areas of contract disputes, employment, insurance, housing, court accessibility, estate/probate, medical accessibility, and business, just to name a few. As always, our team remains available by telephone and online request.
Many legal services can be handled remotely. We encourage members of the public who use our service during this time to connect with referred attorneys by telephone and electronically, and encourage our participating attorneys to do the same.
The Knoxville Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service may be reached online at www.TNLawyerFinder.org or by telephone at (865)522-7501 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
