Equal Justice University 2026: Full Schedule

8:30am PDT

Opening Plenary

Wednesday August 26, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Oakleigh ABC

Wednesday August 26, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Oakleigh ABC

9:45am PDT

Break

Wednesday August 26, 2026 9:45am - 10:00am PDT

10:00am PDT

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Overview

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

An introduction to Chapter 13 bankruptcy: how it compares to Chapter 7; the key requirements for obtaining confirmation of a plan; and the options for modifying a plan after confirmation.

Speakers

James M Davis

James M. Davis is a staff attorney in the office of Henry E. Hildebrand, III, the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee. Mr. Davis is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and the William and Mary School of Law in Williamsburg... Read More →

10 1130 Davis Chapter 13 Basics (EJU) Final pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

10:00am PDT

Closer to the Truth: Indicators of Deceptive Behavior & Credibility Signals for Lawyers

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

Elicitation vs. interrogation: how to ask questions that surface detail without escalating defensiveness Verbal indicators to flag: evasion, manipulation, aggression, and persuasion tactics—and how to respond Reaction cues: what to spot in real time when the stakes rise (including stress responses, avoidance, and incongruence) Logical reasoning in credibility assessment:...
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Speakers

Juan Ibarra

Juan Ibarra has over 20 years of military, law enforcement, investigations, and most recently, Mediator. Juan has an undergraduate degree from the University Of La Verne in Organizational Management, has completed over 150 hours of training on interviewing, negotiations, mediations... Read More →

Closer to the Truth Indicators of Deceptive Behavior for Lawyers pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

10:00am PDT

Counterclaim as a Tool for Eviction Defense

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Counterclaims strengthen defenses, create settlement leverage, and improve outcomes for tenants facing eviction, all while giving our clients an opportunity to be heard on the issues that matter to them. This session will cover when counterclaims are worth pursuing, the key procedural and substantive rules that govern them, and practical ways to use them in day-to-day eviction practice. Attendees...
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Speakers

Liz Leiserson

Elizabeth Leiserson serves as the Project Director for the Eviction Right to Counsel program and the Housing Practice Group lead at Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She is a Nashville native and a graduate of Yale Law School. She came to LAS after working... Read More →

Leirson Handouts Damages Spreadsheet xlsx

Leiserson Handouts Attorney's Fees Affidavit docx

Leiserson Handouts Answer & Counterclaim docx

Leiserson Handouts Counterclaim Packet Pro Se Tenant Final pdf

10 1130 Leiserson Counterclaims for Eviction Defense pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

10:00am PDT

SSA Work Incentives: Using Work Rules to Advocate for Your Client

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

Explainer about SSA's work incentive rules, including: 1) Substantial Gainful Activity Rules, 2) SSI income counting rules, 3) the Trial Work Period, 4) Income-related Work Expenses, 5) ethics related Rules 6) other work-related topics, and 6) Ethics. Issue spotting on work-related SSI/SSDI topics and advocacy strategies for common pitfalls. This session will encourage developing...
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Speakers

Allison Jones

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands

Allison Jones is the lead attorney for the Health, Benefits, and Education Practice Group at Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She also co-directs Legal Aid Society’s medical-legal partnership with Shade Tree Clinic, a comprehensive, free medical clinic... Read More →

Cole Adams

Staff Attorney, West Tennessee Legal Services

Cole Adams (he/him) is a Staff Attorney in the Public Benefits Unit in the Memphis Office of West Tennessee Legal Services. In his practice, he represents and advises clients on Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, Families First, and Unemployment Compensation issues. Previously, Cole... Read More →

10 1130 Jones SSA Work Incentives Presentation pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

10:00am PDT

Unruly and Truancy Implications and Processes in Court

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

This presentation examines the legal implications and court processes related to unruly and truancy petitions, equipping attorneys to advocate more effectively for youth clients. Participants will develop a foundational understanding of how chronic absenteeism is defined, tracked, and referred to court, as well as the underlying factors that contribute to it, including mental health challenges,...
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Speakers

Beth Cruz

Beth Cruz serves as Assistant Dean and Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey Director of Public Interest at Vanderbilt Law School. She provides leadership, institutional support, and specialized advising for students as they develop high-impact careers in public interest law. Her office... Read More →

Bri Crawford

Bri Crawford is the 2025 Equal Justice Works Text-to-Give Fellow at the Youth Law Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Her fellowship project addresses the unmet legal needs of racially marginalized children and youth with disabilities in Tennessee who are involved in the child welfare... Read More →

10 1130 Crawford Unruly and Truancy Implications and Processes in Court BC 1 pdf

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

10:00am PDT

Consumer Law 101

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This presentation will provide an overview of the role of a consumer attorney in nonprofit, low-income law practice, including the basics of cases involving contracts, collections, and debt relief. It will provide a broad review and starting point for the new consumer attorney, and a refresher for the experienced consumer attorney.

Speakers

Jake Old

Jake Old is the Consumer Unit Manager at West Tennessee Legal Services in Jackson, Tennessee. He also helps oversee the day-of-court clinics at WTLS in which attorneys are available in some general sessions courts to provide advice or representation to clients. Jake received his... Read More →

10 1130 Old Handout Contracts 101 case example pdf

10 1130 Old Consumer Law 101 pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

11:30am PDT

Break

Wednesday August 26, 2026 11:30am - 11:45am PDT

11:45am PDT

Welcome Luncheon

Wednesday August 26, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT

Oakleigh ABC

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26TH – LUNCH: PLATED LUNCH

Roasted Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce served with Parmesan (GF)

Mashed Potatoes (GF, VE)

Chef’s Seasonal Vegetables (GF, VE, VG, DF)

Legend

GF: Gluten-Free

VE: Vegetarian

VG: Vegan

DF: Dairy-Free

Wednesday August 26, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT
Oakleigh ABC

1:00pm PDT

Break

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:00pm - 1:15pm PDT

1:15pm PDT

Access to Justice Commission, Administrative Office of the Courts- Listening Session

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Private Dining Room B

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Private Dining Room B

1:15pm PDT

De-Escalation Skills for Legal Professionals: Managing Triggers and Setting the Tone for Productive Conversations

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

Legal professionals regularly work with individuals who are stressed, overwhelmed, or in conflict. In these moments, conversations can escalate quickly, making it harder to gather information, build trust, and move toward resolution. This one-hour, skills-based workshop will introduce practical de-escalation tools that attorneys can use in client interactions, negotiations, and...
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Speakers

Jen Comiskey

Jen Comiskey, J.D., is a native of Powell, Tennessee. She attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas on a Hays Memorial Scholarship, and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Politics. After college, Jen attended the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville... Read More →

115 215 Comiskey DeEscalation for Legal Professionals pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

1:15pm PDT

Degrees of Debt: Navigating Student Debt After the OBBB

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

Student loan debt continues to shape the financial stability of low-income clients, affecting everything from housing to employment and long-term economic mobility. This session will equip legal services advocates with practical tools to help borrowers access relief through discharges, defend against collections, and navigate income-driven repayment options. We will also break down the major...
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Speakers

Patrick Hodges

Patrick Hodges - Consumer Attorney at Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands

115 215 Hodges Handouts TPD Discharge Handout pdf

115 215 Hodges Handout PSLF Borrower Handout pdf

115 215 Hodges Degrees of Debt Navigating Student Loans After the OBBB pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

1:15pm PDT

Let's Talk About It: Building Better Workplaces Through Generational Dialogue

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

Avoiding hard conversations creates disconnect, and in today’s multigenerational workplace, silence can be costly. This interactive session invites participants to lean into the conversations many teams avoid, creating space for honest, respectful dialogue across generations. Together, we’ll explore how generational experiences shape communication styles, expectations, and approaches...
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Speakers

Derria Ford

Derria L. Ford is an accomplished nonprofit leader, strategist, and speaker with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity, opportunity, and community through philanthropy and leadership. As Chief Development Officer at the Martha O’Bryan Center, she leads a diverse team... Read More →

Suzanne Hartness

M. Suzanne Hartness is a seasoned management consultant and former Chief Operating Officer of a mid-size Nashville law firm, where she led operations in human resources, finance, IT, facilities, and strategic planning for over six years. With more than 20 years of leadership experience... Read More →

115 215 Ford Let's Talk About It Intergenerational Communications Final.pptx pdf

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

1:15pm PDT

Obtaining Attorney's fees as a Legal Aid Attorney

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Brief overview of the processes, rules, and regulations, including ethical rules, regarding obtaining attorney fees as a Legal Aid Attorney.

Speakers

Jennifer Egelston

Jennifer has been with Legal Aid of East Tennessee since October 2023. Jennifer Egelston is a mother, a US Army military police veteran, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law. Jennifer is passionate about helping families resolve their conflicts. Jennifer has... Read More →

Robert Downs

Robert Downs is the Managing Attorney of the Knoxville Office of Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET). He has been an attorney with Legal Aid of East Tennessee since 2012. He had previously been the Deputy Director of Ligation of Advocacy for the Knoxville Legal Aid of East Tennessee... Read More →

115 215 Handout Egleston Template Attorney Fee Disclosure Affidavit (1) pdf

115 215 Egelston Attorneys Fees as a Legal Aid Attorney with Jennys Notes (1) pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

1:15pm PDT

Pandemic Unemployment Overpayments: The Sequel - This time it is Enforcement

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This CLE session examines another wave of pandemic unemployment litigation: aggressive enforcement actions by Departments of Labor seeking recovery of alleged overpayments. What began as administrative notices has evolved into full-scale collection efforts, often catching claimants—and their counsel—off guard years after benefits were paid. This program is designed for...
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Speakers

Trina Hughes

Trina Hughes is an attorney in the Oak Ridge office of Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands primarily practicing in the areas of consumer, fair housing, and family law. She joined LAS in February 2020. Before joining Legal Aid Society, Trina worked as an elder law attorney... Read More →

Patty Sellars

Patty Sellars is an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, where she has served since August 2020 following her graduation from Nashville School of Law. She leads the Employment Practice Group at Legal Aid and chairs the Employment Law Task... Read More →

115 215 Sellars Hughes Handouts Sworn Statement Redacted pdf

115 215 Sellar Hughes Handout Order Granting Motion to Quash Redacted pdf

115 215 Hughes Sellars Handout OAR Appeal Redacted pdf

115 215 Sellars Hughes Handout Slow Pay Motion Form pdf

115 215 Sellars Hughes PUA Overpayments pptx

115 215 Sellars Hughes Handout Distress Warrant Redacted pdf

115 215 Sellars Hughes Handout Motion to Quash Form pdf

115 215 Sellars Hughes Handout Motion to Quash Redacted pdf

115 215 OAR Appeal Redacted pdf

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

1:15pm PDT

Will the Nursing Home Take my House? Understanding Estate Recovery

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

This educational session provides a comprehensive overview of TennCare Estate Recovery and its impact on individuals and families receiving long-term care benefits. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how estate recovery works, who it applies to, and what assets may be subject to recovery after death. The session will also explore key exceptions, hardship provisions, and strategic...
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Speakers

Joshua Bey

As Public Benefits Specialist, Joshua guides clients through every step of the Medicaid application and appeal process. Much of his work is on the financial portion of Medicaid cases where he helps families understand the process and meet spend-down deadlines. Before joining Johnson... Read More →

Ryan Hicks

Ryan Hicks is an Associate Attorney at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, where he advises clients on Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, probate, and other estate planning matters. Prior to joining Johnson McGinnis, Ryan spent over a decade serving as an attorney... Read More →

115 215 Hicks Will the Nursing Home Take my House Estate Recovery EJU Presentation pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

2:15pm PDT

Break

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:15pm - 2:30pm PDT

2:30pm PDT

Family Law & Bankruptcy: Divorce and Debt and No Dollars

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

A basic overview of issues at the intersection of family law and bankruptcy that introduces key concepts such as marital debts in bankruptcy, dischargeable versus nondischargeable obligations, and how bankruptcy can affect ongoing family law cases and vice versa.

Speakers

Alise Housden

Alise Housden is an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Before coming to LAS, she previously represented over 2,000 debtors in Chapter 7 bankruptcies, Chapter 13 bankruptcies, and several adversary proceedings. She currently practices housing... Read More →

Dean Hinton

Since October 6, 2016, Dean has been a Legal Aid domestic relations attorney representing survivors of domestic violence in Sumner County and the 15th Judicial District. Dean graduated from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in May 2010. He... Read More →

230 330 Housden Handouts 1 FL and BK Divorce, Debt, and No Dollars ABA PP Coerced Debt Handout 1 of 2 pdf

230 330 Housden Fam Law and Bankruptcy Divorce, Debt, and No Dollars PPT Alise Housden and Dean Hinton 8 5 2026 pptx

230 330 Housden Handouts 2 FL and BK Divorce, Debt, and No Dollrs Bartenwerfer Coerced Debt Handout 2 of 2 pdf

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

2:30pm PDT

General Insights and Guidelines for Working with Domestic Violence Victims

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

To train paralegals in offering compassionate and informed support to domestic violence victims, enhancing their role as victim advocates. Topics Covered: Understanding the dynamics of domestic violence and its impact on victims' legal protections and resources available for domestic violence victims Techniques for providing emotional support and maintaining professionalism...
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Speakers

Tammie Sisco

Tammie Sisco is a seasoned paralegal with 26 years of experience, specializing in legal drafting, trial support, and advocacy. She holds an associate's degree in paralegal studies from Kaplan University and has dedicated six years to West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS), where... Read More →

230 330 Sisco Providing Victim Advocacy EJU Conference Keynote v1 pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

2:30pm PDT

More than a Keycard: Preventing Eviction for Hotel/Motel Residents

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

Hotels want the benefits of long-term occupancy and the flexibility of immediate removal. Today’s question is: can they have both—or does Tennessee law force them to pick one? This session examines how Tennessee housing advocates can use state excise tax law to establish tenancy for individuals residing in hotels and motels beyond 30 days. While occupants are often...
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Speakers

Zac Oswald

Zac Oswald is Senior Deputy Director of Client Services at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands, where he combines front-line advocacy with emerging technology. His team’s AI-driven ExpungeMate tool has helped clear thousands of non-convictions, expanding... Read More →

Melanie Hagerman

Melanie Hagerman is a family law and housing attorney in the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands' Tullahoma office. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Harvard Law School. Prior to working for the Legal Aid Society, Melanie was a legal fellow at A... Read More →

230 330 Oswald Hotel Motel Eviction Defense pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

2:30pm PDT

Public Record as a Tool for Justice

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

Public records laws are powerful tools available to advocates serving vulnerable Tennesseans. From uncovering systemic failures to exposing barriers to housing, education, healthcare, and other services, access to government records can directly support impactful legal advocacy. This session provides a practical, Tennessee-focused guide to using the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) as a broader...
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Speakers

Jennifer Safstrom

Jennifer Safstrom teaches the Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic at Vanderbilt Law School. Before joining Vanderbilt's law faculty, Professor Safstrom worked as counsel at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and as supervising attorney and clinical teaching... Read More →

Ryan Riedmuller

Ryan Riedmueller is a Clinical Legal Fellow with the Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic at Vanderbilt Law School. Before his current role, he clerked for District Judge Anne R. Traum in the United States District Court, District of Nevada. Prior to his clerkship, he graduated... Read More →

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

2:30pm PDT

Understanding Workplace Discrimination: A Guide for Employees and Employers

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

This informative presentation provides a clear overview of the federal laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and what they mean for today’s workplaces. Participants will learn about employee protections against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as the responsibilities employers have to create and maintain fair work environments. The...
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Speakers

Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown began her career with the Commission as a Bi-lingual Investigator. Five years later was promoted to the State and Local Government Coordinator for the district at the Nashville Area Office. In December 2022, Melissa was promoted to the Outreach and Education Coordinator... Read More →

230 330 Brown Employee Rights & Employer Responsibilities Share pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

2:30pm PDT

Using Affirmative Litigation and the Appellate Process to Further Justice for Clients

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

As Legal Aid attorneys, we often focus our resources for housing litigation on eviction defense. However, we still get clients who would greatly benefit from affirmative litigation, and when resources allow, we should encourage representing clients in these cases. Since most evictions proceed in General Sessions courts, our clients usually do not have access to...
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Speakers

Rebecca Delius

Rebecca Delius (she/her) is a paralegal with the Eviction Right to Counsel program at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. A Nashville native, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from the University of Mississippi. Rebecca spent more... Read More →

Sydney Butler

Sydney Butler (she/her) is an attorney with the Eviction Right to Counsel program of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. A 2023 graduate of Belmont University College of Law, Sydney is passionate about helping tenants assert their rights through eviction... Read More →

230 330 Delius Handouts Statement of Facts 1636 Example pdf

230 330 Delius Affirmative Litigation EJU PPT pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

3:30pm PDT

Break

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:30pm - 3:45pm PDT

3:45pm PDT

A Campaign to Increase Access to Stable, Affordable Housing

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

Tennessee’s tenant screening protections project grew out of a statewide collaboration led by Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM) and the Greater Memphis Housing Justice Project to address unfair tenant screening practices and expand housing access across Tennessee. After participating in Unlocked: Opening the Door to Housing Access Through Tenant Screening...
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Speakers

Shirley Bondon

Shirley Bondon is the Executive Director of the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis (BCCM). She is a licensed attorney and an accomplished and passionate Change Agent with a wealth of experience and proven talent, leveraging creative aptitude and business acumen to drive industry-leading... Read More →

Adam Hughes

Adam Hughes is the East TN Organizer for Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), a 54-year-old member driven organization based in Tennessee. With over a decade as an organizer with SOCM, Adam has worked on issue-based campaigns in counties across East TN ranging... Read More →

345 445 Bondon A Campaign to Increase Access to Stable, Affordable Housing pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

3:45pm PDT

Can you Hear Me Now - The Art of Active Listening

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

This presentation will include a discussion of Active listening, non-verbal cues, body language, and Empathy in working with your clients.

Speakers

Shemeka Petties

Shemeka Petties Ramsey is a native of Oxford, Mississippi, with a strong commitment to service and community impact. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and went on to receive her Master of Social Work from the University of Memphis. Shemeka brings... Read More →

345 445 Petties Can You Hear Me Now pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

3:45pm PDT

Common Pitfalls for Elderly or Disabled Clients in SNAP

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

Older adults and people with disabilities face heightened risk of SNAP benefit loss due to complex rules, reporting requirements, and recent statutory changes. This session will examine common SNAP pitfalls affecting these populations and review the practical effects of recent statutory changes under H.R. 1—including the expansion of the ABAWD three-month time limit to individuals ages...
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Speakers

Josiah Mezera

Josiah joined the Tennessee Justice Center as a Health Law Fellow sponsored by the Speer Foundation. He hopes to put his Health Law background to use by providing individual legal services and policy solutions, as well as representing clients during administrative appeals. Josiah’s... Read More →

345 445 Mezera Common Pitfalls for Elderly and Disabled SNAP Clients. EJU 2026 pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

3:45pm PDT

Depositions 101

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

Planning and conducting effective and efficient depositions

Speakers

Martie Lafferty

Martie Lafferty is Executive Director of the Tennessee Fair Housing Council (TFHC). Martie has been practicing law for over 25 years with a focus on civil rights issues including fair housing, disability rights, and accessibility. Martie is a skilled litigator with substantial experience... Read More →

345 445 Lafferty Depositions 101 Tip Sheet pdf

345 445 Lafferty Depositions 101 pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

3:45pm PDT

Red State Discovery - Guns, Ammo, Tools and Gear

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

A talk on how to do effective discovery and correctly value property that frequently comes up in rural divorces - firearms, ammunition and tactical accessories, tools, and outdoors equipment. Many of these items are deceptively valuable, on par with motor vehicles or even houses in some cases, and attorneys need to be aware of potential pitfalls and know the...
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Speakers

Tyler Weaver

Tyler Weaver is an attorney with Legal Aid of East Tennessee specializing in family and housing law who served as a Field Artillery officer in the US Army for ten years before starting his legal career.

345 445 Weaver Discovery on Firearms and Tactical Equipment TALS pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

3:45pm PDT

Tennessee Simple Will Preparation & Execution

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

This training provides a practical, best practices overview of preparing and executing simple wills under Tennessee law, with a focus on protecting client intent, reducing ethical risk, and creating defensible probate records. Designed for legal services attorneys and staff, the program addresses statutory execution requirements, assessment of testamentary capacity, identification of...
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Speakers

Jonathan Steen

Jonathan Steen is the Medical-Legal Partnership / Litigation Supervising Attorney at West Tennessee Legal Services, where he leads efforts to integrate legal aid into healthcare settings to address social and legal barriers to health. With over 30 years of experience in civil litigation... Read More →

Sara Barnett

Sara E. Barnett is a partner with Spragins, Barnett & Cobb, and has been practicing law for over 20 years. Sara started her practice as a trial lawyer but now focuses her practice on elder law, estate planning, and family law and is the managing partner of the firm’s Estate Planning... Read More →

345 445 Steen Handout Tenn. Code Ann. 45 2 905 Death of persons having access to safe deposit box pdf

345 445 Steen Handout Tenn. Code Ann. 32 1 112 Deposit of will with probate court pdf

345 445 Steen Handout Tenn. Code Ann. 32 2 110 Affidavit of witnesses to prove will pdf

345 445 Steen Handout Why am I left in the waiting room pdf

345 445 Steen Handout Assessment of diminished capacity pdf

345 445 Steen Will Execution Best Practices Presentation (jos EJU) pptx

Wednesday August 26, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

6:30pm PDT

Access to Justice Reception

Wednesday August 26, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm PDT

Oakleigh ABC

MENUWEDNESDAY AUGUST 26TH – RECEPTION: SONOMA Del Sur Salad-Radishes, Grilled Corn, Peppers and Queso Fresco-Served with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (VE) Crispy Tortillas Chips Ancho Chile Chicken Fajitas (GF, DF) Birria Braised Beef with Consommé (GF, DF) Black beans (GF, VE, VG, DF) Mexican Rice (GF, VE, VG,...
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Wednesday August 26, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Oakleigh ABC

8:30am PDT

General Insights and Guidelines for Assisting Attorneys

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

The paralegal profession plays a pivotal role in the legal industry, offering essential support to attorneys and ensuring the smooth operation of legal processes. To enhance the skills and knowledge of paralegals, we propose a series of sessions focused on critical aspects of their work. These sessions aim to provide practical insights, ethical guidelines, and specialized...
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Speakers

Tammie Sisco

Jonathan Steen

830 10 Sisco Training Your Attorney pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

8:30am PDT

Head and Heart in Advocacy: Brain Science, Stress, and Client Decision-Making

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

Legal aid attorneys, advocates, and staff frequently represent clients experiencing high levels of stress, trauma, and instability, which can significantly affect communication, memory, decision-making, and engagement in the legal process. This training introduces the basic neuroscience of stress and its impact on client behavior, including how stress can impair reasoning,...
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Speakers

Adrienne Lees

Adrienne Lees is the Senior Prevention Coordinator at the TN Tech Center for Addiction Prevention & Support. She is a Certified Family Life Educator and a Certified Peer Support Specialist. Ms. Lees serves as Director of the Addiction Prevention & Support Coalition, manages a team... Read More →

Matt Silvey

Mr. Silvey is a lecturer, attorney and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Tennessee. His clinical experience includes community mental health, forensic social work in the public defense system, hospice care, and public guardianship, as well as psychotherapy practice... Read More →

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

8:30am PDT

Hidden In Plain Sight: Practical Issue Spotting Across Practice Areas

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This session will focus on effectively triaging client issues across multiple areas of law. It will explore common issues, key red flags, potential remedies, and available resources and referral options in a variety of practice areas, including family, housing, consumer, and immigration. Recognizing that clients often have multiple, overlapping legal concerns, the session will equip...
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Speakers

Jake Old

Colleen Ryan

Colleen Ryan (she/her) is an attorney with the Eviction Right to Counsel program of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. A 2022 graduate of Belmont University College of Law, Colleen is passionate about helping tenants assert their rights through counterclaims... Read More →

Kerry Krauch

Kerry Krauch is a 2012 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law. She currently serves as a Counsel and Advice Attorney at West Tennessee Legal Services, where she provides guidance to clients across a broad range of legal matters. Prior to this role, she practiced with... Read More →

Amber Vargas

Amber Vargas’s calling is to advocate for victims of domestic violence.  Amber obtained a BA in psychology from Maryville College and a JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law.  While getting her degrees, Amber worked at a domestic violence safe house including manning the... Read More →

Emily Stotts

Emily Stotts is the Legal Director at Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors, a non-profit law firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. She represents individuals seeking immigration benefits before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and those defending themselves against deportation... Read More →

830 10 Krauch Hidden In Plain pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

8:30am PDT

IEP Meeting Simulation

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Come sit in on a mock Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Meeting! IEP Meetings are the core of special education representation, but it can be hard to find real-life opportunities to practice. These meetings require real-time negotiation with an opposing party while your clients, one of which is a minor, is present, which can raise interesting issues with regards to ethics and client...
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Speakers

Jasmine Miller

Jasmine Ying Miller is a Staff Attorney at Youth Law Center, based in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Her work focuses on the intersection between juvenile justice, child welfare and education systems, including special education and transitions to postsecondary education... Read More →

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

8:30am PDT

Tennessee Tenants Take the Lead: A Public Interest Affirmative Housing Litigation Tool

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

Overwhelmingly with housing cases, tenants and their attorneys are caught playing defense, and the options are limited. We hope to keep people housed as much as possible and if not, negotiate a move that doesn't impact their future housing health. It can be a bleak business of small wins and minimizing damage, but the task of investing in sustained...
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Speakers

Maggie Behringer

A Chattanooga native, Maggie Behringer went to law school to study housing law and work with the unhoused. Maggie graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College and earned a master's in fine arts from West Virginia University. She received her J.D. from Loyola Law School in... Read More →

830 10 Behringer Affirmative Litigation Toolkit EJU Presentation pdf

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

8:30am PDT

Top Ten Tennessee Lawyers

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

This course is a fast-moving survey of the top ten Tennessee lawyers of our state’s dramatic, diverse, and inspiring legal history from the territorial period to modern times. This includes litigators, judges, scholars, and the legal and ethical challenges they confronted.

Speakers

Russell Fowler

Russell Fowler, a 10th generation Tennessean, is Director of Litigation and Advocacy and Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and since 1999 has been adjunct professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). In 2005, he was selected UTC’s... Read More →

1. TOP 10 William B. Turley 2018 pdf

4. TOP 10 Camille Kelley 2021 pdf

3. TOP 10 Luke Wright 2022 pdf

5. TOP 10 Tennessee’s Tent City 2022 pdf

2. TOP 10 Lutie Lytle 2018 pdf

Thursday August 27, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

10:00am PDT

Break

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:00am - 10:15am PDT

10:00am PDT

Access to Justice Committee, Tennessee Bar Association

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

Private Dining Room A

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Private Dining Room A

10:15am PDT

2025 Tennessee Legislative Session

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

TN 2025 legislative session overview

Speakers

Lauren Webb

Lauren Webb is an attorney and seasoned government affairs professional with a proven track record of guiding legislation through the Tennessee General Assembly. She brings deep expertise in state government, policy formation and strategy, government finance, and procurement... Read More →

1015 1145Webb Legislative Update Presentation pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

10:15am PDT

Advocating for Veterans: VA Benefits 101

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

Survey and introduction to VA benefits for new advocates and for those outside the practice area to best advise their clients on too. Overview includes service-connected disability payments, VA covered medical services, and service discharge upgrades. Also covered will be the basic how-tos for advocacy with the VA and issue spotting VA benefits issues along with other...
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Speakers

Cole Adams

Staff Attorney, West Tennessee Legal Services

1015 1145 Handouts HowtoApplyforAccreditationVA pdf

1015 1145 VA Benefits 101 pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

10:15am PDT

Defending Criminal Activity and Drug-Related Evictions

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

This session will discuss the applicable law, strategy, and ethical concerns surrounding defense of tenants being evicted for alleged criminal activity and drug-related lease violations. We will discuss: (1) Negotiation and trial strategy, including evidentiary issues to be aware of, (2) Rights available to and limitations for tenants facing these allegations in HUD-subsidized properties,...
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Speakers

Emily Cala

Emily Cala is a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee's Knoxville Office, where she works with the Eviction Prevention Program. Emily is from Cleveland, Ohio, where she attended Case Western Reserve University School of Law and graduated in 2021 before moving to Knoxville... Read More →

Michael Davis

Michael Davis, a 2015 graduate of UT College of Law, has been practicing predominantly in landlord-tenant law with Legal Aid of East Tennessee since 2020. In his time there, he has handled numerous detainer warrant defense and fair housing complaint cases as a Staff Attorney... Read More →

Kimberly Riddett

Kimberly Riddett is a Staff Attorney in Legal Aid of East Tennessee's Knoxville Office, where she works on the Recovery Legal Project, which allows her to assist individuals with a history of substance abuse with various legal issues. Kim is from Louisville, Kentucky, but moved... Read More →

1015 1145 Cala Handout Defending Criminal Activity and Drug Related Evictions pdf

1015 1145 Cala Defending Criminal Activity and Drug Related Evictions pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

10:15am PDT

General Insights and Guidelines - Paralegal Ethics

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

Paralegals are critical to the delivery of legal services, particularly in legal aid settings where resources are limited, and the need is great. This training will provide an overview of the ethical boundaries that guide paralegal practice, with an emphasis on avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. Participants will explore practical applications of paralegal roles in client...
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Speakers

Tammie Sisco

Jonathan Steen

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

10:15am PDT

Issue Spotting Checklist for Detainer Cases

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Unlawful detainer cases move quickly through the court system. Learn how to read through a Detainer summons to evaluate defenses in the blink of an eye!

Handouts will be distributed during the class.

Speakers

Emily O'Donnell

Emily O’Donnell is Managing Attorney for the Eviction Prevention Initiative at Legal Aid of East Tennessee. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN and her law degree at Georgia State University College of Law... Read More →

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

10:15am PDT

Personal Transparency and Burnout Prevention

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

This presentation will explore whether an individual personality type contributes to their ability to manage stress and burnout. With many people in sandwich generation family dynamics that contribute to their overall work life balance. The audience will explore their personality through a series of questions; we will take a deep dive into interpersonal...
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Speakers

Amy Bryant

A consummate professional, attorney Amy Willoughby Bryant has a heart for public service and leadership. Amy’s work has reflected her professionalism and passion during her many years of legal practice. Amy is excited to serve Metro Davidson County and Nashville’s community... Read More →

1015 1145 Bryant Personal Transparency and Burnout Prevention pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

11:45am PDT

Leadership Luncheon

Thursday August 27, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT

Oakleigh ABC

THURSDAY AUGUST 27TH – LUNCH: TN MEAT AND THREE Pulled Pork with Cola BBQ Sauce (GF, DF) Grandma’s Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie Garden Salad with Two Dressings (GF, VE, VG, DF-depending on selected toppings) Sharp Cheddar Mac n Cheese (VE) Buttered Mash Potatoes (GF, VE) Assorted Warm Rolls Chef’s Choice of...
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Thursday August 27, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT
Oakleigh ABC

1:15pm PDT

A Practical Look at Tennessee Statute of Limitations

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This program provides a practical, risk-focused overview of statutes of limitations under Tennessee law, with an emphasis on avoiding missed deadlines that can jeopardize client interests and expose firms to malpractice risk. Designed for attorneys, paralegals, and support staff alike, the program explains key statute of limitations concepts, highlights commonly encountered Tennessee deadlines,...
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Speakers

Jonathan Steen

115 215 Steen SOL Presentation Slides (jos EJU) pptx

115 215 Steen Handout Range v. Sowell 2009 Tenn. App. LEXIS 723 (good description of SOL and statute of repose docx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

1:15pm PDT

Competence and Capacity: Differences in Legal and Psychological Understandings

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

This lecture bridges the often-misaligned vocabularies of law and forensic psychology as they apply to one of the most consequential determinations in legal practice: whether an individual possesses the mental ability to make decisions, execute legal documents, or participate meaningfully in legal proceedings. The presentation explores how psychologists assess cognitive and...
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Speakers

Dr. Charles Ihrig

Dr. Charles Ihrig is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor with more than three decades of experience in mental health care. He is the Founder and President of Athena Care, established in 2001, which has grown under his leadership into one of Tennessee’s... Read More →

Dr. Jorge Boero

Dr. Boero is a native of Argentina and is fully bilingual in Spanish and English.  He is a licensed psychologist who received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of South Dakota and completed his postdoctoral training at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s... Read More →

115 215 Ihrig Competence and Capacity CLE v6 Repaired pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

1:15pm PDT

Immigration 101

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

This session will provide a basic overview of immigration law, including common terminology and the government agencies involved in implementing the laws and regulations. The session will also introduce some of the immigration options available to noncitizens and cover recent law changes.

Speakers

Chay Sengkhounmany

Chay Sengkhounmany is the Lead Immigration Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands. At Legal Aid Society, Chay directs the Survivors Immigration Legal (SIL) Project and provides immigration legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault... Read More →

2026.08.27 Immigration Basics pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

1:15pm PDT

Media Training for Legal Aid Professionals

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

We will present best practices for interacting with media to promote the principles of access to justice.

Speakers

Andy Cole

Andy Cole is the Pro Bono Managing Attorney at West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. He coordinates the office’s private attorney involvement and contract attorney placement programs, which place cases for low-income clients with private attorneys for reduced fees or no charge at... Read More →

Anna Castle

Anna Castle is a publicist with Kore PR and Burning Ground Entertainment in Nashville. She works with clients to develop media strategies and create media campaigns. She is a 2011 graduate of Belmont University.

115 215 Cole Media Training for Legal Aid Professionals pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

1:15pm PDT

Paid Family Caregiving - Understanding Service Models in Tennessee

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

This session will provide attendees with an overview of expanded opportunities for family caregivers to be paid for services provided under a TennCare waiver. Topics covered will include prior authorizations of home and community-based services and opportunities for family members to be paid to deliver care.

Speakers

Emily Jenkins

Emily Jenkins is an attorney and certified mediator; she obtained her J.D. from the College of William and Mary and her B.A. from Rhodes College. She has been a Staff Attorney with the Tennessee Justice Center since 2023. Prior to coming to TJC, her work was focused on Child... Read More →

115 215 Jenkins Paid Family Caregiving pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

1:15pm PDT

The Professional Edge: Polishing Your Performance and Presence

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

This training will help attorneys identify professional behaviors, communication habits and workplace practices that strengthen credibility and trust with clients, colleagues, community partners, and the courts. The session will also include demonstrating effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills that reflect professionalism, cultural humility, and...
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Speakers

Emma Sholl

Emma Sholl is the Lead Health and Benefits attorney in the Nashville office of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She supervises a team of two attorneys and three support staff that work on public benefits cases. She handles Medicaid, Medicare, Social... Read More →

Robert Downs

Vanessa Bullock

Vanessa Bullock is West Tennessee Legal Services’ Director of Special Projects, where she oversees grants providing holistic legal services to special populations, including the elderly and veterans. She also supervises several HUD-funded initiatives, including the Mid-South Housing... Read More →

115 215 Bullock Learning Objectives for Adulting Sessions docx

Thursday August 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

2:15pm PDT

Break

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:15pm - 2:30pm PDT

2:30pm PDT

From Data to Impact: Strengthening Financial Outcomes Reporting Across Programs

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This session introduces a standardized approach to financial outcomes of reporting, improving consistency, accuracy, and usability for grant reporting, advocacy, and storytelling. Participants will learn how to categorize benefits obtained and amounts avoided using a practical, easy-to-apply framework. The session will also show how clear financial outcomes...
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Speakers

Zac Oswald

Vince Morris

Vince Morris joined the Legal Aid Society in 2023 as Director of Compliance and Legal Technology after relocating to Nashville from Little Rock, Arkansas, where he practiced criminal defense and domestic relations law. He began his career in legal aid as an intern and spent over... Read More →

Vanessa Bullock

Caitlin Hakim

Caitlin worked as a staff attorney for WTLS from 2017-2018 and then joined WTLS as a managing attorney in 2019. She earned her J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2014. She previously worked as a law clerk for Judge D. Kelly... Read More →

230 330 Oswald Economic Benefits Grid pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

2:30pm PDT

Graceful Goodbyes

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

Nonprofits often face the unique challenge of managing personnel with limited resources and deeply personal dynamics. This session will explore how to make wise and legally sound HR decisions—from hiring to firing—while preserving dignity, minimizing risk, and stewarding the organization’s mission. Special focus will be given to compassionate terminations, especially in cases where an...
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Speakers

Alan Hall

Alan established his private practice in 2015. Previously, he built a decade of experience in Tennessee State Government. As the Department of Human Service’s first Inspector General, he increased collections, reduced audit findings and improved the employee background check... Read More →

Laura Camp

Laura Camp is the founder of Nashville HR, LLC, a consultancy launched in January 2023 that provides Fractional HR, Outsourced HR, and Consulting Projects to small employers. She's known for a presentation style that's authentic, warm, and engaging — bringing clarity to complex... Read More →

230 330 Hall Graceful Goodbyes v1 8.3.26 pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

2:30pm PDT

How to Run the Best Free Legal Clinic in Tennessee

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

Gallatin's free monthly legal clinic generally has more than 30 people that we help in approximately four hours, including ghost-writing divorce forms. How do we do it from pre-clinic prep to boots on the ground to wrapping up when the clinic ends. Best practices, ethical considerations, how to handle the chaos that is often a free legal clinic.

Speakers

Tomi Robb

Krista Scruggs

Ms. Scruggs is currently the advocate in the Gallatin Legal Aid Office. Krista has worn many hats at legal aid in the 19 years she has been with LAS. In this role, Krista is the person who meets all domestic violence victims. Krista makes safety plans and helps with housing for... Read More →

Dean Hinton

230 330 HintonTALS Clinic PP Final pptx

230 330 Hinton Clinic Handouts zip

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

2:30pm PDT

Navigating the Social Security Administration: Options for Advocates

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Over the past 18 months, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has experienced a turbulent period marked by far-reaching organizational changes: the deepest staffing reductions in its history, office restructuring, inconsistent and shifting policies on accessing walk-in service at field offices, and increased reliance on automated and online systems. These changes have had a significant...
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Speakers

Kate Lang

Kate joined Justice in Aging in 2012 and currently serves as Director of Federal Income Security. She focuses on improving access to Supplemental Security Income and Social Security benefits for older adults and people with disabilities at the Social Security Administration. She provides... Read More →

230 330 Handouts Lang Navigating SSA Common Scenarios Resource pdf

230 330 Handouts Lang SSA Customer Service Challenges Survey Results June 2026 pdf

230 330 Lang Navigating SSA TN EJU Presentation 08.27.2026 pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

2:30pm PDT

Strategizing your Transition into Legal Aid Leadership

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

This session will identify mindset shifts, competencies and responsibilities involved in moving from legal advocate to legal aid leader. This session will include the recognition of the differences between individual casework successes and leadership effectiveness in a mission-driven legal service environment and assess how supervision,...
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Speakers

DarKenya Waller

DarKenya W. Waller is the Executive Director of TN’s largest nonprofit law firm, Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence victims and a champion for all underserved communities on the local, state, and national level... Read More →

Debra House

Debra House is the Executive Director of Legal Aid of East Tennessee. She has been with LAET for 33 years and has concentrated on her poverty law practice primarily in the areas of family and juvenile law. Deb is a member of the Knoxville and Tennessee Bar Associations and is the... Read More →

Ashley Holliday

Ashley graduated with a BA in Communications from the University of Tennessee at Martin and earned her J.D. from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Prior to joining WTLS in 2009, Ashley worked in private practice handling consumer bankruptcy and family law matters. Ashley is a member... Read More →

230 330 Holliday Strategizing your Transition into Legal Aid Leadership pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

2:30pm PDT

The Sustainable Lawyer: Rooted, Growing and Avoiding Burnout

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

A growing number of attorneys are confronting burnout, compassion fatigue, and the quiet erosion of professional identity. This CLE explores how lawyers can recognize early warning signs, ethically safeguard their mental and emotional fitness, and make informed decisions about career transitions or reeducation. Participants will examine the intersection of well-being and...
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Speakers

Ronda Webb

Ronda Webb is an attorney and Air Force JAG Guardsmen whose career spans education law, healthcare regulation, and public service. She currently serves as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Franklin, providing legal counsel on municipal operations, governance, and... Read More →

The Sustainable Lawyer Equal Justice University 2026 Presentation Deck pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

3:30pm PDT

Break- Refreshments Provided

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:30pm - 3:45pm PDT

3:45pm PDT

Enhancing Court Outcomes Through Effective Interpreter Preparation

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

In this session, Genna and Richard look at how interpreter preparation affects communication in legal proceedings. Interpreters act as the voice of both the limited English proficient (LEP) individual and the court, so their performance directly impacts due process. Despite this, interpreters often receive little to no information before key events such as depositions and hearings. This...
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Speakers

Genna Linton

Genna Linton is a certified medical interpreter and registered court interpreter. She has been working in interpreter training with the Tennessee Language Center for the past five years.

Richard Ponce De Leon Manosalva

Richard is originally from Lima, Peru. He has a background in Linguistics and extensive interpreting experience across legal, medical, and educational settings. He is a Certified Public Manager and a Certified Court Interpreter in the State of Tennessee, and he holds a Master of Science... Read More →

345 445 Linton Enhancing Court Outcomes pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella D

3:45pm PDT

Get Ready to Redact: Understanding the New Tennessee, R. App. P. 20B

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

This is a session on appellate practice that is applicable to all substantive areas of the law. I will explain the new Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 20B, which requires redaction of certain information in all Tennessee appellate court filings. We will discuss what needs to be redacted and how such redaction can be accomplished. We will also provide some tips and tricks that...
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Speakers

Jacob Vanzin

Jacob A. Vanzin is a Partner at Dodson, Parker, Behm & Capparella. He practices almost exclusively in the appellate courts of Tennessee and has authored or co-authored dozens of appellate briefs.

345 445 Vanzin Get Ready to Redact Rule 20B Redaction Presentation pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge B

3:45pm PDT

Introducing the New Outlook & LegalServer 5

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Legal aid organizations are navigating forced, externally driven technology changes at the same time they are being asked to improve consistency, efficiency, and collaboration. New Outlook is being defaulted for many Microsoft 365 users and will become unavoidable over the next few years. LegalServer 5 represents a significant shift in interface, navigation, and...
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Speakers

Holly Fuller

Holly Fuller is the Director of Operations and a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Licensed in Tennessee since 2013, she practices primarily in landlord‑tenant and general civil law while overseeing firm‑wide operations, technology systems, and vendor relationships... Read More →

Kathryn Avent-Mann

Kathryn Avent-Mann is an efficient and reliable administrative professional with more than 35 years of experience supporting a legal nonprofit organization. She brings a diverse skill set that includes over 30 years of experience in Microsoft systems administration, technology management... Read More →

Vince Morris

345 445 Fuller Handouts docx

345 445 Fuller Handouts 2026 EJU LS5 Handout Morris A pdf

345 445 Fuller Final Outlook and LS 5 Presentation Holly VM pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

3:45pm PDT

Not Another Flyer: Outreach to Meet Clients Where They Are

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

One of the biggest barriers to legal access in our communities is the accessibility and dissemination of legal information and resources in ways that potential clients and community members can interact with. Through the use of new legal technologies, social media-based outreach, and the development of a court help desk, it will be easier than ever to...
See More →

Speakers

Zane Jud

Zane Jud is the Project Manager for the Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) pilot program at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. He began working at Legal Aid in 2022 after receiving his master's degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Bradley... Read More →

Sophia Quiroz Colby

Sofia Quiroz Colby is the Outreach Coordinator for Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) at Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS). She joined the ERTC team at Legal Aid in 2025 and graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's in communication and a minor in... Read More →

345 445 Jud Not Another Flyer Outreach to Meet Clients Where They Are pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Mirabella C

3:45pm PDT

Technology Innovation Grant

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

An overview of the Technology Innovation Grant.

Speakers

Ashley Holliday

Laura Brown

Laura Brown brings more than 20 years of legal experience to TALS. She most recently worked as the Senior Deputy Director of Client Services for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Her duties included the overall management and direction of client services... Read More →

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

3:45pm PDT

What to Know: Resources and Public Benefits

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

This practical session will cover what people need to know about resources and three public benefits programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps (SNAP), and TennCare. This session will educate participants about what counts as a resource for each of these benefits programs, when a resource counts, what counts as a resource versus what counts as income, and how to advise clients...
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Speakers

Emma Sholl

345 445 Sholl Resources and Public Benefits PPT pptx

Thursday August 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

8:15am PDT

Consumer Law Alphabet Soup

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

An overview of some of the common abbreviations found in state and federal consumer protection laws.

Speakers

Trina Hughes

815 915 Hughes The Alphabet Soup of Consumer Law pptx

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

8:15am PDT

The Maxims of Equity

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

We will cover the key maxims of equity, including unclean hands, laches, equitable estopple, the equitable cleanup doctrine, and many more.

Speakers

Russell Fowler

815 915 Fowler Handouts B. MAXIMS Judicial Warfare 2019 pdf

815 915 Fowler Handout A. MAXIMS Chancery History 2012 pdf

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

8:15am PDT

Why It's Called the Practice of Law: Lessons from the Practice

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

Why It’s Called the Practice of Law: Lessons from Practice is a practical, conversation driven program designed to help law students and early career attorneys navigate the transition from law school to real‑world legal practice. Drawing on candid experiences from practicing attorneys, the program explores the differences between academic legal training...
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Speakers

Jonathan Steen

Megan Allen

Megan B. Allen went to undergraduate at the University at Tennessee in Martin. From there she went to Nashville School of Law while also working as a paralegal in the law practice of Teel & Maroney, P.L.C. in Jackson, TN. After graduation in 2013, she practiced with Teel and Maroney... Read More →

Garrah Carter-Mason

Garrah Carter is a corporate litigator at Bass, Berry, & Sims PLC in Nashville, Tennessee, representing clients in complex business litigation and government investigations. She also has an extensive pro bono practice including representation of indigent defendants in wrongful... Read More →

Charles Holliday

Charles “Chuck” Holliday is the Founder and trial attorney at Holliday Law, located in Jackson, TN. He represents clients facing legal battles involving car and truck wrecks, workplace injuries, wrongful termination, and federal lawsuits against the government for denied SSD... Read More →

815 915 Steen Handout EJU Tips Handout from The Practice of Law docx

815 915 Steen Why It's Called the Practice of Law (jos EJU 2026) pptx

Friday August 28, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

9:15am PDT

Break

Friday August 28, 2026 9:15am - 9:30am PDT

9:30am PDT

Behind Both Bars: How the Services Industry Trains Public Interest

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

In thinking about the application of service industry concepts to the legal world, this session will address the ethics of cultural sensitivity (on both the client and the team member side) and professional integrity and how to ethically navigate intergenerational management and teach soft skills.

Speakers

Maggie Behringer

Anne Boatner

Anne joined the NHBA team as director in September 2024. In addition to providing high-quality legal advice and representation to folks facing eviction in Davidson County, Anne oversees all aspects of the ERTC program. Anne attended Brooklyn College, where she graduated summa... Read More →

930 1030 Boatner Behind Both Bars pptx

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands B

9:30am PDT

Tennessee Civil Legal Needs Assessment

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

Overview of TN Civil Legal Needs Assessment- process and data

Speakers

Nicole Sibilski

Nicole M. Sibilski, a grants professional specializing in federal RFPs, is a Senior Grants Specialist at TFG. In this role, Nicole develops grant products that directly support the lifecycle of federal grant proposal development for TFG's clients. Nicole has nearly two decades... Read More →

Laura Brown

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Broadlands A

9:30am PDT

The Blame Game

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

Taking a trauma informed approach to handling clients struggling to accept personal accountability for their legal troubles.

Speakers

Nicholas Gau

Nick is a native Nashvillian who has always had a deep affinity for the Nashville community. Nick was first introduced to trauma and resiliency informed care while working at Monroe Harding, a local non-profit that provided residential care to young men in State’s custody. During... Read More →

Violet Gau

Since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2015, Violet has immersed herself in the non-profit field, counseling clients individually and creating change on a systems level. Violet is a Co-Response supervisor with Mental Health Cooperative’s Partners in Care program, embedded... Read More →

930 1030 Gau The Blame Game pptx

Friday August 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Embassy Suites- Cambridge A

10:30am PDT

Break

Friday August 28, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am PDT

11:00am PDT

Closing Plenary

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Oakleigh ABC

After attending the United States Air Force Academy, Alberto R. Gonzales received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate as the 80th Attorney General of the United States in February 2005 and served in that capacity until September 2007. He has worked as...
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Speakers

Alberto R. Gonzales

Friday August 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Oakleigh ABC