Equal Justice University 2026: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

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

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

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 work-related advocacy efforts in your organization.

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

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 courtroom-adjacent settings. The session will focus on recognizing common triggers for escalation, understanding how emotional and physiological responses impact communication, and using simple, effective strategies to set a grounded tone in difficult conversations. Participants will leave with concrete tools to navigate high-emotion situations more effectively, reduce conflict escalation, and support more productive and respectful communication with clients, opposing parties, and colleagues. By strengthening attorneys’ ability to manage escalation, this training supports more effective client engagement, reduces conflict-related barriers, and contributes to more accessible and responsive legal services.

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

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 Collaboration with attorneys and other professionals to ensure comprehensive victim advocacy

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

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

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 training to empower paralegals in their professional roles. Learning Objectives: Assisting Attorneys with Drafting Documents and Trial Support, Working with Domestic Violence Victims, Providing Victim Advocacy.

Speakers

Tammie Sisco

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 →

830 10 Sisco Training Your Attorney pptx

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

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 communication, legal research, and case support, while also reviewing the ethical limitations related to legal advice, representation, and confidentiality. The program will also address best practices for conducting legal needs assessments and maintaining client trust and attorney-client privilege within a supervised legal framework.

Speakers

Tammie Sisco

Jonathan Steen

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

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

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 professional responsibility, learn practical strategies for restoring capacity, and gain tools for navigating career pivots without compromising ethical obligations or client care.

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

3:45pm 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

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 →

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

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

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 →

815 915 Hughes The Alphabet Soup of Consumer Law pptx

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

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