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January 2012 – IOLTA Grant Awards
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved awards totaling $800,000 to be paid during 2012 to 54 organizations located across Tennessee. In accordance with the Supreme Court’s Order, all recipients provide either direct civil legal service to indigent clients or work to improve the administration of justice. The list of organizations is available by clicking here.
April 2011 - West Tennessee Reception
On April 6, the Foundation held a reception in Jackson for area Fellows and judges. Members from 16 West Tennessee cities attended, as well as the justices of the Supreme Court (sitting in Jackson) and the Board of Trustees. Contributions from six law firms supported the event, including “platinum" sponsors Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and the Law Office of J. Houston Gordon | Irma Merrill Stratton. See the slideshow of photographs (below).
March 2011 - Participant Members
Any lawyer licensed in Tennessee who participates in the IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers Trust Accounts) program, whether as an individual or as a member (principal, employee, or other member) of a law firm, and who is not currently a Fellow of the Foundation, is eligible to serve as a voting “Participant" member of the Foundation.
To enroll as a voting Participant member of the Foundation, complete this form and submit it to the Foundation office. Forms received prior to April 30, 2011 will immediately qualify (after acknowledgement from the Foundation office) that lawyer for Participant status. Forms received after April 30, 2011 will qualify (after acknowledgement from the Foundation office) that lawyer for Participant status as of January 1, 2012. Terms of office will be in accordance with Section 2.7(a) (below).
Participant membership was made possible by amendment, in part, of two sections of the Foundation’s bylaws, as follows:
Section 2.7 Participants
(a) Any attorney licensed in Tennessee who participates in the Interest On Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, whether as an individual or as a member (principal, employee, or other member) of a law firm, and who is not currently a Fellow of the Foundation, shall be eligible to serve as a “Participant" in the Foundation. An attorney shall qualify as a Participant upon submitting his or her written request to the Executive Director of the Foundation and providing such proof as the Executive Director may reasonably require of such person’s qualification to serve. For all such written requests received from the date of adoption of these bylaws through April 30, 2011, a Participant's term shall begin as of the date of his or her appointment. Thereafter, a Participant's term shall begin on the next January 1 following the date of his or her appointment. All Participant terms shall end on the fifth December 31 following the year of his or her appointment, or until his or her death, resignation, or ineligibility, whichever first occurs.
(b) The requirements needed to maintain Participant status shall be a license to practice law in the State of Tennessee and participation in the IOLTA program during the then-current fiscal year ending June 30.
(c) Appropriate notice of the date, time, and place of meetings of the membership shall be given to each Participant, as provided in Article III of these bylaws.
Section 2.8. Termination of Membership
(a) Any member (Fellow or Participant) may voluntarily terminate his or her membership at any time upon written notice to the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the principal office of the Foundation.
January 2011 - IOLTA Grant Awards
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved awards totaling $955,000 to be paid during 2011 to 55 organizations located across Tennessee. In accordance with the Supreme Court’s Order, all recipients provide either direct civil legal service to indigent clients or work to improve the administration of justice. The list of organizations is available by clicking here.
June 2010 - Annual Meeting
The Foundation's Annual Meeting was held June 3 in Nashville. Chairman Riney Green's report on the activities of the past year included the IOLTA program's 56 grant awards (for a total of $1,000,000) to law-related public service providers for 2010 and the acceptance, by the Supreme Court, of the Foundation's petition to create a comprehensive IOLTA program including interest rate comparability.
May 2010 Supreme Court Luncheon
To catch up with the justices of the Supreme Court this spring, the Board of Trustees traveled to Jackson to host the annual lunch meeting. Chairman Riney Green reported on progress made to implement the Court’s Order amending the structure of the IOLTA program (which the Foundation administers on the Court’s behalf).
November 2009 - Information about Mandatory IOLTA Participation
Educational materials regarding compliance with the mandatory IOLTA program have been mailed to all lawyers holding Tennessee licenses. For the answers to Frequently Asked Questions, the form to open an IOLTA account (or convert a pre-existing trust/escrow checking account to an IOLTA account) and the list of Eligible Financial Institutions, click here.
September 2009 - Legal History Project video collages available online
All six collages that compile the “best of" moments of the video interviews conducted by the Legal History Project may be viewed online. Click here to enjoy the preserved memories, wit and wisdom of Tennessee’s senior lawyers!
July 2009 - IOLTA Program Changes
On July 8, 2009, the Supreme Court issued an Order that amends Rule 8, RPC 1.15 and Rule 43 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Tennessee (click here for Order and amended Rules) with a compliance date for lawyers of January 1, 2010. Educational materials will be sent to all Tennessee lawyers this coming fall, with detailed information about what changes, if any, are necessary.
While no immediate action is required, the Tennessee Bar Foundation, administrator of the IOLTA program, is ready to assist those lawyers whose trust/escrow checking accounts are not currently participating in IOLTA. A "sign-up" form is available on this website under "Lawyer Resources." Select "Open an IOLTA account ('Notice to Financial Institution')". The form that appears should be printed, completed and submitted to the lawyer's bank (or to the Foundation that will, in turn, submit it to the bank).
For additional assistance, contact the Foundation at 615/242-1531 or 800/634-2516 or info@tnbarfoundation.org
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