Upcoming Retirement of Executive Director and Search for New Executive Director

Barri Bernstein was the initial executive director of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and has served in that role since 1985.  She  advised the Board of Trustees of her retirement in mid-2024.

Board Chair, Judge John W. Whitworth, of Camden, stated that “Barri built this Foundation, from the ground up.  She provided innovative leadership, which led to better access to legal assistance for lower-income Tennesseans and to the flourishing of justice-related organizations around the state, even as economic circumstances have changed over the years.  In addition, she designed and continues to produce the Foundation’s ‘Legal History Project’ which uses video interviews to preserve the life stories of Tennessee senior attorneys and judges from across the state.  We are grateful for Barri’s longtime service and to know that she will be available in an advisory role to the Board and to her successor.”

The Tennessee Bar Foundation was established in 1982.  Its mission is to honor distinguished attorneys as “Fellows,” to support law-related public interest projects, and to administer Tennessee’s IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program.  The IOLTA program just announced 2024 grants of $2,000,000 to support  Tennessee non-profit organizations which provide legal services to the poor and/or work to improve the administration of justice. Under Ms. Bernstein’s tenure, IOLTA grant awards total over $28,000,000.

The search for a new executive director has begun.  Information about the position and how to apply is available at https://www.tnbarfoundation.org/careers-at-tbf/