Blog

In a twist of circumstance this year, one of the co-winners of the TALS B. Riney Green Award actually nominated the other winner. What a fitting occurrence for an award that seeks to “a way to recognize and emphasize the value the access to justice community has for a particular kind of accomplishment – one [...]

Just two weeks ago, a group of 160 of my colleagues, friends, and heroes (coincidentally, they are all the same group) gathered for a few days of learning and laughter at Equal Justice University, Class of 2011. The highlight of the conference occurred during the awards dinner on Wednesday night, October 12. It was not [...]

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services typically hosts Equal Justice University in September each year. This year, however, we decided to move it to October – for the life of me, I cannot recall why. In our staff meeting yesterday I said, “I prefer September for EJU.” After Lisa Primm said she “loves October,” I re-considered [...]

Legal Services in the News Memphis Area Legal Services talks about tenants’ rights TN Justice Center speaks out about TennCare Spend down 8 New LAS special education brochures West Tennessee Legal Services Mortgage Default Info Legal Aid of East Tennessee Pro Bono Clinics coming up Sept. 17th and Sept 24th Training Equal Justice University (EJU) [...]

 Scholarship Deadline Extended to September 26th!                 Equal Justice University Law Student Program In 2011, it is our goal to make EJU even more accessible to law students than ever. In collaboration with the TBA’s Access to Justice Committee’s Law School Sub-Committee, we are reaching out to encourage [...]

Finishing up our work week following a three day weekend can be tough. How tough do we have it though? Here’s an interesting infogram compairing work time in different countries. from Mashable.com Filed under: Uncategorized

In the News TN Disability Coalition (an EJU Sponsor!) has opened its annual grant process The Tennessee Bar Association has joined in asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to reject the plan to take lowest bids for indigent defense Our sympathies to friends and family of the Court of Criminal Appeals Judge J.C. McLin of Memphis [...]

Social Media Thoughts for the Day: Most nonprofits have some form of presence in social media these days. How to do it, why it’s important, or what’s most affective when using social media can be allusive though. Here’s some of what I’ve been reading to keep on track here at TALS. Some of this is [...]

One Photo. No Words. Filed under: Wordless.

Legal Services in the News Legal aid programs for poor deal with deep cuts Legal Aid releases special education brochures Fighting Mold in your Rental Property New website offers free legal advice to qualifying residents U of M Event Honors City’s Legal Pillars Helpful links from West TN Legal Services Cost for concern: Knox County [...]

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Author:  Linnet Overton, TALS Outreach and Development Director I love to highlight the successes of legal services in Tennessee. On our Facebook page, Twitter, and here in our blog, we often get the opportunity to applaud our legal aid programs’ hard [...]

              Equal Justice University Law Student Program In 2011, it is our goal to make EJU even more accessible to law students than ever. In collaboration with the TBA’s Access to Justice Committee’s Law School Sub-Committee, we are reaching out to encourage law student attendance by: Including networking opportunities [...]

“Looking for answers to questions that bothered him so…” – Jimmy Buffet

I’m sure many of you have seen the voice activated transcription machines used in an office or in the court room and thought, ‘Wow! How does that work?!’ I know I have. Well here’s a little infograph to give you a very general overview. Enjoy!

- Linnet

http://mashable.com/2011/08/23/speech-recognition-infographic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Legal Services News

• The Tennessee Employment Law Association (TENNELA) has started a website.
• Gordon Bonnyman, co-founder of the Tennessee JusticeCenter, has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual Health Care Heroes event in Nashville presented by the Nashville Business Journal. 
• The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has hired Amy Williams as grant manager.

Trainings

We’re all Equal Justice University (EJU) all the time here at TALS as our fall conference quickly approaches. Don’t forget, this year at EJU we have

• Great keynote speakers, 
• A schedule with classes for lawyers, social workers, and other support staff, and
• Sponsorship opportunities galore that support civil legal services advocates and law students.

Register now or contact Linnet Overton, loverton@tals.org, to become a sponsor!

Peace and Justice!

- PB&J

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside EJU Part 4: EJU Freshman Class 2011

Author: Sarah Cooper, TALS MSW Intern

As the newest intern for TALS, I have been given the unique opportunity to be a part of the planning and development of the Equal Justice University (EJU), as well as being invited to attend!  As the time draws near, I have been asked to share my thoughts so far…

Where do I begin?

I remember the first time I heard the letter’s “EJU”.  It was in my initial interview for the internship placement here.  Lisa welcomed me in, asked a few questions, and explained the organization (you know the regular interview stuff).  I remember being a bit confused with all the roles TALS plays in the Legal Aid community; workshops, trainings, task forces, disaster hotline answerer…the list seemed endless.  Then the conversation turned to EJU. The mood in the room changed suddenly from routine to excitement, I knew instantly that this was something BIG!

Over that past couple months, as my knowledge of the organization has grown, so has my interest and enthusiasm in EJU.  I have heard countless stories of conferences gone by, from Stewart, Lisa, Linnet, and Eric (always followed by a good hard laugh).  I have visited the picturesque Paris Landing, previewed table center pieces and planned meals. All these were done in the same manor of joy and anticipation.

So why all the hoopla? 

This is what I have surmised thus far, EJU is a unique opportunity for all people interested in social and legal justice to come together, to learn from each other and professionals in a variety of fields, to network, and to strengthen the bond that connects all of us committed to protecting our Constitutional right to Equal Protection under the Law.  I truly believe that everyone here at TALS is committed to this cause and believes in this mission, going above and beyond to make every year even better than the last!

If you are interested in being part of this amazing freshman class, with me, register today!  You won’t regret it.

Thinking outside the box

In many way nonprofits differ from for-profit companies. However, there are many opportunities for them to learn from us and for us to learn from them, particularly in approaches to marketing and promotions.

In a continuation of our search for more creative outreach tools, here’s one idea I stumbled into recently that turned the concept of “carrots as health food” on its head. Sometimes we ALL just have to think outside the box to tap into what’s the best way to share our message.

What cool ideas have you found lately?

Thoughts….from the minutia

Author, Samantha Sanchez, Contracts and Services Coordinator

This year will be my first time participating in Equal Justice University (EJU). While I’ve been putting it together, this week is the first time EJU has felt real to me. On Tuesday, Linnet Overton, Lisa Primm, our Social Work Master’s program intern Sarah Cooper, and myself traveled to Paris Landing State Park to make preparations for the conference. Seeing the park’s accommodations, smelling the trees and lake, and listening to the birds surrounding it made Paris Landing and EJU more real to me than any amount of event planning ever could.

 While I’ve been down in the minutia (a place I enjoy, actually), creating budgets and coordinating logistics, EJU has been building up around me and after seeing Paris Landing – I can see the whole process coming together. With that vision comes the desire to make EJU run as smoothly as possible, so the event can be as valuable as possible to those attending.

 That led me to think of the legal aid advocates with whom TALS works. I imagine the idea of serving others often seems more important before the workload sets in. Some civil legal service advocates might even think, “Am I making any difference at all?”

The answer is yes. Yes, advocates are making a difference to each client they serve. For example, as I see every day working on our DCS contracts, when an attorney or paralegal fights for a child in state’s custody, a child gets medical services they need. While an advocate’s work is arduous, they are saving legal lives – one client at a time. That inspires me to keep enjoying the minutia, because, by managing the details, I am contributing to an event that has the opportunity to trickle down to helping our Legal Aid advocates serve their clients even better. 

If October comes and at least one person tells me that they think their EJU experience will make them a better advocate, then I’ll know every effort was worth it – the same way I hope our advocates feel at the end of every day.  

- Samantha Sanchez

Want to learn more about the 2011 Equal Justice University location, Paris Landing State Park? Check out thier website to see the beauty of this park!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One photo. No words. Just a sweet memory from EJU

Legal Aid in the News

Legal Aid Society works with Pro Bono Attorneys to Meet Needs

SOLO event supports Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Trainings

August 11th – Fair Housing for people with disabilities

October 12th – 14th – Equal Justice University: Class of 2011, Register Now

Equal Justice University Schedule is now Up!

Peace and Peanuts!

-PB&J