TALS' Equal Justice University Conference
About EJU
Equal Justice University (EJU) is the annual gathering of approximately 300 lawyers, advocates, social worker professionals, and pro bono attorneys involved in providing civil legal assistance across Tennessee. EJU provides a unique opportunity for this community to gain up to 14 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit (CLEs/CEUs) as well as networking opportunities. EJU also provides dynamic speakers that express the value in being a part of the access to justice community. The EJU experience not only renews the civil legal service community’s commitment to equal access to justice in Tennessee; it also introduces new pro bono lawyers, community advocates, and law students to this important mission.
Access to Justice Awards
Each fall, TALS presents the Access to Justice Awards to recognize individuals who have contributed to Tennessee's equal justice community. The nomination cycle for 2021 has closed.
Hold the Date: September 21 - 23, 2021
Even though EJU will be virtual this year, we will continue to offer great substantive law and professional training in addition to having lots of exciting networking opportunities. Use the links below to check our exciting agenda and the speaker and presenter bios. This year's theme is Transforming Legal Services Together: A Recipe for Recovery. Our opening plenary speaker is "Chef Jeff" Henderson who went from serving 10-years in prison for drug dealing to become an executive chef at Bellagio and Caesars Palace and having his own televised cooking show. He has a powerful message illustrating the false narratives society tells about people who are disadvantaged and especially those coming out of prison. Our closing planary speaker is Edward L. Palmer Sr, a Certified Diversity Trainer, based in Louisville, Kentucky, who works to address racial and ethnic disparities by improving outcomes for minorities through institutionalizing systemic change. As a result of his collaboration with the Kentucky Court of Justice's Administrative Office of the Courts, Palmer co-authored the 2020 publication, "Kentucky Court of Justice Response: A Guide for Identifying, Addressing and Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities".
Click here to upload your favairite recipe for the EJU 2021 Cookbook.
Click here to see the 2021 agenda
Click here to see the 2021 Speaker and Presenter Bios
Many thanks to our Sponsors!
Co-Sponsor
Tennessee Bar Association
Lunch & Learn
Mutual of America Financial Group
Closing Plenary
Tennessee Human Rights Commission
Session Sponsors
First Horizons
Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
Vanderbilt University
Ambassadors
Chazin & Company
Disability Rights Tennessee
Lawdroid
Supporters
Cherry-Bekaert LLP
2021 Conference Planning Committee
Chair: DarKenya Waller, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands
Committee:
Zach Arnold, Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Kevin Balkwill
Craig Barnes - Memphis Area Legal Services
Cathy Clayton, West Tennessee Legal Services
Ben Danford, Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Cindy Ettingoff, Memphis Area Legal Services
Charles Ferguson, Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
Rita Gibson
Nicole Grida, International Paper
Ashley Holliday, West Tennessee Legal Services
Deb House, Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Patricia Jones, Legal Aid Society of Middle TN & the Cumberlands
Milandria King
Jeannie Kosciolek
David Kozlowski, Legal Aid Society of Middle TN & the Cumberlands
Quiteka Moten, Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
Lisa Primm, Disability Rights Tennessee
Nicole Smith, Memphis Area Legal Services
Nikki Smith-Bartley, Asurion
Liz Todaro, Tennessee Bar Association
Anne-Louise Wirthlin, Administrative Office of the Courts
Deb Yeomans-Barton, Legal Aid of East Tennessee
