' A Monthly Publication of the Nashville Bar Association
Joycelyn A. Stevenson, Publisher William T. Ramsey, Editor-in-Chief ramseywt@nealharwell.com Eleanor Wetzel, Managing Editor eleanorwetzel@jis.nashville.org
E�������� C�������� Noel Bagwell Kimberly Faye Carline Sapp Hudson Tim Ishii Tracy Kane Everette Parrish Bart Pickett Matthew Pierce Bill Ramsey Mike Sandler Kristin Thomas Jonathan Wardle Victoria Webb Eleanor Wetzel David Winters
N�������� B�� A���������� S���� Monica Mackie Executive Director ----------Shirley Clay Finance Coordinator Wendy Cozby Lawyer Referral Service Coordinator Traci Hollandsworth Programs & Events Coordinator Malinda Moseley CLE Coordinator Judy Phillips CLE Coordinator Jill Presley Marketing & Communications Director Vicki Shoulders Membership Coordinator • Office Manager The Nashville Bar Journal, ISSN 1548-7113, is published monthly by the Nashville Bar Association at 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37219, (615) 2429272. Periodicals Postage Paid, Nashville, TN (USPS 021-962). Subscription price: $25 per year. Individual issues: $5 per copy. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Nashville Bar Journal, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37219 No part of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the Nashville Bar Journal Editorial Committee. The Nashville Bar Journal is not responsible for the return or loss of unsolicited manuscripts or for any damage or other injury to unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. All Articles and Letters contained in this publication represent the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Nashville Bar Association.
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Nashville Bar Journal • May 2016
From the President Why We Serve
By Joycelyn A. Stevenson I am asked regularly by law students why I wanted to become an attorney. The truth is, there is nothing else I ever wanted to do. I always felt it was something I could do, and I admired the work of lawyers in my community—and of course the ones I saw on television. Even after 15 years of practice, I am still in awe of the work of so many excellent lawyers in Nashville. We are at an interesting point in our city. When I decided to stay in Nashville years ago, it was because I believed Nashville was a city where someone like me could make a difference. I believed it was a city that cared about its citizens, and that it would be a great place to start a career. At that time, I also felt Nashville was a place where a person could find easy ways to get involved in the community and take on leadership roles. All of my beliefs turned out to be true. Nashville was the “it” city for me before it became the “it” city for everyone else in the world. The interesting thing now is determining how to navigate the “it” city as a practicing attorney in a leadership role. What is the role for someone like me or you in a city that is growing rapidly, where diversity is extremely important but not always considered, where more and more corporations, immigrants, retirees, and millennials are moving each day? Clearly, I believe involvement in the Nashville Bar Association is a great start. The programming, networking opportunities, access to community leaders, and opportunities to gain leadership positions are endless. Other areas where attorneys can make a difference are the judiciary, state, and local government and the nonprofit world. One of key components in my opinion to the “it” city moniker from the legal perspective is our judiciary. Nashville has arguably one of the strongest judiciaries in the country. We have some of the brightest legal minds at every level of the court; however, their work off of the bench is just as important as the work they perform each day. I had a the pleasure of attending the annual meeting of the Lawyers’ Association for Women a few weeks ago, and many of the speakers talked about the important work of the founders in getting women elected to the bench when there were none. As I listened to some of the stories, I reflected on how many judges I see active in the NBA and in the community. Their dedication and involvement provide a valuable lesson to each of us in the importance of having judges present and active in the community. I have appreciated the benefit of serving on several boards with judges—including the Nashville Bar Association where Judges Sheila Calloway, Joe Binkley, former Justice William Koch, and Randal Mashburn are all currently serving. Another factor in how we are viewed as a city is our state legislature and city council. For years, many have stated that we need more attorneys willing to run for office so that there is a stronger legal presence at the state and local level. One of our NBA past presidents, Bob Mendes, took up this charge last year and was elected to an at-large seat on our city council. As our state and local government continue to tackle challenging and very important issues, the rule of law and effects of those laws become even more important. I am hopeful that more members of the NBA will take on the challenge of getting involved and using their legal minds to shape the direction of our city. Finally, many of us have our own non-legal projects where we devote much our time. For some, it is a religious institution, school board, or other nonprofit organization. For me, my project for years was working with the Council on Aging of Greater Nash-