NSL’s Family with the Highest Number of Graduates and Students: The Rutherfords
What Makes NSL Special?
Tennessee Families Rooted in NSL History
STUDENTS
Get to Know: NSL 4L Holden Montgomery, NSL 2L Keller Montgomery, and their dad, NSL alumnus Kevin Montgomery ’95
Student Organizations Expand in 2024
NSL Recognizes the 2024 Rigorous Writing Winners
NSL 2024-2025
All in the NSL Family
Catching up with: NSL Alumna Vivien Wang ’10
NSL Alumni Offer Support and a Meal during the February Bar Exam
Students and visitors often congregate in the spacious corridors connecting our Student Commons, library, classrooms, and courtrooms. They provide places for conversation, last-minute class preparation, or making one last cell phone call before class begins. They also provide glimpses into our School’s history because we have mounted the composite photographs of the graduating classes from 1935 to 2024 on the corridors’ walls.
Students and visitors alike spend quality time looking at these composites. They reflect the changes in fashion and hairstyles for both women and men. They depict younger versions of the lawyers they practice with, not to mention NSL’s faculty and staff. They also illustrate that attending NSL is a multigenerational family affair for some students. This edition of The Torch celebrates that phenomenon.
Family support is an essential ingredient for success in law school and the practice of law. We stress its importance during the
admissions process by emphasizing that performance in law school will depend on the support and encouragement the student receives at home. Our experience has been that students with family members who are NSL graduates frequently have an extra edge because their own families have faced and overcome the same challenges they are facing. Accordingly, we decided to celebrate the importance of families in the life of NSL’s students and graduates.
We did not fully realize how much studying law at NSL was a family affair when we embarked on this project. Discovering that more than 300 families in Tennessee have two or more graduates from NSL presented a challenge. A single edition of The Torch does not have enough space to do justice to the subject. Accordingly, we decided to first spotlight the families with the most NSL graduates and students and then hopefully continue the story about the other families in subsequent editions. We hope you enjoy this issue of “All in the NSL Family.”
On the cover: Top row from left to right – Caleb Lockert ’25, Eric Lockert ’00, Andrew Lockert ’16, Paul Rutherford ’90, Sydney Gleaves ’28, Hon. Hugh “Reid” Poland, III ’97, Will H. Poland, Jr. ‘11. Middle row – Hon. Suzanne Lockert-Mash ’82, Wende Rutherford ’91, Samantha Grosland ’07, Debrah Frizzell ’86, Erin Poland ’07. Bottom row – Alex McDaniel ’28, Mary Frances Rudy ’88.
NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF LAW FAMILY LEGACY
Honoring Families with Four or More NSL Graduates and Current Students
As you walk through the hallways of Nashville School of Law, you will see the composite portraits of Tennessee attorneys who earned their law degree at NSL.
When you take a closer look, you will notice some alumni have the same last name.
Numerous families, including siblings, husbands, wives, parents, and children, as well as grandparents and grandchildren, share a special bond because of a shared ambition:
earning their law degree from NSL.
Currently, there are close to 325 families in Tennessee with two or more NSL graduates.
In this edition of The Torch , we honor remarkable family legacies by acknowledging families with four or more NSL graduates and current students in their family lineage. In this issue we are highlighting the family with the highest number of NSL alumni and students.
Top row from left to right – Caleb Lockert ’25, Eric Lockert ’00, Andrew Lockert ’16, Paul Rutherford ’90, Hon. Hugh “Reid” Poland, III ’97, Will H. Poland, Jr. ’11. Middle row – Hon. Suzanne Lockert-Mash ’82, Wende Rutherford ’91, Sydney Gleaves ’28, Samantha Grosland ’07, Debrah Frizzell ’86, Erin Poland ’07. Bottom row – Alex McDaniel ’28, Mary Frances Rudy ’88.
NSL,s Family with the Highest Number of Graduates and Students: The Rutherfords
A NEAR CENTURY OF ONE FAMILY’S LEGACY
The Rutherford family, hailing from Middle Tennessee, boasts an impressive legacy in NSL history that spans almost a century. They proudly hold the record for the highest number of NSL graduates and current students, totaling seven. We had the opportunity to interview four of them.
“It is special to see other family members attend and graduate from NSL. I didn’t know we would continue to have so many family members attend, so it is great to see the tradition carry on,” said NSL alumnus Ralph DeMarco ’74.
As the family historian, DeMarco knows all the judges and lawyers in his family, tracing back to the 1800s. The family’s legal history started with his grandfather, Charles Henry
Rutherford, Sr., who did not pursue formal legal education but instead studied law under a fellow attorney.
According to the Rutherford family and NSL records, DeMarco’s uncle, Alfred Granville Rutherford, became the family’s first Nashville YMCA Night Law School graduate in 1936. Alfred, who graduated with Al Gore, Sr., became an attorney and eventually took on the role of Clerk for the Davidson County Circuit Court.
Alfred’s nephew, Hon. James William “Bill” Rutherford, worked for his Uncle Alf at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office while he attended the Nashville YMCA Night Law School. When Bill graduated law school in 1962, he joined his father’s law firm until he became Judge of the First Circuit Court in 1974.
RALPH DEMARCO ’74, NASHVILLE ATTORNEY
In the late 1960s, Ralph DeMarco – whose mother was a Rutherford – had to decide whether to attend law school or become a pharmacist, like his father.
“Back then you had your own pharmacy, so you worked six days a week, on your feet 12 hours a day, and I thought, I don’t want to do that,” laughed DeMarco.
Instead, DeMarco enrolled at the Nashville YMCA Night Law School. He had a strong interest in studying wills and family law.
“Our class was bonded together. We had study groups, of course, and we would spend time together outside of class at the Gerst Haus in Nashville,” said DeMarco.
Left to Right – Ralph DeMarco ’74, Noah Rutherford ’26, Wende Rutherford ’91, and Paul Rutherford ’90
In 1974 DeMarco earned his J.D. degree. He joined Rutherford, Crockett & Guenther after serving as a night court commissioner for a brief time.
During his 50 years of practice, DeMarco said the legal profession has seen significant advancements.
“We have rules now,” laughed DeMarco. “When I started, what we now know as the rules of Civil Procedure were called the new rules. They came along around 1970, and I graduated in 1974. Nowadays, you have all sorts of rules, even courts have local rules. Back then everyone just kind of made things up.”
DeMarco said the evolution of technology has also improved the practice of law.
“I remember when fax machines first came about in the 80s, and David Rutherford and I were sitting in a meeting with someone from the fax company. And we thought it might be best to rent the machine because we didn’t know if it would go over well,” said DeMarco. “Using technology has made things easier nowadays because you don’t have to be in court as much. You can email information to other attorneys and handle meetings by Zoom.”
While he misses the camaraderie of seeing other attorneys in the courthouse, DeMarco still makes time to get together with his law school classmates. Just last year, the Class of 1974 was honored at the annual NSL Recognition dinner as they celebrated 50 years since graduating from NSL.
Today, DeMarco practices law alongside his cousin Paul Rutherford ’90, and his wife, Wende Rutherford ’91, at their Nashville law firm, Rutherford & DeMarco.
PAUL RUTHERFORD ’90 and WENDE RUTHERFORD ’91, NASHVILLE ATTORNEYS
Childhood sweethearts, Paul and Wende Rutherford met in high school. At first, they attended different colleges, but the couple returned to Middle Tennessee following the death of Paul’s father. They both enrolled at Austin Peay University, where they completed their degrees, Paul in psychology and Wende in sociology.
“I was on track to be a psychologist or social worker,” said Paul Rutherford. “And I wanted to do something where I could actually see the help I was providing.”
Paul’s father, James “Jimmy” Wheeler Rutherford, was a well-respected Nashville attorney, a profession that Paul recognized as a commitment to assisting people in their most difficult moments.
In 1986 Paul and Wende got married, and soon after, Paul decided to attend the Nashville YMCA Night Law School. Leveraging their education, Wende started working in child protective services at the Tennessee Department of Human Services, now the Department of Children’s Services, and months later, Paul started working there too.
“Initially, I was going to do the Master of Social Work program at TSU, but then during Paul’s first year in law school he kept asking me to read his cases,” said Wende.
“I was asking, who is the plaintiff and who is the defendant? I need to know who these people are. So, she would read it and tell me,” laughed Paul. “And she also had Nancy Corley, an NSL alumna and veteran attorney, telling her — you need to go to law school.”
“And other people in my family were telling me I should go to law school,” said Wende.
One year into Paul’s legal education, Wende gained admission to the law school, which changed its name to Nashville School of Law. The yearly tuition was approximately $1,500, which the couple said could be challenging to pay at times.
“I know that tuition sounds cheap, but for two social workers, that was a lot of money. We struggled. Our big date night during law school was a Domino’s pizza and a bottle of Andre’ for $2.99,” Wende laughed.
“In order to save money, Paul bought his books used — like three to four years old used—and then I took them and used them,” said Wende.
“One time when I was in Bankruptcy Law class and Paul Jennings my instructor called on me to discuss a case, I told him, ‘That case isn’t in my book, sir’,” laughed Wende. “He looked at me and said, ‘you need to get new books,’ and I told him, ‘I can’t afford it.’ But we got by.”
Even though they had to manage a tight budget, the pair fondly remembers some of their favorite law school courses.
“The courses that dealt with human interactions were my favorite, like personal injury and probate. If you sat me down in Taxes or made me listen to Secured Transactions, my eyes rolled back. I did not enjoy the finance courses at all,” said Paul.
“The finance courses were not my favorite either, but Mr. Westlake was fascinating because he told such good stories that I became interested to learn about income tax. He was such a good teacher,” Wende said.
They talked about other inspiring professors such as Torts instructor Bill Woods, Criminal Law Professor General Tom Shriver, and Property Professor James “Boom Boom” McBroom. The couple admitted that their experience with Family Law Professor Judge Muriel Robinson significantly influenced their decisions about the future.
“Ever since I could remember, I always had a heart for children, and you know, trying to do what I can to make the world a better place for children,” said Wende.
Paul graduated from NSL in 1990, and Wende earned her J.D. degree one year later.
“After Paul worked for the City Attorney in Hendersonville for a year, he was able to
(Continued on following page.)
Ralph DeMarco, second from right, with the Class of 1974 at the 2024 NSL Recognition Dinner
(Continued from previous page.)
practice on his own because he didn’t have debt. He was self-employed, and there is no way he would have been able to do that if he did not go to NSL,” said Wende.
“I remember in the beginning of my practice if I had a client pay me for a service I provided, I would call Wende and whisper on the phone at work, ‘Wende, this person just paid me money for this work.’ You know, when you have been a social worker and all of a sudden you are making a lot of money, it was a big deal,” said Paul.
As they began their legal careers, Paul and Wende also started a family. They have four children, one of them an adopted son.
Nowadays, they work together helping clients with probate, wills, and family law cases. And they remain advocates for children in foster care.
“Handling adoption law and helping kids find permanent homes is very important and holds a special place in my heart, and it’s not just because I have an adopted son, although he has been a tremendous blessing in our family, but just to make sure no other child has to go through what he went through,” said Wende.
And now, their youngest, Noah Rutherford, attends NSL.
“We are very grateful to NSL for making all this possible because I don’t think there is any way I would have been an attorney had it not been for NSL, and you know, I think Noah will get to a place where he will see that too. To be able to work during the day and go there to study and learn the law at night is just a huge opportunity for so many folks,” said Paul.
“The instructors at NSL know about the law better than any other law school professors out there because they continue to practice.
They’ve done things, not just talk about them. They know what it is like to actually litigate a case. In addition to knowledge, they bring wisdom,” said Wende. “I mean, I was excited for Noah that he was going to learn Constitutional Law from Supreme Court Justice Koch (NSL Dean Koch) because he is a legal titan in our community.”
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR NOAH RUTHERFORD ’26
With an ancestry filled with lawyers and some judges, NSL 3L Noah Rutherford showed his legal aspirations at a young age.
“He was cross-examining people when he was 7 years old,” Wende said with a smile.
“I enjoyed mock trial in high school. I thought about going into law school for a long time. But the area of law I want to practice has definitely changed. I thought I would be a public defender at first, but I fell into family law, and now I am looking at civil litigation,” said Noah.
As his parents did, Noah works during the day and attends NSL classes at night. He works with two NSL alumni, Amanda Thornton ’07 and Michael Pence ’06, at their Nashville law firm Thornton and Pence.
“I like helping people, especially in family law. It can be a very emotional part of people’s lives, and sometimes you end up being half legal navigator and half therapist. It can be really taxing and really redeeming,” Noah said.
Now in his third year, Noah has demonstrated his legal skills, made good grades, and only asks his parents for assistance every now and then.
“In law school there are classes that I am not sure my dad remembers, like constitutional law,” said Noah. “I am not really any help there,” laughed Paul.
“When it comes to family law, I am definitely going to my family for help, but if I am stuck in another class that has to do with another type of law, I usually go to my professors who are very well seasoned in that law,” Noah said.
When asked what makes NSL special, Noah didn’t hesitate to list the School’s instructors as one of his answers.
“There’s two things that strike me about Nashville School of Law that make it unique. One is the community. It is a very
caring and helpful community. If I ever have a question, there is someone who will answer that question, and I know at other law schools it is different. It is competitive in the sense that they are trying to beat the other person, but at NSL we are all trying to make it together,” said Noah.
“Second, the teachers are amazing. We have judges and prosecutors and defense attorneys teaching us. They are very approachable; they want to help and have conversations about what we are learning, and they are thrilled to be able to discuss it with you.”
He hopes to work with his parents in the future and looks forward to being the next Rutherford to earn his J.D. degree.
“I see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Noah. “I am a huge fan of NSL. Anyone I talk to, I always recommend our law school. It has been a great option for me to go to work during the day and go to law school at night, and hopefully I will have little to no debt when I finish.”
Graduating from NSL holds special meaning for all seven Rutherford family members.
“This is a legacy that I am very proud of. It is great to be associated with family members who blazed a trail and had a good reputation,” said Paul.
Wende Rutherford with her J.D. degree from 1991.
Family member, Robert Rutherford ’08 shares his thoughts on what makes NSL special on page 8.
3L Noah Rutherford on the NSL campus.
Come celebrate with your NSL Family at the
Nashville School of Law
Annual Recognition Dinner
Honoring Cynthia L. Jones ’96 Alumna Honoree and M. Clark Spoden Faculty Honoree
Friday, June 6, 2025
Cocktails at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner at 7 p.m.
Renaissance Nashville Hotel 611 Commerce Street
Complimentary Valet Parking
To purchase tickets or make a donation, visit NSL.law
The following families have four or more NSL graduates, so we asked them….
What makes Nashville School of Law so special?
TAYLOR Family
“The Nashville School of Law represents opportunity, perseverance, and dedication. Without it, our family wouldn’t be attorneys. It has carried forward the legacy of legal education rooted in practical experience, making the practice of law accessible to those willing to work for it. We are proud to be part of its history.” —Abby Taylor Drury ’20
RUDY Family
“One aspect of Nashville School of Law that was beneficial to me was the diverse backgrounds of the other students. Some legal concepts are difficult to grasp without life experience. There’s great benefit to discussing criminal law with a detective or medical malpractice with a physician. That’s a quality very unique to Nashville School of Law,”—Ashley Rudy ’08.
“There were policemen, CPAs, medical doctors, business owners, and others in my class who offered excellent real-life examples that were very helpful in understanding subjects like criminal law, tax, and medical malpractice. We didn’t just learn the law but had profession-
als in that field who could explain to the class how a particular law was utilized in real-life situations. Several of the policemen went on to become criminal lawyers and judges. Several of the doctors became trial experts giving medical testimony.” —Frank Rudy ’97.
LOCKERT Family
“I am impressed with the experience of the instructors who are working in their field and can give such practical legal lessons. That is what I brought back with me. It allowed me to work and gave me an advantage as opposed to a full-time student who was not exposed to the practical application of the law.” — Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash ’82.
RUTHERFORD Family
“A few reasons why NSL is particularly special to me include the connection the school has to the legal community in the region. Whether it’s local attorneys, judges, or even justices giving their time and energy to teach students, they all have practical, real-world knowledge of how the legal system works every day, which in my opinion is more valuable than what a textbook can teach alone. Additionally, the schedule allows for those who want to get a head start in the legal profession while also attending
school. While I attended NSL I worked for Ricky Rooker in the Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk’s office, and later for (former NSL instructor) Judge Randy Kennedy of the 20th Judicial District Seventh Circuit Court, where I got to experience so many practical applications of what I was learning every evening. I wouldn’t have had those kinds of opportunities at any other school.” —Robert Rutherford ’08
BRAGG Family
“You have the opportunity to learn from a diverse team of educators who are also practicing law in their communities. Choosing NSL means you get to meet and collaborate with students, many who are working during the day, just like you. You all understand the demands of your work and also the demands of law school — this connection fosters friendships through law school, to graduation and well into your career.” — Kayla Bragg ’15
CHERRY/FRIZZELL Family
“Without NSL, I have no doubt that any of us would have been able to receive a legal edu-
cation and become licensed attorneys. While working full time, meeting family responsibilities, and attending law school in the evenings, sometimes as often as four nights per week, was not an easy task, yet NSL made it possible for each of us to reach our goal of becoming an attorney. We highly recommend NSL to anyone who wishes to pursue a legal career and is willing to make sacrifices and work hard. Thank you, NSL, for the opportunities you have provided for this family over the last 35 years.” — Debrah Frizzell ’86
CONE/BECK Family
“When I was a young man and recent college graduate, I decided I wanted to attend law school to better my business acumen. I chose Nashville School of Law, then known as the Nashville YMCA Night Law School. It offered a non-traditional path to earning my degree. I worked all day and attended school at night. There, while I earned my degree, I made long-lasting friendships.
Over the years, my family has been blessed with four more family members earning their degrees and even boasting a cousin, Judge Amanda McClendon, now teaching at the school.
We have enjoyed watching the school grow and become a leading non-traditional law school. It has been my pleasure as a former chairman of the board to participate in helping the school achieve its success. The entire Cone-Beck family supports the school in its many endeavors, and we are proud to be members of the NSL family.” —Tom F. Cone, Sr. ’64
“I would say that NSL has played a pivotal role in our family since my husband, Bob, went to school there at the start of the realty firm, Beck and Beck Realty, Inc. Bob and I are the two Becks in the company name, and I worked with Bob in all aspects of our company. When my son, Bill, came to me after college and said that he wanted to go to law school at NSL, I thought, well, this is a good opportunity to start a new firm together. So, I applied to NSL, joined Bill in his law school class, and we went to law school together. Little did we know how it would change our lives. Bill met his wife, Pam, in our law school study group. Together, Bill and I founded Beck and Beck Law. This time Bill and I are the two Becks in the company name. Although attending law
school and working at the same time was very challenging, I loved every class, and I really enjoyed being a lawyer. Together with Bill, we started our law firm and assisted many clients and families from East Nashville and surrounding areas with legal problems. So many people find themselves in situations that need legal help, and NSL gave me the tools to help them. I always encourage others who are thinking about becoming a lawyer to apply to NSL. It has meant so much to me and my family,”
—Martha Beck ’89.
“The Nashville School of Law is distinct, not because of the content of the classes, but because of the people who participate in its education. I found a family there, along with lifelong friends and work mentors. Anyone can avail themself of the education, but not everyone can receive an education while making relationships that will last forever.”
—Pam Evans Beck ’89
PARKER Family
“All of us graduated from NSL. I am grateful for NSL because it allowed me to work full time and still attend school. It was also nice to have professors that were practicing attorneys and sitting judges. It really helped me prepare for my practice.” —John Parker ’09
POLAND Family
“I think that NSL provides a rich tapestry of attorneys that bring so much to the table other than getting out of college and obtaining a law
degree. We have come from many professional backgrounds and work experiences that enable us to relate to clients and understand all kinds of matters because we have been there. So many great attorneys would not have been afforded the opportunity to serve our communities if not for NSL.”
—Hon. Hugh Reid Poland, III ’97
TERRY Family
“NSL holds a very special place in the heart of this family. Brack Terry, Jana Terry, Denise Terry, Mike Castellarin and Jacqulyn Jones are all eternally grateful that the Nashville School of Law allowed them to realize their dream of becoming a lawyer. Each of them feels the school has given them an opportunity to have successful careers, contribute to the legal profession and be a positive influence in their community. They feel they received excellent and practical instruction at the Nashville School of Law from the ’best of the best’ which enabled them to hit the ground running when they became licensed.”
—Denise Terry ’86
NORMAN Family
“I believe that NSL produces some of the finest trial-ready attorneys in the state. While most law schools focus on simply teaching the theory of law, or how to pass the bar exam, the exemplary teachers at NSL teach beyond the test and draw from their real-world experiences. When you graduate from NSL you are ready to practice in any Tennessee courtroom.” —Seth Norman ’11.
Like Father, Like Sons
Get to Know: NSL 4L Holden Montgomery and his brother, NSL 2L Keller Montgomery, who are following in the footsteps of their father, NSL Alumnus Kevin Montgomery ’95.
FINDING MY FUTURE
During his childhood, Nashville School of Law 4L Holden Montgomery remembers visiting his dad’s Nashville law firm, (then) Hardeman & Montgomery.
“I have distinct memories of coming here after school let out, and I remember going to the back fridge and getting diet Dr. Peppers,” Holden said with a smile.
Holden grew up being exposed to a law firm environment, but it was not until college that he considered becoming a lawyer.
As a freshman at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, he started as a pre-med student. Holden always loved science, and still does, but he realized that obtaining a medical degree was no longer the path he wanted to take.
One year, home from college for summer break, Holden took an internship at his father’s law firm.
“I thought about how I wanted to spend the rest of my life, and then I thought about my time in high school. And I remember how my dad was always at my games; he was always at my shows. He never missed anything. And I knew not all jobs were like that,” he said.
STARTING A LEGAL LEGACY
Holden’s father, Kevin Montgomery, a 1995 graduate of NSL, worked in real estate when he applied to law school. He was married and had plans to start a family.
“Law school was a grind. I remember thinking, I only have 82 more nights, and the next day thinking, now I only have 81 more nights of class. Yet, I really enjoyed a lot of aspects about law school. I loved Con Law, Property Law, and the estate and probate courses,” said Kevin.
Once he earned his J.D. degree and passed the bar exam, Kevin joined his mentor, Greg Hardeman, at his law firm.
“I didn’t have any clients at first, so I just helped him (Hardeman) with estate and probate cases. He (Hardeman) owned a title company with another attorney, and that is when I started learning. I just learned what my mentor did,” Kevin said.
“I feel like it was a God thing, because my personality and my temperament were perfect for estate planning, probate, and real estate title work.”
Kevin became a named partner in his firm, and part owner of the title company, Premier
Escrow LLC. He and his wife, Trina, have four sons, Landon, Chandler, Holden, and Keller, and a grandson.
“Early on, I encouraged Holden and Keller to look at being an attorney as a profession, and they found out on their own that they did want to do this as a career,” Kevin said.
FINDING COMMUNITY AT NSL
It was after his summer internship when Holden realized he wanted to work alongside his dad. By his third year at Harding University, he had his sights set on going to law school.
“I have had a great law school experience. I think it’s been fun. I have gotten to know great people,” said Holden.
“Each year has its own challenges, but you just try to keep your head above water. If I didn’t make friends and instead just showed up, that would have been a lot harder, but I have been able to make friends and have a community that I like. I enjoy going to class now. We are all learning and going through some tough lessons together,” he said.
Like his father, Holden was married when he started NSL, and during his third year, he and his wife, Ava, welcomed their son, Palmer.
“Ava does so much while I am studying. She is the glue that holds the family together, especially during this time. It is a give and take. You know the effort you need to make to get the results you want in law school. You just need to balance all of it so you can be the person, the husband, and the dad you want to be,” said Holden.
Working during the day at (now) Hardeman, Montgomery, and Potter, Holden said he is helping more with substantial tasks and taking more of a role in the daily work. He is still being mentored by his dad, since he is not yet a practicing attorney, but Holden is actively learning about legal matters both at his job and at NSL.
“Working at the same time as getting your law degree can be tough. But it is also positive because you get to gain experience in the legal field you are or have been studying. Every day, I am doing work that others — who may already have their J.D. degree — are doing,” Holden said.
Holden valued Judge Marshall Davidson’s direct approach to teaching Torts and mentioned several other favorite courses from his time at NSL.
“I think (NSL Professor of Estate Planning) Hunter Mobley is a phenomenal teacher. He is compassionate, he cares about his students, oh, and Advanced Legal Studies with Chuck Shonholtz, that’s a great one too. It is one of my favorites. I never had a professor like him,” he said.
Months away from gaining his own J.D. degree, Holden is eager to pass the bar exam to start assisting his own clients.
“At work right now, everything I do has to be run by people. I look forward to getting out there and being the attorney, giving advice and being independent. Dad will always be my men-
tor, but that ability and that freedom to just to get out there to help people and be a lawyer, that is what I am looking forward to,” Holden said.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Just down the NSL hallway from Holden is his brother NSL 2L Keller Montgomery. The youngest of four boys, Keller has always had a passion for performing.
“In middle school and high school, I enjoyed acting and singing. I always loved performing,” said Keller.
He pursued theater studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harding University. However, echoing Shakespeare’s sentiment in the “All the World’s a Stage” monologue that “one man in his time plays many parts,” Keller decided against making acting his full-time profession.
“If you want to be a professional actor, you have to be so driven to do that thing and nothing else. I have several friends who are extremely talented, and they are out there trying to be professional actors, and they are putting in so much work,” he said.
Like his brother, Holden, Keller noticed that his dad’s law practice allowed him time with their family and the ability to be involved in the community, church events, and other activities.
“Considering that I would like to have a family at some point, this (law) is a great career for me. I think it will give me freedom to do other things too. If there are things I would like to do on the side, like joining a choir, I will be able to make time,” he said.
Halfway through his second year at NSL, Keller is managing complex courses like Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law.
“Con Law is my favorite class. There is something about the way he (Judge Jeffrey Usman) teaches it that is so engaging. It feels like a history class because of the context you study,” Keller said.
“I like to study by myself. I am not really someone who puts themselves out there, which is funny to say for someone who has been on stage, in front of people, speaking and performing. It is easy for me to get along with people, but I am not as much of a social butterfly as Holden or even my dad,” said Keller.
But Keller does share the interest of estate planning and probate cases. He too works part time at Hardeman, Montgomery, and Potter.
“I am at the point that I feel pretty happy at the notion of carrying on what my dad is doing and what Holden is doing, and that is a good thing,” said Keller.
Outside of law school, Keller stays active in the Crieve Hall Church of Christ young adult group and has a standing dinner every Tuesday night with his dad. The two talk about their love of Constitutional Law and the future of what they jokingly call “the family business.”
“I feel it is a blessing that not a lot of people get nowadays — being in a profession with family, being alongside them, sharing that part of your life. We help each other and continue to build a family legacy. Supporting future generations of our family provides closeness. I think it is a blessing,” said Keller.
“I am super proud of them because I know the challenge that law school is, and I know how difficult it is, so I have so much respect for them,” said Kevin.
The law firm Hardeman, Montgomery, and Potter and the title company, Premier Escrow LLC are in the Green Hills community of Nashville. The team of 12 provides legal expertise with wills, trusts, probate, and real estate closings.
From left, Keller Montgomery ’27, Holden Montgomery ’25, and Kevin Montgomery ’95
Holden Montgomery ’25 in Advanced Legal Studies.
Keller Montgomery ’27 in his Constitutional Law class.
Student Organizations Expand in 2024-2025 I
Legal Aid Society
n 2024 more than 90 Nashville School of Law students signed up to be a member of the NSL chapter of the Legal Aid Society. The student-led group has been active for several years, inviting its members to participate in volunteer opportunities at legal clinics during the academic year.
In fact, this year, LAS members attended 17 clinics. These events give community members the chance to seek free legal advice. NSL’s students, whose work is supervised by Middle Tennessee attorneys and judges, help residents with wills, contracts, and legal disputes.
“This year has been particularly exciting. While previous years have also been great, we added a fresh spin to things. We introduced raffles at our member meetings, hosted an off-site Christmas party, and found new ways to engage our members. We also had custom T-shirts made to create a sense of unity when we went out into the community,” said Amanda Harrington Sargent, NSL 4L and LAS president.
ognition at graduation. As of March 2025, this year’s NSL Chapter has accrued a group total of 453 cumulative pro bono hours.
Christian Legal Society
ome first-year students organized and welcomed back the Christian Legal Society (CLS) to the NSL campus and invited other classes to join.
“I feel it is important for Christian students to organize and network because the pressures of law school can compromise our faith and tempt us into making a decision that may benefit us but not God’s will,” said Eric Flaer, NSL 1L and CLS president. “The church, or the body of believers in Christ, is stronger when we can rely on each other and inspire each other to keep up the fight.”
This year, the NSL chapter of CLS invited guest speakers to visit with students before class. Local Christian attorneys shared their mission and perspective with the 19 members of CLS. Flaer said new members who join next year can expect Bible studies and discussions of Christian law history.
Black Law Student Association
rand new to NSL is the Black Law Student Association (BLSA). The group of 20 members was quick to get organized, hold meetings, and even connect with regional members.
“My hope for next year is that the chapter continues the momentum we’ve built. While serving those in need should always remain the priority, I also encourage future members to make meaningful connections, create lasting memories, and have fun along the way.”
This student organization provides 4Ls with a chance to fulfill their pro bono hour requirements. Graduates who complete 50 hours of pro bono service during their time in law school receive the Dean’s Certificate of Rec-
“It is encouraging to empower and educate the minorities in this profession. It is important for minorities to see other minorities in the same lane that they envision for their own lives. That has been the most rewarding part so far. It is always empowering to feel like you are not in it alone,” said Darrius Oldham, NSL 1L and BLSA president.
In February the Regional BLSA held a conference in Nashville. Participants enjoyed a job fair with interviews, networking events, and a social mixer. During the event, NSL 2L Marilyn Harrison-Bates was elected to a BLSA Regional Director position.
In April the group held a five-hour study session for its members at a Nashville law firm. Oldham said it has been great to see NSL alumni and elected officials supporting the group to help put their plans into action.
NSL Professor of Family Law Judge Stephanie J. Williams is the faculty advisor for both the NSL chapters of LAS and BLSA. NSL Professor of Contracts Eric Osbourne is the faculty advisor for the NSL chapter of CLS.
NSL Recognizes the 2024 Rigorous Writing Winners
The Rigorous Writing Exercise (RWE) is a project all Nashville School of Law students must complete to graduate. Students work with a volunteer legal mentor to research and write a 15- to 20-page paper on the topic of their choice.
The RWE award is named after Robert L. Ballow, Esq., who has endowed the award with a generous contribution that allows for a cash award to the top three finalists annually. Ballow graduated from NSL in 1963.
The 2024 Mentor of the Year award recipient is Jackie Dixon. She is currently serving her sixth year as an RWE mentor.
With more than 35 years of experience, Dixon is a trial lawyer specializing in various facets of family law, such as divorce, custody, and adoption, as well as wills, estates, conservatorships, and probate litigation. Her expertise extends to personal injury and general civil litigation, including appellate work. Dixon is recognized as a family law mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court. She is the Tennessee Bar Foundation treasurer and serves as vice-chair of the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program Commission.
Six NSL 4L students have been recognized for their writing achievement in the annual Robert Ballow Excellence in Writing Awards. Three of them received the top honors.
2024 WINNERS / MENTORS:
1st Place:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
The Finalists:
Emily Crawford / Jackie Dixon
Chris Yates / Adam Dodd
Ezekiel Hall / Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash
Avery Alsup / Will Fraley, Emily Bain / Bobbie Jean Lamar, and Reginald Perry / Morgan Bernard
Emily Bain ’25, NSL Rigorous Writing Coordinator Lisa Helton, Dean William C. Koch, Jr., Chris Yates ’25, Reginald Perry ’25, Emily Crawford ’25, Ezekiel Hall ’25, Avery Alsup ’25
George Albright
Scott Vincenti
Todd J. Campbell/Middle District Court
Barbra Dudley
Alexandria James Musgrove
Keyshona Oatis
Luther E. Cantrell, Jr.
Matthew DiPietro
Stephanie Snow
Thomas I. Carlton, Jr
Memorial
Will Spellings
Justice Cornelia Clark Access to Justice Memorial (Pro Bono)
Danielle Aucoin
Nichole Wood
Jennifer Burch
Class of 2022
Brett Kennedy
Diane Boncquet
Scott Vincenti
Caroline Cathey
Scholarship News 2024-2025
Charlotte & Tom Cone
Cailyn Aldag
Emily Bain
Victoria Davis
Nicole Gheorghe
Justin Greer
Anna Laws
Zaia Thombre
Chris Yates
W. P. Cooper
Jordan Echols
Savanna Loftis
Elana Donde
Jenna Jackson
East Tennessee Foundation, Tennessee Judicial Conference
J.S. “Steve” Daniel /
Suzanne G. Keith Scholaship
– Jamie Schultz
Chancellor Irvin Kilcrease
Scholarship – Kianna Cooper
Judge Adolpho A. Birch
– Bryan Johnson
Jessee Snider – Joshua
Mayorquin
Jo Ann Fenters
Amanda Harrington-Sargent
Judge Charles Gilbert
Kevin Hopkins
Paul Holbrook
Daniel Bellet
Madison Dubler
Nathan Griffith
Marilyn Harrison-Bates
Sam Hayes
Lindsay Jaggers
Keyshona Oatis
J. G. Lackey, Jr.
Caroline Cathey
Sharon Lee Community Involvement
James Finger
John Cheadle Mitchell
Ryan Stout
Charles O’Brien
Alesia Meade
Phyllis O’Connor
Diane Boncquet
Abigail Brewer
Keneath Galyon
Anna Hall
Stephanie Hargraves
Carol & John Rochford
Jacob Askren
Lilah Cisco
Nichole Foster
Morgan Franklin
Ali Hendrix
Jasmine Jackson
Jenna Matthews
Christina Mullen
Bailey Nichols
Stacey Robertson
Brad Wade
Stephanie Whittin
Karimah Williams
Marvin Williamson
Rudy
Naomi Maccaro
Trustee & Faculty
Addison Burns
Kimberly Cates
Tanner Cox
Torri Daniels
Jake Downard
Ainsley Ervin
Ryan Head
Jessica Heldman
Trevor Hilton
Rachel Larrabee
Timothy Maurer
Hannah Pendley
Samantha Pinette
Bryan Shannon
Nelson Smith
Jon Joseph Tucci Memorial
Drew Vernon
Tulley Award
Brett Kennedy
Allison Leigh West
Amanda Sargent
According to her mom, Judge Stephanie J. Williams, Professor of Family Law at Nashville School of Law, chose her legal career at a young age.
“My mother told me when I was young I said I wanted to be a judge, but I don’t’ know where I would have gotten that except from maybe watching People’s Court,” laughs Williams. “As an adult, being a judge didn’t hit me until I started practicing law.”
And after practicing law for more than 20 years, she not only became a judge, but Williams made history in Nashville.
On Aug. 1, 2024, Williams was elected to the Circuit Court, Division IV, in Davidson County. She is Davidson County’s first African American female Circuit Court Judge.
Williams began her legal journey in 1998. She was a single mom to a son and daughter. She attended the University of Tennessee College of Law and leaned on the support of family members to help care for her children so that she could drive to and from Knoxville every day to attend her law school classes.
“I don’t think I understood how significant that commitment or sacrifice was until way after. I would just get up and say, this is what I need to do today, I need to get up and drive about three hours for class and stay all day and then drive back,” said Williams.
Judge Williams attributes her decision to attend law school to Nashville attorney Richard
Meet: NSL Professor of Family Law Judge Stephanie J. Williams
Manson who inspired her along the way. While completing her undergraduate studies at Trevecca University, she gained valuable experience working at Manson’s law firm, and after graduating from UT Law School, she returned to the firm as a lawyer. Williams helped with Manson’s real estate and title company, entertainment company, and general practice law firm.
“Around 2005, I started the Family Justice Center. It was an organization that helped people involved in family law cases with reduced rates. After law school, I took on my own family law case in an effort to get court-ordered child support, so I knew starting the Family Justice Center would benefit a lot of people,” said Williams.
“That whole process was very eye opening to me in understanding how much people need access to this part of the legal system and how there are no funds available for some people. I was committed to building a practice that was dedicated to making sure people had access to our courts and representation, and Mr. Manson was open to allowing me to build my family practice,” said added.
In 2014, a special master position became available in the family courtroom of Judge Phil Smith, former NSL Professor of Family Law, and Williams showed interest in the role.
“Even when I was an attorney in his courtroom, he was always kind to me, he was always helpful to me, and he had a vision to make sure that I was well positioned and informed, giving me the skill set to do that job,” said Williams.
Williams admits the special master’s role allowed her to stay neutral
in cases. She handled judicial settlement contracts, working with people to reach a reasonable resolution. Once the COVID pandemic came along, Williams took the lead in figuring out how to operate the court in a more efficient manner.
Now, as judge in that same courtroom, she has continued these efforts, creating communications so people understand how to participate in the family court process.
“I want people to feel like they have a relationship with the court, allowing us to be relational in how we handle our business and not transactional because families are not transactional – families are relations. So I want them to feel as though they are not just a bunch of paperwork for us and not just another case,” said Williams.
“My overall goal is to have a court that is on the forefront of things, that others can replicate.”
Judge Williams, who began teaching at NSL in 2021, wants to pass on the valuable lessons she gained from her mentors. Her goal is to motivate her NSL students and support them in reaching their aspirations in the legal field.
“My soft spot is for our students. They are just so unique in their journey, which is how I relate to them best. They are committed to wanting to be lawyers who want to go out there and make a difference. The level of sacrifice they are making to go to law school shows me that they are passionate about being able to be in the legal profession to make a difference,” said Williams.
Stephanie Williams, center, in the Fourth Circuit Court in Davidson County
Photo courtesy of Rod Wright
Mary Frances Rudy, Nashville School of Law alumna and founder of Rudy Title & Escrow in Nashville, is the newest member of the NSL Board of Trust.
“I am terribly honored to have been asked. I truly believe in Nashville School of Law. It is a life changer for so many of us who seek to transition from one career to another,” said Rudy ’88.
A native of Nashville, Rudy is both an attorney and an entrepreneur and the first woman NSL Board Member.
“When I finished law school (in 1988) only 18% of the legal workforce in Nashville were women, and nowadays more than half of the NSL graduating class are women. So that tells you how much it has changed in my time,” said Rudy. “Women
NSL Welcomes Alumna Mary Frances Rudy to the Board of Trust
are more accepted, and women are being considered for leadership roles that were not an option when I was younger.”
NURTURED WITH CARE; EDUCATED IN KINDNESS
Rudy says she comes from a long line of strong women on both sides of her family. She is thankful that her parents taught her and her siblings important life lessons about hard work and the importance of compassion.
One of four siblings, Rudy spent her childhood working on the family farm. Her father, Frank, along with his brother, Dan, ran the family’s longtime sausage business – Rudy’s Farm Sausage Company. She remembers how much her dad loved people and how people loved him.
“We were taught that everyone mattered, and I grew up in a time when black children were not allowed to attend the same schools as me. But my dad’s company had quite a few black employees, so my parents taught all of us that when we played outside at the company picnic, we played with all children, and if we wanted to play with our toys, we let all the children play with our toys. So, at the picnic, all of us — black children and white children — played together,” remembers Rudy.
“Our family’s message was that we are to love everyone. And that was not a common thought, but that is how we were raised.”
As the family business grew, her dad started to advertise on television. A jingle
for Rudy’s Sausage was created, and Frank Rudy wanted his three daughters to sing the song and appear in the commercials. The girls quickly became local celebrities, singing gospel music at events around town, at church, and eventually on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
“Occasionally they would take up an offering at a church, so we were considered ‘paid talent,’ but we didn’t really make money. We sang with the Oak Ridge Boys, the Frost Brothers, and the Swanee River Boys. Performing became hard once we got older and started having our own children. We eventually stopped because it became too much,” she said.
EMBRACING HER STRENGTHS
Rudy graduated from Belmont University in 1971. In her early professional life, she started her career as a teacher. Years later, after getting divorced, she became a single mother raising four children. By 1984, when her youngest child turned 6 and began school, she decided to obtain another degree, this time at the Nashville YMCA Night Law School.
During the next four years, Rudy spent her days volunteering as a victim’s witness, accompanying individuals to court and clarifying their involvement in the case. She interacted with prominent lawyers, judges, and various professionals in the legal field. In the evenings, she studied law under the guidance of these esteemed professionals.
She recalls fond memories of her time at the Nashville YMCA Night Law School. Rudy enjoyed studying with her classmates, and when she approached (then) Dean Joe Loser, the instructor for her Civil Procedures class, to request a change in their exam date, she unexpectedly stepped into a leadership role and earned a nickname from the dean.
“After I asked to change our exam date, he named me ‘Captain Rudy,’ and anytime
someone had a question for Dean Loser about when we were going to have the next test, he would say, ‘I don’t know, I just teach the class, you’ll have to ask Captain Rudy, she sets the test schedule,” Rudy laughed. “As a result, my classmates would make me ask if we could change something.”
Once she obtained her J.D. degree in 1988 and passed the bar exam on her first attempt, Rudy practiced family law with two fellow Nashville YMCA Night Law School graduates at the law firm Bradley & Van Sant.
“When I filed my first divorce case, I didn’t really know how to draft a complaint. When I got inside the courtroom, I saw a man sitting near me, and I asked him if he had practiced family law, and he said yes. I asked him if he could look at my complaint to make sure it was right. I suppose that is how I became known as be -
ing gutsy. He looked at it and made sure it was right, and it was, so that was my first filing,” said Rudy.
Rudy credits other helpful lawyers she met along the way, such as Jack Lowery, Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., and Lionel Barrett, who became mentors and lifelong friends.
She continued to practice family law and moved on to the firm Bruce, Weathers, Corley, Dughman, & Lyle, where she represented a country music star, receiving national media coverage.
“Lynn Anderson needed someone to help her with her divorce. She had visited with several lawyers. They found her challenging. Bill Ramsey was representing her; however, something came up to where he ended up being a witness. I got the reputation of being gutsy in the courtroom, and they recommended she use me,” she said.
Rudy recalls other clients who, despite lacking widespread recognition, made a lasting impression.
“My heart went out to those who couldn’t afford an attorney. I really cared about them. I chose to do pro bono work — it was self-inflicted pro bono work. In the early 90s, one of my clients was a woman who needed a divorce. She had four children and was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. She was evicted from her home, and she needed help. To this day, I still stay in touch with her, and she is doing well,” said Rudy.
ebrated with family and friends – 95 in all – in a public ceremony in Havana, Cuba, on New Year’s Day, 2017.
She is the proud mother of Kim, Laura, Rebekah, and John. Two of her children, Laura and John, help run her family business, Rudy Title Company.
She has 18 grandchildren and is a great-grandmother of five.
Rudy continues to hire NSL graduates and has encouraged several family members and friends to attend NSL. Three members of the Rudy family are NSL graduates and two others are current law students. Her brother, Frank Rudy ’97, and his daughter, Ashley Rudy ’08, are the graduates. Ashley’s daughter, Alexandra McDaniel, is a first-year student, and Rudy’s granddaughter, Sydney Gleaves, is also a first-year student.
“This law school changed my life. Being able to have my law degree gave me such credibility and as a woman, it gave me a respect
in business and in life that I would not have had if not for that degree,” said Rudy.
In 1999, Rudy founded her own title company, Rudy Title and Escrow, with two of her children. Alongside her brother and fellow NSL graduate J. Frank Rudy ’97, she founded the law firms Rudy, Wood, and Winstead and Rudy & Partners in 2006. She continues to work at both Rudy Title & Escrow and Rudy & Partners. For the past 25 years, Rudy Title and Escrow has been one of the top producing title companies in the state.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY
Rudy married Joe Burnett in a private ceremony in December 2016 and then cel -
“I look at Middle Tennessee and realize that the contributions that the Nashville School of Law has made on the legal profession, the community, and our judicial pool are amazing. Many of the Tennessee judges and lawyers nowadays that are the movers and shakers are all from the Nashville School of Law which makes me so very, very proud.”
Rudy attended her inaugural board meeting in March. We are pleased to welcome her back to Nashville School of Law and anticipate her leadership contributions.
Mary Frances Rudy (right) and her sisters – The Rudy Sisters
Mary Frances Rudy ’88 visits with colleague Cortlyn Stokes at Rudy Title
Mary Frances Rudy ’88, Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., and Sydney Gleaves ’28 at 2023 NSL Recognition Dinner
Nashville School of Law alumna Vivien Wang ’10 holds two law degrees: one from China and another from NSL.
Wang grew up in Hubei, a province in Central China.
From a young age, Wang demonstrated independence by making her own choices, such as pursuing a degree in law.
“Law school in China compared to the U.S. is very different. In America, whoever wants to be an attorney must get a J.D. degree, but in China we can finish our law degree as an undergraduate. And then we can apply and pass the bar to become an attorney,” said Wang.
She also had a strong desire to learn English.
“There were not too many ways that we could learn English. When I was in college, a friend told me there were some foreign stu-
Catching up with: NSL Alumna Vivien Wang ’10
dents studying English in a small group. They asked if I wanted to go, and I said yes. It wasn’t until I finished my first meeting that I realized it was a meeting for a Bible study group,” laughed Wang.
The Bible study group was led by an American couple who gifted Wang a Bible, which she still cherishes to this day.
In 2000 Wang traveled to England where she enrolled in the Banking and Finance MBA program at the University of Bangor. She moved to the United States years later and worked with her husband at his company, Music City Insurance and Finance.
“In my mind, this country is the best country in the world. I grew up in China, and I worked and studied in England. I have traveled to different countries in the past, yet here in this country — which is an immigrant country — I did not feel lonely. I feel like I could merge into this country immediately. And I like the open-minded environment,” said Wang.
By 2006 Wang decided to make a career change, enrolling at Nashville School of Law. Now studying U.S. law, she enjoyed NSL courses like Civil Trial Moot Court, Civil Litigation Skills, and Criminal Law & Values.
“I really appreciated my classmate, John Williams, who practices law in Cookeville. He sat next to me in every class, and he graduated second in our class. He always shared his notes with me. He was smart and very nice,” said Wang.
Once she obtained her J.D. degree in 2010, Wang took the bar exam and passed. She opened her own law firm, the Wang Law Group, in Nashville.
“I like the litigation part. And I like doing legal research, trying to figure out the advan-
tages and disadvantages and trying to apply the law and facts in a way that is convincing. I like to persuade the other attorney and judge that what I am saying makes the most sense.”
She remembers early in her Nashville legal career how attorneys offered her their business cards, letting her know they were willing to assist her with navigating the court system in Davidson County. Today, she makes it a point to pay it forward by referring legal cases to her fellow NSL alumni.
In 15 years Wang has practiced civil, criminal, business, and employment law. And she practices heavily in immigration law. She said working to help people keep their residency is very rewarding.
“I worked on a case where a father, mother, and child were permanent residents in this country for many years, and because of some background issue they were placed back into the removal proceeding, and the government wanted to take away their green cards. We were able to litigate this case, and later, the immigration court agreed with my argument and dismissed the case, so the family was able to keep their status.”
Helping international and immigrant clients, Wang found a need to educate the American Chinese community about the U.S. legal system.
“I like to explain the law to the Chinese community living in America. I think there is a large gap in their understanding. So, I have started to do seminars to help teach these people, and I really enjoy it.”
Wang looks forward to taking part in more seminars and hopes to continue representing immigrant families.
“I always share with my clients, in this country, as long as you work hard and you don’t commit a crime or have addictions, you can establish your life here. You can make your American dream come true.”
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NSL Alumni Offer Support and a Meal during the February Bar Exam
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, more than 40 Nashville School of Law alumni showed up early at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds to sit for the bar exam.
By the time they were released for a break, they were met by other NSL alumni who showed up with hugs, support, and lunch.
Several members from the Class of 2024 passed out pre-ordered, custommade
lunches to those taking the exam. Unlabeled bottled waters, energy drinks, ibuprofin, mints, pens, pencils, chapstick, and napkins with inspiring quotes written on them were placed at the end of their long table.
Amy Parker ’24, Erica Augustin ’24, and Addie Toy ’24 were on hand to represent their class. The women remember eating lunch together when they took the July bar, thanks to Erica’s wife, Courtney, who pulled up in her Suburban, lowered the hatch and had a picnic for them.
“It was really nice to have lunch waiting on us as well as to have someone there to take care of you during your break. I mean, you are exhausted, you’re spent, and famished, and it is nice to have that support there,” said Parker.
It was then that Parker’s study group thought to collect donations and take care of lunch for other NSL alumni who were taking the February bar exam. They got the word out to other 2024 classmates and collected donations to fund the meal and all the extras.
“I don’t think anyone taking the bar should be worried about the logistics of lunch, so we are here to help provide lunch and support so they can focus on passing the bar,” said Parker.
And for fellow classmate and alumna Heather Curtis ’24, the generous lunch filled her up in more ways than one.
“I can honestly say, our class is unlike a lot of the ‘rumored’ law school classes across the nation. We pick each other up when we are down, we cheer each other on, we show up when it is needed, and we tend to laugh along the way,” said Curtis. “Being able to leave a stressful environment of taking the bar exam and come to a table where everything is boxed up and provided for us all while getting to breathe, de-stress, smile, and laugh was amazing!”
Parker went the extra mile for an NSL alumnus who had dietary restrictions. Since the alumnus has celiac disease, Parker prepared a gluten-free lunch specifically for him.
The test takers were treated to a meal every day of the bar exam.
The Class of 2024 hopes this becomes a tradition and welcomes other graduating classes to join the effort. If you would like to lend support, reach out to your graduating class and contact deans.office@nsl.law.
NSL Alumni taking the bar exam receive lunch from fellow alumni.
Bar Exam Success List
Congratulations to these Nashville School of Law alumni who passed the July 2024 Tennessee Bar Exam
Rosemary Rachelle Anderson
Erica Marie Augustin
Kristina Elizabeth Bagwell
Alexzandria Sherwood Bouchard
Rochelle Dawn Brickle
Randi Marie Bruce
Nicholas Charles Burn
Allan McHenry Duggar
Robert Dillon Estes
Jennah Tijerina Fuchs
Taylor Beth Gothard
Athansios George Halkias
Patricia Sandidge Hartman
Kara Madson Hartnett
Darryl Perry Harvey
Joshua Randall Hunter
Brian Timothy Hurst
Leah Danielle Jones
Demetria Nicole Kiene
Jessica Locke-Russell
Jordan Howard Long
Brittany Leanne Luttrell
Chassity Leanne Martin
Sydney Christian McDaniel
Calleigh Brooke Minor
Kelley Renay Moody
Charles Van Morgan
Nathan Tolbert Nicholson
Amy Michelle Parker
Savannah Holly Reynolds
Christina Rae Rice
Wade Bethel Romine
Shanna Nicole Savino
Chandler Austin Schewe
Cody William Schmidt
Jacquelyn Alena Sovine
Allyson Nicole Stembridge
Martinique Natasha Stuart
Addie Louise Toy
Dakota Lee Vermillion
Kendall Belle Warden
Laura Gray Waynick
Tanaya Brooke Wilcox
Amanda Lee Wilkerson
Austin Kelly Wilson
Katie Lynn Woodard
Matthew Timothy Zehr
1978
Judge Cheryl Blackburn, Davidson County Criminal Court Judge, is retiring this month. Blackburn served nearly 30 years, presiding over hundreds of trials. She is currently the longest-serving criminal court judge in Nashville.
1981
Bill Penny became a partner at Thompson Burton, PLLC, where he is furthering his commitment to environmental issues, offering his expertise on local, regional, and national levels.
1988
Grayson Cannon is a 2025 Nashville Bar Foundation fellow. The NBF Fellows program honors colleagues within the Nashville Bar who have been in practice for at least 10 years, made outstanding contributions to the legal profession and to the public good, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.
Sophia Brown Crawford is retiring from her position as Deputy General Counsel for DCS in May. Crawford’s career includes being a Davidson County Juvenile Court Magistrate as well as succeeding Judge Betty Adams Green as the Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge. Crawford is looking forward to spending time with her husband, Jay, her children, and grandchildren.
CLASS NOTES
1994
Regina Morrison Newman has been re-elected as Shelby County Trustee. She also started the Adulting 101 Showcase for high school seniors in Shelby County, celebrating its third year in 2025, with financial education/literacy and career opportunities for seniors in 24 of the 34 high schools in Shelby County.
1998
Tracy Hansen Pelham was promoted to Deputy General Counsel - Commercial Operations of Genesco Inc., a national footwear retailer with corporate headquarters in Nashville. The company celebrated 100 years in business last year.
2002
Libbi Watson is practicing at Dix & Massey in Murfreesboro. She will earn her LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution from The Straus Institute at Pepperdine in May. She was also inducted into the National Board of Trial Advocates in 2024.
2004
Adam Dread is now practicing in Tennessee and Massachusetts, commuting from Nashville to Nantucket, representing individual clients, restaurants, and businesses in both states. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce.
2006
Ronald Cina was inducted as a new fellow in the Nashville Bar Foundation. The NBF Fellows program honors colleagues within the Nashville Bar who have been in practice for at least 10 years, made outstanding contributions to the legal profession and to the public good, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.
Jessica Doyle, the founder of Tennessee Adoption and Family Law, PLLC, and Tennessee Mediation Centers, recently opened a new space off Woodland Street in Nashville. Doyle was recently named a “Community Hero” by the Tennessee Titans and received the honor of “East Nashvillian of the Year” in 2023 from the East Nashvillian magazine.
2007
Todd A. Tressler is now licensed and has been sworn in to practice law in the state of Kentucky. His firm, Tressler & Associates, has been recognized as a 2025 Rocky Top Business Award Winner by The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Alumni of UT-Knoxville are recognized for this award based on a three-year growth rate of their businesses.
2009
Crystal Cole is a new member of the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2025 Leadership Law (TBALL) program. TBALL gives Tennessee lawyers an opportunity to enhance their skills to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities.
Jeffrey L. Peach is Town Attorney for the Town of Smyrna. He was appointed to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) by Gov. Bill Lee in 2019. He is currently serving in the second year of his second term with the State of Tennessee Commission. Furthermore, Peach participated as a mentor for several students under the Rigorous Writing Program with Nashville School of Law.
Tiffany Wiggers is now Principal at Nashville-based business management and consulting firm O’Neil Hagaman, LLC. In this role, Wiggers makes decisions that influence the productivity and growth of the firm while continuing to address the business and financial needs of her diverse client base.
2010
Virginia J. (Ginger) Connell made partner at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC (GSRM Law). Connell practices a broad range of family law issues and excels in high-stakes cases, particularly involving complex custody and divorce disputes. She is a Rule 31 Family Law Mediator, trained in domestic violence.
Tennessee State Rep. William Slater now serves as the chairman of the House Education Administration Subcommittee. He is also Chair of the Education Administration Subcommittee,
a member of the Education Administration Committee and the K-12 Subcommittee/Member Insurance Committee.
2012
Jesse Waterman has been named as Mitch Grissim’s replacement at Mitch Grissim & Associates. The new name for the firm is Grissim & Waterman. Waterman has been with the firm since 2011. He became Managing Attorney in 2018. Waterman will continue to passionately advocate for injury victims as he steps into the leadership role.
2013
Nancy Cogar is currently practicing as a partner with Samples, Jennings, Clem, and Fields, PLLC in Chattanooga and has a practice of estate planning and elder law. She also launched a podcast called “Boomer Time with Nancy Cogar.” She was appointed to the Chapter 7 Trustee panel for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga in early 2024.
Joanna McCraken has been named as a Nashville Bar Foundation fellow. The NBF Fellows program honors colleagues within the Nashville Bar who have been in practice for at least 10 years, made outstanding contributions to the legal profession and to the public good, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.
Chris Savoie became Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Navarra Pamplona, Spain, teaching Digital and AI Law. He
was founding chair of the Congressionally mandated United States Quantum Economic Development Consortium’s Law Technical Advisory Committee.
2015
Christy Gibson Auld is now Regional Director (South-Central) for the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT).
2016
John Williams was selected as a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal’s 2025 40 under 40 award.
Charles Vance is now a Vice President and Wealth Advisor for Truxton Wealth. He is responsible for monitoring clients’ investment strategies, trust and estate administration, tax, estate, and retirement planning, and coordinating the efforts of other professional advisors both internal and external to Truxton. In addition to his role as a Wealth Advisor, Vance serves as the Director of Security for Truxton.
2018
Kyle Evans was hired as Litigation Counsel for Shelter Insurance Companies.
Dana R. Looper recently moved from Fry, Knight and Looper to open her own firm, Dana Looper Law PLC in Cookeville.
2019
Jesse Walker was elected as a Goodlettsville City Commissioner. Walker was officially sworn in last year by NSL alumna and Goodlettsville Judge Ali Toll ‘06.
CLASS NOTES
2021
Ryan Arrington now works for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as the Regulatory Compliance Attorney.
Stef Brake transferred to the General Counsel’s Office at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Brake, who grew up in a farming community, said she is living a dream because she is assigned to the Animal Health Division.
Andrea McCoy accepted a new job as an associate attorney at GSRM (Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC) in August 2024. She has worked in family law since graduation, working with fellow NSL alumna Marlene Moses.
2022
Grant Benere has been hired as an Assistant District Attorney in the 17th Judicial District.
George Shelby, who works at Tressler & Associates, has obtained the following certificate: Rule 31 Listed Mediator for General Civil and Family Cases.
2023
Kati Coats was promoted to Legislative Counsel for the Tennessee District Attorneys
General Conference. In September 2024, she accepted a position with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as the Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs.
Mariah Harden McCallister was hired at the Donahoe firm and served as an instructor at the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) DUI Seminar.
2024
Rosie Anderson is the Government Affairs Counsel for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. In this role, she is TNDAGC’s liaison and counsel for the legislature. Outside of the session she will be an assistant district attorney general pro tem, prosecuting cases.
Chassity Martin Berlin retired as the Wayne County Clerk and Master after serving in the position for almost six years and took a position as Associate Attorney at the Law Office of Brandon E. White, PLLC in Columbia.
2026
Ilse Bloss was selected to join the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Diversity Leadership Institute Class. Bloss and eight other Tennessee law students will take part in the six-month leadership and mentoring program. The group will learn skills to help them succeed as law students and attorneys.
BOARD & FACULTY NOTES
Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr.
Nashville School of Law Board Chair Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr. has provided leadership for NSL since the early 1990s. The founding member of Neal & Harwell law firm is being recognized for his years of contribution to the Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr. Leadership Center at the Boxwell Reservation in Lebanon was held in September 2024.
Evan Baddour
Evan Baddour successfully spearheaded a sales tax referendum campaign in Giles County. The referendum passed November 4, 2024, and will financially benefit the county’s public school system moving forward.
On the first day of the 2025 Tennessee Legislative Session, Nashville School of Law Dean William C. Koch, Jr. once again had the honor of administering the Oath of Office to Tennessee State Senators.
NSL Professor of Family Law Judge
Stephanie Williams was inducted into the Nashville Bar Foundation as a member of the NBF 2025 Class of Fellows. The NBF Fellows program honors colleagues within the Nashville Bar who have been in practice for at least 10 years, made outstanding contributions to the legal profession and to the public good, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.
