W INTER 2018 The Torch NASHVILLE SCHOOL of LAW MAGAZINE FEATURE STORY: JUSTICE FOR ALL: SERVICE STARTS EARLY FOR NSL STUDENTS WINTER 2018 WHAT’S INSIDE: MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 3 Service Starts Early For NSL Students 5 Tennessee Court of Appeals Brings Oral Arguments to Campus 17 NSL Services As Backdrop to WNPT John Grisham Interview STUDENTS 8 Rigorous Writing Program Matches Mentors With Students 12 Nashville School of Law Welcomes the Class of 2021 18 Student Profile: Steve Jones 19 Student Profile: Heather Meshell FACULTY 6 Fishburn Connects on Many Levels 15 In Memoriam: Patrick McHale Pro Bono Work: 23 Board and Faculty Updates 23 Brian Neal Joins NSL Faculty A Privilege and Responsibility ALUMNI 7 In Memoriam 10 Alumni profile: Tom Humphrey A shared commitment to the Rule of Law is Roll recognizes 435 lawyers as “Attorneys for 14 Alumni profile: Catie Lane Bailey the cornerstone of our legal system. Among Justice” because they have performed more 16 Law in the Family: Connie Chadwick and Rose Tignor the rubrics of the Rule of Law is the principle than 50 pro bono hours. Of these, 67 are JUSTICE FOR ALL: 17 July 2017 Bar Exam Success List that the law should be the same for everyone. alumni, faculty, or trustees of the Nashville 20 Class Notes Thus, no one is above the law, and everyone School of Law. 21 Class of 1974 Celebrates 43 Years has equal access to the law’s protection. The students at Tennessee’s six law schools SERVICE STARTS EARLY By tradition, lawyers and judges, as servants of also have done their part. The Court’s 2017 the law, are obliged not just to honor the Rule Pro Bono Honor Roll recognizes 141 law of Law, but also to order their personal and students as “Law Students for Justice” because FOR NSL STUDENTS professional lives consistent with its principles. they have provided at least 50 hours of pro In return for the privilege to practice law, bono services during their legal studies. You he Preamble to the Tennessee Rules judiciary to serve disadvantaged Tennesseans each of us must, in our own way, promote can read more about five of these students of Professional Conduct reads in and a growing legal-needs gap in Tennessee and provide equal access to justice. who performed their pro bono work while T part “… all lawyers should devote for indigent and working-poor families. enrolled at the Nashville School of Law in this professional time and resources and use Promoting equal access to justice has been edition of The Torch. Like-minded first- and civic influence to ensure equal access to This was the first year NSL graduates were the Tennessee Supreme Court’s primary second-year law students are now forming the our system of justice.” recognized for pro bono service delivered public policy initiative since 2009. Among Nashville School of Law Legal Aid Society to during law school. Five alumni who graduated the many tangible results of this initiative ensure that all future law students will have This year, the Tennessee Supreme Court in May 2017 earned this recognition: Alysse are the creation of the Tennessee Access to an opportunity to perform pro bono work honored several recent Nashville School of Gregory, Billy Leslie, Chadwick Meyers, Justice Commission, the publication of the Luke Willoughby, and Eric Winters. PUBLISHER while pursuing their law degree. Law graduates for doing just that – before Indigent Representation Task Force’s report they even had a law license in their hands. William C. Koch, Jr. Liberty and Justice for All: Providing Right to Pro bono service changes lives – of those The students provided the service in a variety of ways, with many participating Counsel Services in Tennessee, and the Supreme who receive the services and of those who The honor was a component of the Court’s On the cover: Eric Winters, Billy Leslie, MANAGING EDITOR in the School’s Juvenile Court Practice Court Pro Bono Recognition Program that perform them. You can honor the noble Law Students for Justice program, which Alysse Gregory, Luke Willoughby, and Michele Wojciechowski Clinic, Wills Clinic, or through work at recognizes lawyers and law students who traditions of our profession by doing your recognizes graduates who have devoted 50 Chadwick Meyers, all 2017 alumni of [email protected] an internship. the School, are the first NSL graduates perform pro bono services. part. We welcome you to join us. or more hours to pro bono service during to be named Law Students for Justice by their law school career. It’s a companion to the Tennessee Supreme Court for their WRITER Lawyers and law students throughout Sincerely, And while pro bono service can truly change dedication to pro bono service during their the Lawyers for Justice recognition, which lives for those who benefit from the legal David L. Hudson, Jr. Tennessee have answered the Tennessee law school career. distinguishes lawyers who have performed advice, the students unanimously said they [email protected] Supreme Court’s call. In 2015, 50% of the Above: Attorneys and recent law school 50 hours of pro bono in 12 months. gained from the experience as well. graduates gather in Nashville for the lawyers with active Tennessee licenses reported Tennessee Supreme Court’s Lawyers and GENERAL INQUIRIES that they had performed 591,064 hours of William C. Koch, Jr. Both recognitions – as well as one for law “The most valuable [part of doing pro bono Law Students for Justice Recognition pro bono work valued at more than $118 Ceremony in October. Several NSL alumni 615.256.3684 President and Dean firms – fall under the Court’s Access to Justice work] is knowing that someone got the help and faculty members are among those who [email protected] million. The Court’s 2017 Pro Bono Honor umbrella, a key strategic initiative by the they needed and maybe it made their life were honored. 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 3 1. 2. JUSTICE FOR ALL, CONTINUED just a little easier,” Leslie said. “It was an what we were learning in class to the real- in the administration of justice and of the honor to be recognized by the Supreme world practice of law,” Gregory added. “No fact that the poor, and sometimes persons 3. Court. It was nice that we were among the amount of case law will ever prepare you who are not poor, cannot afford adequate first NSL students to be recognized as Law for your first client meeting, and taking on legal assistance.” Students for Justice, and hopefully many pro bono cases while a student at NSL was others will follow.” invaluable in that respect. It was also an “It is part of our obligation to the profession,” incomparable way to meet attorneys and notes A. Colbrook Baddour (2011). “I always He interned at the Metropolitan Public judges who are currently practicing. But try to do at least 50 hours, if not more. We Defender’s Office in Nashville with a Tenn. most importantly, I did it and continued all have a responsibility to the profession Sup. Ct. R. 7 limited license. to do it throughout law school because and to the administration of justice.” of the difference it makes in the lives of “I was able to meet with clients and, what those I helped.” Others see the pro bono work as an opportunity I found to be most beneficial, was to be to improve their practice. able to have time on my feet in court and Other members of the NSL family also TENNESSEE COURT OF be trusted to conduct numerous probation earned honors in the Supreme Court’s “I believe it helps attorneys by exposing them violation hearings, indecency hearings, and to cases and clients they may not usually see preliminary hearings,” Meyers explained. in their normal practice. It also provides an APPEALS BRINGS ORAL “My time in the courtroom was invaluable opportunity to expand an attorney’s client and something that I believe every law “IT WAS base and is a great way for a new attorney student should take advantage of if they to gain experience,” said Neil Thompson ARGUMENTS TO CAMPUS have the opportunity.” VALUABLE, (2008), who was recognized as an Attorney for Justice. n November 8, the Tennessee Court of Appeals held students, much of which focused on the questions that are asked Winters and Willoughby echo that assessment PRACTICAL oral arguments at the Nashville School of Law, bringing of attorneys during oral arguments. of pro bono legal experience from their work EXPERIENCE THAT Several attorneys note that pro bono work O two cases to the appellate courtroom for students to with the Juvenile Court Clinic. helps to challenge the notion that the legal observe firsthand. “Rule one of appellate practice is, answer the question. Don’t ask WILL HELP ME IN profession is focused on fees. why it’s being asked, and don’t get offended that it is being asked,” “It was valuable, practical experience that President and Dean William C. Koch, Jr. welcomed the crowd, Judge Dinkins said. will help me in the practice of law,” Winters THE PRACTICE “I believe that it is our responsibility to which included students, alumni, members of the court staff, and said. “I recommend more NSL students OF LAW.” dispel the negative perception about the others, to the School. He emphasized how the opportunity to witness Judge Clement also contrasted the role of the briefs and the oral take the Juvenile Court Clinic.” legal profession and that lawyers are only authentic court proceedings is a valuable experience for students.