President's Message

Greetings!!

Welcome to the website of the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers.

Through the collective efforts of members of each of the four (4) affiliate chapters of the National Bar Association in Tennessee, which include the Ben Jones Chapter (Memphis), the Napier-Looby Chapter (Nashville), the S. L. Hutchins Chapter (Chattanooga) and the newly formed William H. Hastie Chapter (Knoxville), I am honored to introduce the recently formed Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (“TABL”). TABL is a statewide organization which represents the interests of the affiliate bar associations and black lawyers, law students and judges throughout the State of Tennessee. TABL is also an affiliate of the National Bar Association (“NBA”), the oldest and largest organization of attorneys of color in the world.

The primary purposes of TABL are:
¬ To advocate diversity in the Tennessee bar, including on the Tennessee federal and state bench, in the Tennessee General Assembly, and among the students and faculty of Tennessee’s law schools;
¬ To influence legislation, common law, regulations, and policies that are germane to the aforesaid purpose and to the common interests of black lawyers statewide; and
¬ To provide a professional and social network and support system for the Tennessee chapters of the NBA and for lawyers, judges, and law students across the State of Tennessee who actively advance the aforesaid purposes and otherwise advocate and share a common business interest in diversity within the bar.

Through our fulfillment of these purposes, we hope to galvanize and strengthen each affiliate bar association of the NBA in Tennessee, edify black lawyers, law students and judges throughout the State of Tennessee and serve as a strong, unified and significant voice in the Tennessee Bar on statewide issues that adversely affect black lawyers and the black community in general.

   For the year of 2009-10, TABL plans to promote its purposes by championing diversity on the bench, in the bar, in the legislature and in law schools; hosting statewide CLEs and other substantive seminars that will serve to hone the legal skills of our lawyers and ensure the success of our law students; provide forums to allow interstate networking opportunities; and influence and speak out for or against legislation that will have a negative impact on the legal community and/or community in general. 

Your voice is the one TABL wants to hear. Let us hear from you about how you want to get involved, how you think TABL can better serve the local affiliate bar associations and black lawyers, law students and judges throughout the State of Tennessee. We invite you to become an active part of what is now a vibrant, relevant, and significant Association in our legal community.

Sincerely,

Isaac Conner
TABL President