YOUNG LAWYERS COUNSEL

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

YOUNG LAWYER'S COUNSEL

The purposes of Young Lawyers Division shall be to promote a better understanding of the law and the legal profession to the general public; to sponsor community, educational and professional programs for the general public and the legal profession; and to encourage fellowship among the young lawyers of Hamilton County, Tennessee. All licensed attorneys of Hamilton County, Tennessee, who are members of the Chattanooga Bar Association and who are under 36 years of age, or within the first five years of their practice of law, shall be eligible for membership in this organization. 


The YLD hosts social events after hours for networking purposes, including socials to welcome summer interns from various firms, and events to highlight local venues, events, such as Lookouts. The Fall social benefits CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – held in November. CASA for Children is a network of 951 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Every day in this country, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect, and four of them will die. Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care. 


In February of every year, the YLD hosts the High School Mock Trial Competition. Mock Trial Competition involves students to take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and present their case against teams from other schools. It has been running annually since 1991 with regional tournaments and the national finals.


If you would like to be part of the YLD, contact the CBA Office at 602-9430. 

You can follow the YLD on Facebook @ Chattanooga Bar Association YLD; 

Twitter @ChattBarYLD; or Instagram @chattbaryld


Join the YLD!

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

2024 YLD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL


2024 YOUNG LAWYER'S DIVISION PRESIDENT JOHN JOLLEY OF LEGAL AID OF EAST TENNESSEE

John Jolley is an attorney with Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Since 2016, He has served as an on-site partner at the Chattanooga Family Justice Center representing victims of domestic violence in orders of protection, divorces, custody matters, and other civil legal issues. Jolley graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2014. He is also a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga ('20) and serves as a liaison to the ABA Select Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense. 


PRESIDENT-ELECT MARY FRANCES DEVOE OF

LEGAL AID OF EAST TENNESSEE

Mary Frances DeVoe (Mary Frances) is the Pro Bono Project attorney for Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s southern program. Mary Frances joined Legal Aid in 2021 and is responsible for clinic and private attorney coordination for the southern portion of LAET’s service area, as well as organizing and fundraising for LAET’s annual “Pro Bono Night.” A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Mary Frances earned her bachelor’s degree from Elon University in Elon, North Carolina and her JD from Belmont College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to her work as the Pro Bono Project attorney, Mary Frances's practice focuses primarily on family & adoption law.


Secretary / Vice President-Elect Claire Tuley of

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz

Ms. Tuley concentrates her practice on commercial real estate and finance transactions, focusing particularly on the long term care industry. Ms. Tuley regularly represents health care lenders and owner/operators of long term care and seniors housing facilities in acquisitions, dispositions, and financing transactions. Ms. Tuley works on all phases of a transaction, including corporate formation, due diligence, and coordination with local counsel. She also does extensive work representing national health care lenders in balance sheet and bridge-to-HUD loans and mezzanine loans.

Prior to law school, Claire worked as a paralegal at Baker Donelson and cultivated considerable experience assisting clients in large-scale financing transactions.


TREASURER BRIAN BUSH OF

HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Brian Bush is a native Chattanoogan, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and Maryville College. He currently practices at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Brian Bush has served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office. He’s also a commissioned officer, serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Bush is dedicated to serving his community through his work, and he and his wife, Mauriel, enjoy calling Chattanooga home.


IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT LOGAN THREADGILL OF

CHAMBLISS BAHNER & STOPHEL

Attorney Logan Threadgill is a commercial litigation attorney at Chambliss Law Firm in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He handles construction cases, contract and payment disputes, products liability cases, Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, and various other business litigation matters. Threadgill is actively involved in the Chambliss Startup Group, which has allowed him the opportunity to work with a number of startups and entrepreneurs through the Company Lab (CO.LAB) on myriad business matters ranging from entity choice and incorporation, intellectual property and technology rights, and risk management strategies. Threadgill also serves on the Board of Directors for the TBA's Young Lawyers Division, as district representative for Hamilton County. Threadgill previously played a fundamental role for the TBA YLD's Publications Committee in which he was the editor of the Tennessee Young Lawyer—a statewide e-newsletter.


COUNCIL MEMBER TIM BALLARD OF

EVANS HARRISON & HACKETT

Tim Ballard practices civil litigation with Evans Harrison and Hackett. His practice focuses on domestic relations and personal injury. His domestic relations practice includes not only divorce and child custody cases, but also cases involving grandparent visitation, termination of parental rights, Juvenile Court practice, and service as a Guardian ad Litem in Circuit and Chancery Courts. He earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law & bachelor’s degree from UT.


COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER GARRETT OF

HAMILTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE



COUNCIL MEMBER CECILIA GARRETT OF

CHAMBLISS BAHNER & STOPHEL

Cecilia Garrett works on a variety of litigation matters for individuals and businesses. She represents and defends clients in family law matters, contract disputes, Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy filings, landlord/tenant disputes, collections, and other commercial litigation matters. She also assists with employer issues related to workers’ compensation and construction law-related matters. Cecilia advises clients operating in a variety of industries, including transportation and logistics, health care, and manufacturing. Cecilia takes a personal approach and strives to be consistent and committed to every client. She enjoys working and collaborating to determine the most efficient and proactive way to proceed. Quickly getting to the heart of a matter, Cecilia will provide a straightforward analysis and set of solutions to save clients time and energy.

COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEW WAYNE OF

COPELAND STAIR VALZ & LOVELL

Matt Wayne is a litigation associate at Copeland, Stair, Kingma & Lovell where his practice experience includes general liability, construction, employment, and trucking and transportation. Wayne defends clients in an array of issues, ranging from general liability claims to complex, multi-party construction disputes, and commercial transportation matters. He also has significant experience in advising and representing clients in day-to-day labor and employment issues that develop in an array of large and small businesses and industries. Wayne is a Chattanooga native, receiving his J.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Law after graduating from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is also deeply involved in the community, serving on a number of nonprofit boards that support the local community. 



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