(FROM THE TENNESSEE BAR ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2013)
Burch, Porter & Johnson to receive award Saturday for partnership with St. Jude
The Memphis law firm of Burch, Porter & Johnson will be recognized for its commitment to providing free legal services at the 7th Annual Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Gala Saturday in Nashville.
The event will feature remarks by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade and Doug Blaze, dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law. Awards will be presented by Tennessee Bar Association President Jackie Dixon along with Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Co-Chairs Jim Barry with International Paper and Andy Branham with Counsel On Call.
The gala, which includes a dinner and ceremony, is part of the Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative – a partnership between the TBA and the Association of Corporate Counsel that encourages and supports pro bono activities by lawyers serving as in-house and corporate counsel in the state. Since its beginning, the initiative has raised more than $300,000 to help bring legal services to the poor. This year, the gala raised over $50,000 to support pro bono activities in the state. The initiative also recognizes a law firm and a corporate legal office each year that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to access to justice ideals, pro bono service and the Corporate Counsel Covenant of Service.
This year’s law firm award will be presented to Burch, Porter & Johnson for a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that is meeting critical needs for low-income families managing treatment of their children at the hospital.
For the past year, the Memphis firm has helped patients and their families cope with a unique but critical issue: what to do when a minor child reaches the age of majority but is too neurologically impaired to consent to his or her own treatment in an informed manner. The firm has responded to that challenge by helping low-income families establish conservatorships for the benefit of the patient, which allow parents and other caring family members to direct treatment for the patient.
Firm lawyers represent the families during court proceedings and make sure they understand the process and the requirements for establishing a conservatorship.
In announcing the law firm award, Dixon praised Burch, Porter & Johnson for identifying and meeting a real need in its community, saying, “This assistance has been crucial for families who would otherwise face a significant barrier to obtaining medical treatment for their children.”
Additional Information
Learn more about the Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative
http://www.tba.org/corporate-counsel-pro-bono-initiative
About Burch Porter & Johnson
Burch Porter & Johnson PLLC, one of the oldest law firms in Tennessee, engages in a highly respected litigation and business practice. Since its founding over 100 years ago, the firm has maintained a tradition of involvement in the legal and community affairs of the region. Burch, Porter & Johnson’s principal office is located in downtown Memphis in buildings named to the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more about the firm at www.bpjlaw.com.
About the Tennessee Bar Association
The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is the largest professional association in Tennessee with more than 11,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA’s dedication to serving the state’s legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys.