(Memphis, TN/April 6, 2012) George T. "Buck" Lewis of the law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, has been appointed chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission.
The Access To Justice Commission was created by the Tennessee Supreme Court to develop a strategic plan for improving access to justice in Tennessee that includes education of the public, identification of priorities to meet the need of improved access to justice, and recommendations to the Supreme Court of projects and programs the Commission determines to be necessary and appropriate for enhancing access to justice in Tennessee.
Mr. Lewis, a shareholder in the Firm's Memphis office, served as president of the Tennessee Bar Association from June 2008 through June 2009. During his term, Mr. Lewis launched the "4ALL" campaign to bring much needed legal services to Tennesseans of modest means. The campaign resulted in significantly increased pro bono participation by Tennessee attorneys as well as eight separate court rules and legislative changes that have been instrumental in enhancing the delivery of pro bono services in Tennessee. TBA was recognized for this initiative with the American Bar Association's 2010 Harrison Tweed Award, which is given jointly by the ABA and the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association to honor "extraordinary achievements" in increasing access to legal services for the poor.
Since his tenure as TBA president, Mr. Lewis has spearheaded the development of OnlineTNJustice.org, an innovative website that allows Tennesseans to seek free legal advice from volunteer lawyers. Baker Donelson was recently awarded the TBA 2012 Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Law Firm Award in recognition of its role in the development of the website, which is a joint project of the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and the TBA.