Linda serves as Butler Snow’s Pro Bono Counsel. Over the course of her legal career, Linda has dedicated herself to the enhancement of the legal profession and the availability of assistance to marginalized communities across Tennessee. Working closely with bar associations in Tennessee and with the American Bar Association, she has focused on developing and implementing programs and processes specifically designed to provide legal professionals with meaningful and impactful experiences and ensuring that those experiences carry the maximum effectiveness to benefit the communities they are designed to serve.
Overview
Linda serves as Butler Snow’s Pro Bono Counsel. Over the course of her legal career, Linda has dedicated herself to the enhancement of the legal profession and the availability of assistance to marginalized communities across Tennessee. Working closely with bar associations in Tennessee and with the American Bar Association, she has focused on developing and implementing programs and processes specifically designed to provide legal professionals with meaningful and impactful experiences and ensuring that those experiences carry the maximum effectiveness to benefit the communities they are designed to serve.
Experience
- Director, Section of Dispute Resolution Section, American Bar Association
- President and CEO, A Step Ahead for West Tennessee
- Seely Law and Mediation, Principal Mediator
- Director of Pro Bono Projects and Director, Campaign for Equal Justice, Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
- Managing Attorney for Pro Bono Projects and West Tennessee Health Care Consortium Manager, West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc.
- Managing Attorney for Senior Citizens Project and Pro Bono, Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
Distinctions
- Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator (Designation in Domestic Violence, 2007), Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, 2001-Present
- Business and Professional Women of West Tennessee, Sterling Award: 20 Women Who Make a Difference in West Tennessee, 2015
- Association of Women Attorneys, Memphis Chapter, Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award for Service to the Legal Community, 2014
- Something Good in Memphis Nomination through Memphis Interfaith Association, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 2013
- 50 Women Who Make a Difference in Memphis, June 2006
- Ernie H. Gray Paralegal Utilization Award, Tennessee Paralegal Association, West Tennessee Chapter, 2004
- Tennessee Bar Association, Public Service Attorney of the Year Access to Justice Committee, 2003
- B. Riney Green Cooperative Advocacy Award, Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services, 1999
- Leadership Jackson, Class of 1997
- Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Award for Outstanding Service to the Pro Bono Panel for Senior Citizens, 1982
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 1981
Education
- University of Memphis, J.D., 1981
- Law Clerk for Memphis Area Legal Services, 1980
- University of Memphis, B.A., cum laude, 1978
- University of Memphis Student Government, 1977-1978, Speaker Pro Temp
- Intern, Tennessee General Assembly, 1978
Associations
- Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators, 2005-2021
- Grayford Gray Award, 2017
- Board of Directors, 2012-2015
- Memphis Bar Association, 2004-Present
- Secretary, 2010
- Treasurer, 2011
- Vice President, 2012
- President, 2013
- Past President, 2014
- Access to Justice Committee, 2004-2016
- Fellow, Memphis Bar Foundation
- Association for Women Attorneys in Memphis, 2004-Present
- Board of Directors, 2009-2011
- American Bar Association, 2002-Present
- Dispute Resolution Section
- Women in Dispute Resolution
- MidAtlantic Regional Chapter
- Senior Lawyers Division
- Law Practice Division
- Dispute Resolution Section
- Tennessee Bar Foundation
- Board of Trustees, June 2016
- Association for Women Attorneys Foundation
- Board Chair, 2014-2016
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Board of Bar Governors-Seventh District Governor, Spring 2001-June 2007
- Chair of Juvenile and Children’s Law Section, 2007-2009
- President's Award, 2006, 2009
- Chair of ADR Section, 2010
- House of Delegates, 2013-2016
- Wellness Committee, 2012-Present
- Access to Justice Committee, 2004-2016
- Conflict Resolution Center of West Tennessee (now Community Justice and Mediation Center)
- Member, Board of Directors and Founder, 2009-Present
- Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
- President, 2005-2006
- Madison County Bar Association, 1997-2016
- Board of Directors, 1999-2003
- Treasurer, 2002-2003
- Lawyers Association for Women, 1999-2016
- Anne Schneider Chapter, President, 1999-2004
- Leo Bearman, Inns of Court, Emeritus Member, 2010-Present
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Presenter, “Mask off Race, Relations, and Results Series,” American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution, March-July 2021.
- Presenter, “Ethical Considerations for ODR and Access to Justice,” International Conference on Online Dispute Resolution, Williamsburg, VA, October 2020.
- Presenter, “Annual CLE Program on Preparing for a Family Law Mediation: Downton Abbey Custody Battle,” Tennessee Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, April 2016.
- Assistant Trainer, “Rule 31 Civil Mediation Training,” Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute, January 2012, February 2015, August 2015.
- Presenter, “Thriving for Lawyers,” Memphis Bar Association, May 2015.
- Presenter, “So Happy Together: Law Firm and In-House Counsel Working Together on Pro Bono,” American Bar Association, Sections of Litigation, Access to Justice and Children’s Rights, November 2014.
- Presenter, “Thriving for Lawyers,” Tennessee Bar Association, Wellness Committee, November 2014.
- Presenter, “Restorative Justice,” Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services C.L.E. on Special Education, March 2012.
- Presenter, “Conflict Resolution and Mediation Concepts for Clergy and Laypersons,” Conflict Resolution Center of West Tennessee, August 2011.
- Presenter, “Juvenile Court Appointments and Benefits of Practice,” Tennessee Bar Association Webinar, 2009.
- Presenter, “Community Mediation: Moving Forward,” Lipscomb University, First Annual Mediation Summit, December 2008.
- Presenter, “Access to Justice Issues,” Tennessee Judicial Conference, June 2006.
- Presenter, “Participating in Pro Bono Projects,” Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Conference, January 2006.
- Presenter, American Bar Association Equal Justice Conference, Annual Nuts and Bolts Preconference for Pro Bono Coordinators, 2002-2014.
- Presenter, Pan Africa Conference HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, October 2002.
Civic Involvement
- Internet Bar Organization
- Board of Directors, July 2019-Present
- Greenbelt Homes, Inc.
- Board of Directors, May 2017-May 2020
- Hannah’s Hope, an affiliate of the United Methodist Church
- Board of Directors, Memphis Conference, 2002-2008
- United Methodist Church
- Memphis Conference, Peace with Justice Advocate, 2008-Present
- Active in Racial Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution ministry
- First United Methodist Church, Jackson, TN, Board of Trustees Member, 2010-2012
- Greenbelt Time Bank, Director of Activities, 2019-2021
- Olde Greenbelt Theatre, Board of Directors, 2019-2021
- Jackson Theatre Guild Volunteer, 2010-2015