Member Spotlight
Tennessee Bar Foundation: Leading Lawyer-Driven Philanthropy in the Volunteer State
Across Tennessee’s cities, small towns, and mountain communities, the Tennessee Bar Foundation stands as the state’s premier engine for channeling legal talent and generosity into vital support for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Founded in 1982, the Foundation has directed millions of dollars toward civil legal aid, innovative justice projects, and the preservation of the state’s rich legal heritage.
A Fellowship Built on Excellence
The Fellows represent less than 5% of the active bar in Tennessee. Each year, the Foundation invites a select group of approximately 30 outstanding lawyers and judges to be inducted. Election to Fellowship is a high honor the Tennessee legal community bestows, reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and service to the profession. New Fellows are celebrated at the annual Fellows’ Dinner, the primary occasion to recognize inductees while also honoring Tennessee’s legal history through showcases of the Foundation’s Legal History Project interviews.
Tennessee Bar Foundation Fellows Class of 2025
Three Signature Initiatives That Make a Difference
Howard H. Baker Jr., Featured in the Tennessee Bar Foundation Legal History Project (Recently Highlighted to Mark His Centennial): Former U.S. Senator—Tennessee’s First Popularly Elected Republican Since Reconstruction—and White House Chief of Staff (1987–1988)
- Tennessee IOLTA Program
The Foundation administers the state’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program under the Tennessee Supreme Court. Interest earned on client funds held in trust is pooled and awarded as grants to nonprofit legal-aid providers. In 2025, the Foundation announced its latest round of IOLTA grants, continuing decades of steady support for free civil legal services statewide. - Capacity Building Grants
Through targeted programs like the recently launched IOLTA – Capital Improvement and Technology Enhancement (CITE) Grant, the Foundation provided one-time funding for capital improvements and technology upgrades that strengthened legal aid providers’ operational capacity, enhanced efficiency, improved client services, and expanded access to justice in underserved areas. - Legal History Project
Dozens of in-depth video interviews with Tennessee’s most influential lawyers and judges are recorded, edited, and made freely available online. The collection includes conversations with figures such as former U.S. Senator and White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker (recently highlighted on the Foundation’s LinkedIn page to mark his centennial), Chancellor Jeffrey Stewart of Winchester, long-time Murfreesboro City Attorney and Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women founder Susan Emery McGannon, and many others preserving the state’s legal legacy.
Tennessee Bar Foundation Legal History Project
Honoring a Transformative Legacy: Barri Bernstein
“Barri Bernstein is one of those unsung heroes whose diligent work in the background makes other people’s success possible. Barri served as the first executive director of the Tennessee Bar Foundation from 1985 until her retirement in mid-2024.” ~Tennessee Justice Center
As the inaugural Executive Director of the Tennessee Bar Foundation from 1985 until 2024, Barri Bernstein built a legacy of service that has transformed Tennessee’s access to justice landscape. She was the driving force behind the administration of IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts), a program of the Tennessee Supreme Court, which granted nearly $30 million to support legal aid and programs improving the administration of justice during her tenure. Through her diligence and mission-driven commitment, Barri’s work fundamentally expanded the reach of civil legal services, improving access and opportunity for thousands of Tennesseans.
Real Results, Statewide Reach
Year after year, Foundation-supported programs deliver eviction defense, domestic-violence protection orders, veterans’ benefits assistance, and countless other civil legal services to low-income Tennesseans across all 95 counties. By combining the prestige of Fellowship with disciplined, innovative grant-making—and a legacy of visionary leadership—the organization has created a sustainable model that inspires bar foundations nationwide.
The National Conference of Bar Foundations is proud to showcase the Tennessee Bar Foundation in this Member Spotlight and to honor the enduring contributions of Barri Bernstein upon her retirement. Learn more about their work at www.tnbarfoundation.org and explore ways your own foundation can adopt similar strategies at ncbf.org.