Stanford Law professor Deborah L. Rhode

Deborah Rhode, Phillip Fulmer, Chief Justice Lee to speak at UT Law leadership symposium

Stanford Law professor Deborah L. Rhode, legendary Volunteers football coach Phillip Fulmer, and Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon G. Lee are the headlining speakers for the University of Tennessee College of Law’s upcoming 2016 Symposium on Professional Leadership Education.

Titled “Leading the Future,” the symposium will feature an interdisciplinary lineup of speakers from law, business, athletics, and higher education. The symposium is set for Friday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the UT College of Law (1505 W. Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville).

Phillip Fulmer
Former Vols football coach Phillip Fulmer

Co-sponsored by the College of Law’s Institute for Professional Leadership and the Tennessee Law Review, the symposium’s goal is to educate and inform both lawyers and non-lawyers about the current state of leadership education in the United States, leadership development in business, the future of legal leadership education, and the current state of sports leadership.

“We are thrilled to bring together such a diverse and knowledgeable group of professionals and educators for our very first symposium,” said Doug Blaze, the Art Stolnitz and Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the Institute for Professional Leadership. “Lawyers and other professionals alike will have a chance to learn from and network with some of the top minds in leadership education.”

Rhode, the Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law and director of the Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School, will deliver the keynote address. One of the foremost scholars on legal ethics, Rhode has received the American Bar Association’s Michael Franck Award for contributions to the field of professional responsibility and is the founding president of the International Association of Legal Ethics.

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team from 1992 to 2008, Fulmer will conclude the symposium. Fulmer is one of the Vols’ most celebrated coaches, boasting a national championship, two conference titles, seven divisional crowns, and a coaching record of 152–52.

Chief Justice Lee will deliver remarks at a reception and dinner following the symposium at 6:00 p.m. at Calhoun’s on the River (400 Neyland Dr., Knoxville). A UT alumna in law and business, Lee was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008 and has served as chief justice since 2014. She is the recipient of the Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award.

A variety of other faculty and leaders in law, business, and athletics from throughout the United States will also speak at the symposium, including Stephen Roth, vice President and general counsel for Jewelry Television, and Kent Vaughn, managing director for the Franklin Covey Company.

The symposium will offer lawyers 5.75 hours of general CLE credit at a cost of $75. Attendees not seeking CLE credit may attend for $25, and attendance is free for all UT faculty, staff, and students. Lunch will be available for all registered attendees. Attendance at the dinner and reception is an additional $35.

Public parking is available directly behind the College of Law in the Volunteer Hall garage at the conference rate of $5 for the day.

To register for the event and to see a complete schedule of speakers and sessions, visit tiny.utk.edu/LTF. The registration deadline is Saturday, March 26.

For more information, contact Ramona Armstrong at 865-974-2521 or rarmstr1@utk.edu.