08/28/2026
I am so honored to receive the 2026 Janice M. Holder Access to Justice Award.
A special thank you to Ashley Hendrix Holliday, and Cathy Bulle Clayton and Kendra Mansur for nominating me and writing letters in support and to West Tennessee Legal Services for giving me so many opportunities over the years to serve, teach, and hopefully make a difference.
Pro bono work is a good reminder that something that may take just a little of our time as lawyers can mean absolutely everything to someone who needs help.
And I have to give some credit to my dad, who set the example long before me. I’m pretty sure serving on the WTLS board for 30+ years qualifies him for at least partial ownership of this award.
Very grateful for this honor and even more grateful for the people who do this work every day.
🎉 Congratulations to Sara Barnett! 🎉
We are proud to celebrate our own board member, Sara Barnett, partner with Spragins, Barnett & Cobb, on being named the 2026 recipient of the Janice M. Holder Access to Justice Award!
This award honors Janice Holder, the first female Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, whose leadership was instrumental in creating Tennessee's Access to Justice Commission. It's given to individuals who exemplify a deep commitment to expanding access to justice — and Sara embodies that spirit in every way.
Beyond her direct pro bono service, Sara has strengthened our entire access to justice community by teaching CLE programs for staff and volunteers, sharing her expertise to help others serve Tennesseans more effectively. Her leadership extends even further through her service on both the West Tennessee Legal Services Board of Directors and the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission.
Sara, thank you for your tireless dedication to ensuring that all Tennesseans — regardless of income — have access to the legal help they need. This recognition is so well deserved! 👏