New lawyers in the class of 2024 faced a lot of competition in the job market — the class was 12% larger than its immediate predecessor — but they have fared well according to a report from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). A year after graduation, a record 93.4% had jobs, the highest employment rate ever. In total, 20,810 graduates obtained jobs in private practice — also the largest number on record — passing the previous peak of 20,611 law firm jobs for the class of 2007. Other data also indicates that these graduates are satisfied with their work. A record low of 6.8% of those with jobs were seeking other opportunities. Looking ahead to predictions for the classes of 2025 and 2026, NALP says many firms pulled back on their 2024 and 2025 summer associate hiring, which could suggest there could be a contraction coming. The ABA Journal has more on the summer associate hiring situation.

Byron Black, the 69-year-old man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her two daughters in 1988, was put to death Tuesday morning after Gov. Bill Lee and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene. According to The Tennessean, witnesses said he showed both visible and audible signs of distress as the state administered lethal injection drugs. Black's attorneys had argued a medical device implanted in his chest could shock him as he died and had sued to have the device deactivated. Speaking after the execution, Black’s attorney said she believes the lethal injection drug did not work as intended and that Black was tortured before his death. He is just the second individual to be executed in the state using a new protocol that relies solely on pentobarbital. Several Tennessee death row inmates have filed suit arguing that the new protocol brings a high risk of torturous death.

The American Bar Association (ABA) will consider a proposal during its annual meeting next week in Toronto that would end the practice of reserving five seats on its governing board for women, racially and ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ and disabled lawyers. If adopted, the board instead would set aside three board seats for lawyers committed to “advancing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” regardless of the individuals’ demographic backgrounds. Reuters reports the change is part of a larger proposal to reduce the size of the board, which oversees management of the association, from 43 members to 32 members. The ABA says the changes are needed to help the organization become more nimble and efficient amid declining membership.

The Nashville law firm Neal & Harwell will close at the end of August as many of the lawyers remaining at the firm join the Nashville office of Womble Bond Dickinson. The move follows the decision of firm co-founder Aubrey Harwell and his son Trey Harwell to join Adams & Reese in May. According to a press release from Womble, 18 of the 20 lawyers joining the firm will serve in the Business Litigation Group while two will join the Finance, Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group. According to the Nashville Business Journal, Womble opened its Nashville office in 2022. The firm had seven attorneys in the office before the addition of the Neal & Harwell team.

The Tennessee Bar Association is accepting applications from candidates interested in the position of director of access to justice and strategic initiatives. This full-time position is responsible for leading the association’s efforts to expand access to legal services and improve the justice system, while advancing strategic initiatives that support organizational priorities, including policy advocacy, public service collaborations and leadership-driven projects. Access the full job description here. To apply, send a cover letter explaining interest in the position and a resume by email to Human Resources and Administrative Coordinator Tanja Trezise. The position is currently held by Liz Slagle Todaro, who is transitioning from the TBA this fall after 13 years. She will remain active in Tennessee’s access to justice and larger non-profit communities, including serving on the boards of the Nashville Urban Debate League and Family Reconciliation Center.

Lenoir City Judge Gregg Harrison has been reinstated to the bench and will serve through the end of his original term in 2030, the News Herald reports. Harrison was removed from the post in March after city councilmember Robin McNabb — his opponent in the 2022 judicial election — won a Tennessee Supreme Court decision that Harrison, along with more than a dozen other municipal judges statewide, were disqualified under newly clarified residency requirements. In response to that decision, the General Assembly passed legislation (SB255/HB490) permitting judges elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, to retain their seats through their current terms, even if they no longer meet the revised residency criteria. In light of the new law, 9th Judicial District Chancellor Tom McFarland restored Harrison to the bench with back pay. McNabb has continued to challenge Harrison’s return, filing a new lawsuit claiming the statute is unconstitutional. City attorney Walter Johnson, who was named to the court when Harrison was removed, has returned to his original duties.

Penny Schwinn, who was nominated to serve as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, has withdrawn her nomination, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced last week. Schwinn, a former Tennessee education commissioner, will instead take on a different role within the department. According to Tennessee Lookout, Schwinn is known for her advocacy of improved reading outcomes and was among President Donald Trump’s early picks for department posts. In a statement, Schwinn said she gave the decision “thoughtful consideration” and remains “committed to protecting kids, raising achievement and expanding opportunity — my lifelong mission and north star.”

Memphis bail reform nonprofit Just City plans to use its own funds to bail out as many people as possible from the Shelby County Jail, the Commercial Appeal reports. Just City Executive Director Josh Spickler said the organization will use $50,000 from its bail fund to assist those being held at the jail. The move comes after news of deaths and overcrowding at the facility. Along with announcing the initiative, Spickler called on the Shelby County Sheriff's Office to take immediate steps to improve jail conditions, process inmates more quickly and reduce the number of inmates with mental health issues by next year.

A University of Memphis law student has filed a lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court, alleging the city of Memphis violated the state Public Records Act by restricting access to police disciplinary documents. Tyler Foster claims the city imposed inflated fees, inconsistent policies and a “sustained pattern of noncompliance” in responding to his public records requests, including failure to provide clear explanations of fees and denial of legally mandated documents, the Memphis Flyer reports. Foster, who has submitted requests through the city’s online Public Records Center since June 2024, says his requests for police disciplinary records were marked “fulfilled and closed” without delivery of any documents. The suit contends the city’s actions hinder transparency and accountability amid longstanding concerns about police misconduct. In May, the American Civil Liberties Union and Stand for Children Tennessee submitted a public records request to the Memphis Police Department for information about “misconduct and civil rights violations.”

Judge Janice Holder, Tennessee’s first female chief justice, is being honored for a trailblazing career that began almost by accident, according to the University of Memphis blog. “I wasn’t drawn to the field of law. I applied to one law school, and I got accepted, so I decided I would just try it for a year,” Holder said. After earning her law degree from Duquesne University and clerking for Chief Judge Herbert P. Sorg of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Holder practiced law in Pennsylvania and Memphis before being elected Circuit Court judge in District 30 in 1990. She was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1996 and became chief justice in 2008, the first woman to hold the role. Her legacy includes spearheading the creation of the Access to Justice Commission and the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program. Holder also maintains close ties to the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, where she mentors students and promotes public service.