Attorney volunteers are needed to help with several upcoming high school mock trial district competitions. On Feb. 7, lawyers are needed to help score the District 7 competition, which will take place at the Rutherford County Courthouse, S. Public Square, Murfreesboro 37130. Contact Alyssa Fox for more information and to volunteer. Volunteers also are needed Feb. 17-25 in Chattanooga to help score the state's largest district competition in District 5. Contact Mary Frances DeVoe to volunteer for that one. From Feb. 19-22, Shelby County needs lawyers and 2L and 3L law students for its District 14 competition at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Avenue, Memphis 38103. Contact Ameshia Forrest or Shante Oliver to volunteer.  Finally, Davidson County is seeking volunteers on the evening of Feb. 20-21 for the District 9 competition at the Historic Metro Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Nashville 37201. Contact Pooja Bery to volunteer.  For any of these opportunities, no mock trial experience is necessary. Those interested in volunteering at another district competition may find a list of all events on the TBA website. Teams advancing from district competitions will meet in Nashville on March 20-21 for the state competition hosted by the TBA Young Lawyers Division. Learn more about this year's competition.

There are more people than ever working in the U.S. legal sector according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Labor Department and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reuters reports that legal sector employment totaled a record-breaking 1,208,100 jobs last month. The count includes a range of legal workers at companies, law firms, government agencies and nonprofits, including paralegals and assistants. Overall U.S. employment growth slowed more than expected in December amid job losses in the construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, but the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%.

Austin Peay State University (ASPU) will pay $500,000 in addition to reinstating a professor who was fired over a social media post following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Citizen Tribune reports. A copy of the settlement agreement obtained through a public records request shows the payment also includes reimbursement for counseling expenses. Documents authorizing the settlement were signed by Tennessee’s governor, attorney general and comptroller. A university spokesperson confirmed Dec. 31, 2025, that Darren Michael has been fully reinstated as a tenured professor as APSU President Mike Licari said the university failed to follow proper policy when it terminated Michael in September 2025.

Two Cocke County businesses received state grants Thursday to help retain and retrain employees after Hurricane Helene, WSMV reports. State and local officials announced the awards for Eastern Plating and American Appliance Products, with each company receiving more than $2 million from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Both businesses were damaged by the hurricane and are either in the early stages of reopening or have not yet reopened. The plants, which are located next to each other, were flooded during the storm. “Of all the things we get to do across the state and our agency, working in rural Tennessee is what we see as the most impactful,” said Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee deputy governor and commissioner of economic and community development.

Tennessee’s 28th Judicial District, which includes Crockett, Gibson and Haywood counties, reported no murders in 2025, the Commercial Appeal reports. District Attorney Frederick Agee said in a Jan. 6 news release that it is the first time in at least 20 years the district has recorded zero homicides, and that it was the only judicial district in the state without a murder last year. Tennessee has 32 judicial districts, and the 28th District serves a population of about 85,000. “We have aggressively sought revocations of offenders out on bond or on probation when they continue to violate,” Agee said. “We believe this record year illustrates the fruits of our office policy and labor.”

Tennessee schools’ curricula soon will cover social media and internet safety. The Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act bans students from accessing social media over school internet except for educational purposes. According to WPLN, new state guidelines on social media safety direct schools to cover how information is distributed on social media, how social media manipulates behavior, the permanence of sharing materials online, spotting online predators, cyber bullying and recognizing potential misinformation when using AI, among other lessons. The new law comes on the heels of Tennessee banning the use of cellphones during classroom instruction.

A free legal clinic is set to open in Grundy County, offering residents access to legal advice regardless of income, according to the Grundy County Herald. The clinic will be operated by attorney Charlie Trost, a Beersheba Springs resident who retired two years ago after a 60-year legal career. Trost says he views community service as a responsibility of holding a law license. The clinic office will be located inside the Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic, where Trost will be available on Fridays to provide assistance on civil legal matters. The clinic will not handle criminal cases, divorces or child custody disputes. Trost cited rising costs and a shortage of lawyers in rural Tennessee as key reasons for the clinic, noting that many residents cannot afford legal services despite steady employment.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) recently held its annual pro bono celebration in Chattanooga. This year’s event recognized Hall of Fame inductees Nadia Oliver with the Orange Grove Center and Charles Sereebutra with CBL Properties, both of Chattanooga, for their dedication to serving neighbors in need. The Charles W. “Buz” Dooley Pro Bono Attorneys Hall of Fame Celebration also featured Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight Tarwater as the 2025 distinguished guest. The event also was attended by local attorneys, judges, firm partners, paralegals and donors. See photos from the celebration.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) held its Annual Meeting last month. During the event, leaders presented a number of awards. Shea Wellford, a shareholder with Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, received the MBA’s highest award, the Judge Jerome Turner Lawyer’s Lawyer Award. The award recognizes a Memphis attorney who has practiced law for more than 15 years and embodies professionalism, civility and courtesy. In addition, Natalie Bursi, a shareholder with Lewis Thomason, received the Sam A. Myar Jr. Memorial Award, which honors an attorney under 40 years old who has shown dedication and commitment to the legal profession and local community. Finally, outgoing president Lauran Stimac presented President’s Awards to Lucie Brackin and Terrence Reed for their service as co-chairs of the MBA’s Leadership Forum and for revitalizing the mentorship program. See photos from the event or read more in a press release from the group.

Frost Brown Todd LLP, with offices in Nashville, and Gibbons PC have finalized their combination, effective Jan. 1, according to the new firm FBT Gibbons LLP. The combination unites two full-service firms to create a mid-market legal entity with approximately 800 attorneys in 25 offices nationwide. The move adds a significant East Coast presence to Frost Brown Todd’s footprint with offices in New York and New Jersey. The firm also announced that it is launching a new Life Sciences Industry Team and expanding its White Collar & Investigations Group. Read more in a press release from the firm.