Two law schools have introduced optional essay questions incorporating AI on their applications this year, reflecting the technology’s growing role in legal education and the practice of law, Reuters reports. The University of Miami School of Law’s new essay asks applicants to submit a detailed prompt for a generative AI large language model to generate a “comprehensive analysis” that will help them make an informed decision about which law school to attend. Applicants must also provide three to five follow-up AI prompts to help explore their law school options. The new AI essay has proven more popular, with 45% of applicants submitting responses so far. Additionally, the University of Michigan Law School has a new optional essay question that requires them to use AI to answer a question on how they use generative AI tools and asks them to predict how much they will use generative AI by the time they graduate from law school and why.

University of Tennessee (UT) leadership, partners, faculty and students gathered Sept. 9 to dedicate the newly named Winston College of Law and Frank Winston Law Building on the Knoxville campus. “We are profoundly grateful to the Bill Gatton Foundation for its transformational gift, which apart from the naming also establishes the Frank Winston Public Interest and Business Law Fellows, a signature scholarship program that will enable us to attract talented future lawyers who will carry on Frank Winston’s storied legacy for years to come,” Dean and Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law Lonnie T. Brown Jr. said in a press release. The fellowships will provide full scholarships covering three years of studies, plus a stipend, paid summer work experience and additional educational and professional activities. The gift also introduces Frank Winston Law Grants, which will award $1,000 annually for three years to at least 50 students in each class to help with the cost of law school. In May, UT announced the college’s naming in recognition of the Gatton Foundation’s gift honoring Winston, an alumnus of the college and former Tennessee lawmaker.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently named Clint Wren as assistant director of career services. Wren previously served as a staff attorney and pro bono coordinator for Legal Aid of East Tennessee in Knoxville, where he represented clients in civil matters and built partnerships to expand access to legal services in the region. "Clint brings a unique combination of legal experience and a strong commitment to public service that will greatly benefit our students as they navigate their career paths," said Caitlin Torney, director of career services at LMU Law. Read more in a press release from the school.

Judge Chris Frulla, recently appointed to the 30th Judicial District bench by Gov. Bill Lee, began his career in archeology. After earning a degree in anthropology and working on archeological surveys, he decided to follow his father’s example and pursue law, graduating from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He practiced as an attorney for more than 13 years before colleagues encouraged him to apply for a judgeship after Judge Valerie Smith was elevated to the Court of Appeals. Sworn in on Sept. 3 by Smith, Frulla described the moment as humbling. “Walking out on the bench the first day, to my surprise, my father was sitting in the gallery. He said he is just so proud of me, and he had to see it with his own eyes.” Read more in a profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert is disputing the city of Millington’s claim that her office owes more than $30,000 in unpaid rent for its satellite location, saying she never signed nor agreed to a lease. Millington officials argue Halbert was aware of the lease, which the county commission approved retroactively to January 2023, and accuse her of trying to avoid payment. Halbert maintains the clerk’s office has historically operated in Millington without rent and says she was excluded from discussions about the agreement. City officials counter that rent is justified due to rising costs and increased traffic, warning they may pursue legal action if the issue is not resolved. Two attempts in 2024 to remove Halbert from office were dismissed. The Daily Memphian has the story.

The Texas Supreme Court has signaled plans to end the state’s reliance on the American Bar Association (ABA) for law school accreditation and instead take direct authority to decide which schools’ graduates may become licensed lawyers in Texas. Reuters reports that, if adopted, Texas would be the first state to break from the ABA’s oversight, though Florida, Ohio and Tennessee are reviewing similar measures. The court says it wants a streamlined system with neutral criteria, such as bar exam pass rates, while preserving graduates’ ability to practice across state lines. While the ABA and most Texas law deans have raised concerns about costs, uncertainty and lawyer mobility, the court has invited public comment through Dec. 1 before changes take effect in January.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently released its 2024 By the Numbers report which shows that for the fourth consecutive year, housing cases dominated legal aid caseloads, accounting for 288,000 closed cases or 37.2% of all matters handled. The number of clients aged 60 and over reached 171,572 in 2024, with the report highlighting the growing legal need among older Americans, especially older women. Veteran households also saw increased representation, with 34,205 families receiving legal assistance.

Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated Cocke County, Mayor Rob Mathis has helped lead recovery efforts, securing funding for roads, community projects and a balanced budget without raising taxes. But Knox News reports that the county’s biggest unresolved challenge is its flood-damaged jail, which has been closed since last September, forcing taxpayers to spend $2 million annually to house inmates in other counties. FEMA initially indicated the county qualified for a new 216-bed jail but later reduced its support to repairs for the old 88-bed facility, frustrating local leaders. Officials have said they will appeal the decision.

The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the president's birthright citizenship executive order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The appeal, shared with the Associated Press on Saturday, sets in motion a process at the high court that could lead to a definitive ruling on whether the citizenship restrictions are constitutional. The administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship. In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as unconstitutional. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the rulings wrongly confer “the privilege of American citizenship on hundreds of thousands of unqualified people,” while opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say the policy violates the Constitution. The case could set up a Supreme Court ruling by early summer.

Federal trial courts across the United States are issuing new orders restricting access to sealed documents following a directive from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOC) in response to recent cyberattacks on the judiciary’s case system. More than 20 courts have posted standing orders stating that while sealed documents may be filed through the Case Management/Electronic Case Files system, they cannot be viewed electronically. The move comes after the judiciary reported “sophisticated and persistent” cyberattacks that targeted sealed filings in espionage and other sensitive cases, with Bloomberg News reporting that Russian government hackers had infiltrated the system for years. The AOC said it is implementing a sealed document security system to address vulnerabilities and strengthen protections. The changes follow earlier restrictions this summer, including a July order from the Eastern District of Virginia requiring sealed documents be filed only in hard copy. A Senate classified briefing on Sept. 9 addressed the breach, which lawmakers said raised concerns about national security and the judiciary’s ability to safeguard sensitive records.