The TBA Appellate Practice Section will host a live virtual event on domestic relations appeals on April 20 at 4 p.m. CDT. The one-hour Zoom event will feature a panel of experts discussing trends, best practices and judicial perspectives on these types of appeals. Questions are encouraged for this interactive program. Don’t miss the chance to learn from top experts and earn an optional hour of CLE credit. The event is free and open to all TBA members. For those who want CLE credit there is a $50 filing fee. Submit any panel questions in advance to jword@tnbar.org.

The 20th Edition of the Alimony Bench Book is now available. Published by the TBA’s Family Law Section, the book provides a ready source for dealing with alimony cases in Tennessee. Current Family Law Section members can access their copy at no cost on the Family Law eCommunity page, but must be logged into their TBA account. Others may purchase an electronic copy for $25, a hard copy in loose-leaf format for $40, or a hard copy in a binder for $50 from the TBA Store.

The TBA Administrative Law Section has announced its Third Annual Writing Competition for Law Students. All students enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the 2021–2022 school year are eligible to enter. Submissions are now due April 25. The section offers this yearly competition to promote an interest in and understanding of both state and federal administrative law. The winning submission will be published in the Administrative Law Section newsletter and the winner will be awarded $1,000. Get more information and rules for the competition.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Reporters Workshop. Sponsored jointly by the Tennessee Bar Association’s Communication Law Section, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association Foundation, the program will be held in person April 22-23 in Nashville. Print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting should apply before 5 p.m. CST on March 1. The 15 journalists selected to participate will receive a stipend to defray the cost of travel.

The TBA Adoption Law Section will host part two of its “Best Interest Series” on Dec. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. CST. The free virtual webinar will feature adoption law expert Dawn Coppock talking about the medical and psychological underpinnings of attachment. She also will cover how the best interest factors for termination of parental rights have been revised to incorporate current research. Register here. CLE credit is available on request for a fee of $90.

The TBA Criminal Justice Section will host a free virtual webinar offering legislative updates and practice tips regarding juvenile offenders on Dec. 6 at noon CST. This one-hour event will feature Professor April Meldrum of Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law and Justin Pruitt of the Office of the District Attorney General, 6th Judicial District, who will update attendees on changes to pretrial detention, the new possible charge of threat of mass violence on school property, prohibition for certain sexual offenses and having contact with other children; and new minimum commitment times for those charges. The webinar will also offer direction on how to navigate Department of Children’s Services policies in determining possible dispositions. One hour of CLE credit is available on request for TBA members for a fee of $45. Register for the program here.

The TBA Adoption Law Section will offer a free virtual webinar tomorrow, Oct. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT on new "best interest" factors for termination of parental rights cases. The section’s executive counsel developed the factors, which became law on April 22. The live webinar will review each factor and provide a summary for how practitioners can effectively incorporate them into their practices. One hour of CLE credit is available on request for TBA members for a fee of $45.

The TBA Criminal Justice Section is seeking lawyers to serve as mentors for law students during the section’s annual Crim Law Day, taking place virtually this year on Nov. 15 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. EST. Volunteer lawyers will lead a small group of students through a case scenario, facilitate discussion and answer questions. Ideally, each group will be paired with two to three practitioners. This program has grown exponentially in recent years with more than 300 students from all law schools in the state expected to attend. To volunteer for the program please contact Criminal Justice Section staff coordinator Jarod Word at jword@tnbar.org.

The TBA Estate Planning Section will host an interactive webinar regarding Tennessee Public Chapter No. 420, which introduced numerous changes to laws regarding trusts. Signed into effect by Gov. Bill Lee in May, the legislation makes pointed revisions to oversight, administration and judicial considerations, among other concerns for trustees. Join seasoned experts Michael Goode of Lewis Thomason and Rob Malin of First Horizon Bank, who will lead the discussion and provide the information you need to stay on top of these changes. This free event is open to everyone and will take place virtually via Zoom on Sept. 14 from noon until 1 p.m. CDT. Connection info will be sent the week of the program. One hour of CLE credit is available upon request for a fee of $45 for TBA members. Register here.

The TBA Administrative Law Section recently announced that Vanderbilt Law School 3L Kyle M. Brinker has won its 2021 Section Writing Competition. Brinker’s article, A Gundy Revival in the Age of Public Health, looks at the nondelegation doctrine and how the doctrine should be interpreted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brinker analyzes how the U.S. Congress enacted broad laws delegating authority during the public health crisis and argues that “principles” of delegation should be more lenient in times of emergency. This year's competition was sponsored by the Administrative Law Section, Burr & Forman LLP and Memphis Area Legal Services. Brinker is articles editor on the Vanderbilt Law Review. He served as a summer associate last year at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in Washington D.C. Read more from the school.