The TBA’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD), in partnership with the General, Solo & Small Firm Section, will host a live Rookie Series webcast on Jan. 29, 2026, at noon CST focused on opening a solo or small law firm. The program is designed for new attorneys and those transitioning from established practices, offering guidance on launching a legal practice, avoiding common pitfalls and navigating essential steps in starting a firm. Speakers also will outline TBA resources available to support lawyers taking this entrepreneurial path. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

Vermont lawyer Andrew David Watts was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Dec. 2. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Dec. 16, 2019. Watts filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

Georgia lawyer Michael Victor Coleman was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Nov. 25. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Sept. 12, 2012. Coleman filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme on Dec. 2 adopted amendments to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 4(D). A new section, 4(d)(2), provides that if an application for permission to appeal is filed and denied, the opinion of the intermediate appellate court may be published in the official reporter at the direction of the Supreme Court. Read the court’s order.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued Formal Opinion 519 to provide guidance on disclosure and confidentiality rules when a lawyer moves to withdraw from representation. The opinion states that a lawyer’s motion to withdraw is subject to the broad duty of confidentiality, and unless an explicit exception applies or the client provides informed consent, the lawyer may not reveal “information relating to the representation” in the motion. The opinion also addresses how a lawyer should respond if a judge seeks more information and the duty of confidentiality if the motion is denied. Read more in a news release from the association.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division's Mock Trial Committee is seeking sitting judges and attorneys to serve as volunteers at the 2026 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition, which will take place March 20-21 in Nashville. The case material was released in November and district mock trial competitions will take place in February. Teams will argue the criminal case of State of Tennessee v. Alex Callahan. Teams prevailing at the district level will advance to the state competition. The problem, rules and other competition information can be found on the TBA website. This year also marks the second Artist in the Courtroom Contest, which invites student artists to interpret mock trial courtroom scenes during the district competition. The top three entries will be announced at the state competition award ceremony. The top student artist is eligible to join the state championship team in representing Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 7-9. Those interested in helping at the state competition should indicate availability using this form.

In this edition of Voices of the YLD, Alix Rogers shares the influence that her involvement in the TBA has had in her legal career. Sharing her own thoughts and the voices of other first-gen lawyers, How the TBA Helps First-Generation Lawyers Build Community, Confidence and Careers, reminds readers of the importance of having a community of colleagues and the significant difference it can make in one's professional life and well-being. Rogers is the Middle Tennessee governor for the TBA Young Lawyers Division, the TBA YLD representative to the American Bar Association, the co-coordinator of the TBA YLD Rural Judicial Fellowship program and the vice chair of the TBA Mentoring Committee. She is the director of career and professional development at Belmont University College of Law. If you are interested in submitting a piece for Voices of the YLD, contact Brian Mounce, YLD's Publications Committee chair.

Save money and access your free online training and research support with TBA’s Fastcase legal research tool available to all TBA members. Court opinions and rules from all 50 states, the U.S. Supreme Court and all Federal Courts of Appeal are readily available, as are statutes, regulations and constitutions. Learn more about this benefit.

Your membership includes full access to Fastcase for your legal research needs. As your legal research ninja, Fastcase tracks recent searches and documents so you can track when you ran your searches. Research attorneys are available to assist with research or navigating the database. Start using your member benefit now. You can contact support by email, using the LiveChat feature located on the website, or by phone to speak with a research attorney.

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