The 2025 Dispute Resolution Forum will take place virtually on May 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. The program will feature sessions tailored to both lawyers and mediators, with topics including Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the federal space and mass arbitrations. The forum will conclude with an ethics course. Speakers from the ADR profession will lead the discussions. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) raided the Memphis office of Butler Snow, which was tasked with investigating a complaint by former Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Lieutenant Garet Davidson, The Tennessean reports. In a 61-page complaint, Davidson alleged that high-ranking officials within the department collaborated with state lawmakers to strip Community Oversight Boards of much of their power, including their ability to obtain public records prior to the closure of an officer complaint. In May 2024, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell asked the firm to investigate the allegations. The raid on the law firm follows a September search of Davidson’s home, during which his attorney expressed concern that documents protected by attorney-client privilege may have been seized. TBI said any information related to the investigation would need to come from the court clerk's office, noting that the primary topic in the search warrant on Davidson’s home was related to the Community Review Board. Board members Monday said they learned of the raid through Davidson’s attorney and had not received any updates about the investigation since it began. A spokesperson for O'Connell’s office said the mayor has no role in the investigation and declined to comment on the raid.

Law firms Jenner & Block and WilmerHale are suing the Trump administration over executive orders that sanctioned the firms for their pro bono work and ties to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 election. The lawsuits, filed today in a federal court in Washington, seek to block an order issued by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, which directed federal agencies to terminate contracts with companies that are clients of the firm and suspend the security clearances of its lawyers, Bloomberg Law reports. The executive orders target the firms due to their connections with attorneys who were part of Mueller's team. Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said late today that he is inclined to grant WilmerHale a restraining order in the matter. In related news, Skadden reached an agreement with the Trump administration to avoid an executive order targeting the law firm. The firm commits to providing at least $100 million in pro bono work for causes the Trump administration supports, to funding five fellows and to merit-based hiring and retention, and it will not deny representation to disenfranchised groups.

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.7% for six consecutive months, continuing to track below the national average, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in February. Over the past year, total nonfarm employment in Tennessee increased by 19,200 jobs, with the largest gains in the government sector, followed by leisure and hospitality and education and health services.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with a bipartisan coalition, is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation related to certain generic drug purchases. The attorneys general are seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with drug manufacturer Apotex over a conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition. Skrmetti and the coalition announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last year, along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. As part of the settlement agreements, both Apotex and Heritage have agreed to cooperate in ongoing multistate litigation and implement internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.

In this month's episode of BarBuzz, TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright speaks with Liz Todaro, TBA's director of access to justice and special projects, and John Farringer, a commercial litigator with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison and TBA’s incoming president for the 2027-2028 bar year. The discussion focuses on the Administrative Office of the Courts’ plan for funding indigent representation. Get more information about indigent defense in Tennessee. Find past episodes of the podcast in the BarBuzz archive.

As young lawyers, we routinely find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of deadlines, e-mails, meetings and multitasking. Anyone else feel a sense of stress when hearing the e-mail notification sound? The constant pressure can lead to burnout and exhaustion, leaving little room for self care. As obvious as it may sound, there's a simple and accessible remedy that can help rejuvenate you: going outside. Spending time in nature can significantly enhance mental well-being, offering an escape from the daily grind. Studies show that stepping into nature helps reduce stress, improve focus and can boost your overall mood. Whether it's a walk in the park, a hike in the woods or simply sitting outside for a few minutes, being outdoors can work wonders.

For young lawyers, getting outside doesn't mean you need to take hours off or use vacation time. Small, intentional moments outdoors — such as a morning walk, eating lunch outside or sitting on a patio in the evening — can make a world of difference. These breaks can help you relax, providing the space needed to return to work with renewed energy and focus.

Reconnecting with the outdoors isn't just about physical health; it's about fostering mental well-being. In our fast-paced legal world, it's easy to overlook the importance of pausing, reconnecting with yourself and slowing down. So, the next time you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck or on the verge of burnout, roll back that desk chair and step outside.

Need some inspiration to get outside? Join your colleagues at Fall Creek Falls State Park on May 30 for the Exploration Series. Click here for more information.

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week, featuring TBA lobbyists Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC, and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams and Reese. This week, they discuss Gov. Bill Lee's budget amendment, funding for the indigent representation plan, a recap of TBA's Day on the Hill and a look ahead to upcoming bills this session. Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link.

The U.S. federal judiciary has launched the Judicial Security and Independence Task Force focused on ensuring the continued security and independence of the court. According to Reuters, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Judge Robert Conrad stated in a memo that the task force would be chaired by Baltimore-based U.S. District Judge James Bredar and would "identify, analyze and propose responses to ensure the continued security and independence of courts and judges ... Through its efforts, it is hoped that the security of individual judges will be enhanced and that judicial independence will be assured," Conrad wrote. The announcement comes after U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts last week issued a rare statement rebuking calls for impeaching judges. In his 2024 year-end report, Roberts reiterated concerns about judges’ safety and condemned elected officials who intimidate judges or defy court rulings. 

Utah is scaling back a four-year-old program that loosened rules for delivering legal services in the state, leading to the exit or elimination of nearly 30 businesses and law firms, according to Reuters. The move comes as reforms to law firm ownership rules in Arizona have sparked an influx of legal businesses there.