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.

Federal officials last week unveiled a new crime-reporting hotline for Memphis public housing residents, part of the Memphis Safe Task Force surge that has generated thousands of arrests. U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Scott Turner said the hotline is meant to provide residents of HUD-funded housing a direct line to report “criminals, illegal aliens, sex offenders, human traffickers and those guilty of gang activity, drug distribution and fraud.” Calls will go to the HUD Office of Inspector General, which investigates fraud, waste and abuse in government-subsidized housing. The office also will coordinate with the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and state and local law enforcement, Turner said. The Tennessee Lookout, which reported on the story, noted that federal law already bars most from public housing and mixed-status families make up less than 1% of assisted households nationwide. Federal and state leaders have praised the task force’s work amid reports that the influx of arrests is straining Shelby County courts and jails.

Legal research tool Fastcase, now owned by TBA member benefit partner Clio, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Canadian legal research startup Alexi of breaching a data-licensing agreement, infringing its trademarks and misappropriating trade secrets. The suit alleges that Alexi used Fastcase’s proprietary legal database — licensed only for internal lawyer research — to build and commercialize an AI legal research platform that directly competes with Fastcase, including training its AI models on Fastcase data and displaying Fastcase-sourced case law to users. Alexi's CEO denies any wrongdoing, calling the dispute a “massive miscommunication” that surfaced only after Clio’s recent acquisition of vLex, and says Alexi always operated within the agreement’s intended scope. After issuing a notice of breach in October and receiving a denial from Alexi, Fastcase terminated the agreement and filed suit, seeking injunctions, damages and disgorgement of profits. Reuters reports on the developments.

The Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women (TLAW) will host its 8th Annual Empowerment Conference on Dec. 12 at Holland & Knight's downtown Nashville office. A mediator/ADR panel will be moderated by retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, and will feature Germantown attorney Anne Davis with the Gill Law Firm, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder and Brentwood attorney Anne Hunter. The session will explore best practices in mediation, alternative dispute resolution and ethical considerations, offering practical strategies for navigating complex legal matters. The luncheon keynote speaker will be Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner. To see the full agenda and register, visit TLAW's website.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is aware of a phishing email circulating that falsely appears to come from Executive Director Sheree Wright and asks recipients to confirm a phone number. The TBA has confirmed that (1) the message is fraudulent, (2) no TBA systems or member data have been compromised, and (3) the attackers obtained email addresses from sources outside the organization. Several other state bar associations nationwide reported the same scam today. Please delete the message if you receive it and consider reporting it to your IT contact or security team, and be assured that the TBA does not request unsolicited personal or contact information by email. Thank you to those members whose quick reports helped TBA staff identify the issue. Learn more about phishing scams affecting the TBA and how to protect yourself.

TBA's Administrative Law Section is hosting its annual forum virtually on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST. This year's program includes a discussion about warrantless searches by administrative agents, an ethics update and more. Speakers include Laura Chastain, Chief Administrative Judge Phillip Hilliard, Administrative Judge Mary Collier, Bill Penny and Jerry Taylor. Register now!