In October, Tennessee lawyers are joining colleagues across the country to increase meaningful access to justice and commitment to pro bono work. Now in its 17th year, Tennessee’s statewide Celebrate Pro Bono Month initiative brings together legal services providers with bar associations, law schools, law firms and individual volunteers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. The month of October is an opportunity to focus attention on the significant need for pro bono services as well as a time to celebrate the outstanding work of those in the legal community who volunteer their services throughout the year. Events, including in-person and virtual opportunities to volunteer, will be promoted in TBA Today throughout the month. The American Bar Association's National Pro Bono Celebration will be held the week of Oct. 19, recognizing lawyers' roles in supporting communities through pro bono work. If you have information about an upcoming pro bono event, please share it with TBA at tbatoday@tnbar.org.

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.

Knoxville attorney Dalton Lynn Townsend died Sept. 27 age 82. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law), where he served as an editor of the Tennessee Law Review and graduated with top honors as a member of the Order of the Coif. Townsend was a member of the ROTC in college and, after his admission to the bar in 1968, served as an Army captain on active duty, including a tour in Vietnam. After returning home, he began practicing law and joined Hodges Doughty & Carson in 1973, where he worked for more than 40 years. Townsend was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, the Tennessee Bar Association Committee for the Study of Standards of Professional Conduct and the American Board of Trial Advocates. A military service will be held at 11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 13 at the pavilion of Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37917. In the event of rain, the service will be held at the mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Church of the Ascension.

Join the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) on Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT for a free webinar specifically designed for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations for new businesses, as well as other resources that may help their business. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the DOR, as well as other relevant state agencies.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a clinic in Washington County on Saturday at Good Samaritan Ministries Inc., 100 North Roan St., Johnson City 37601. The event will provide free legal assistance to individuals in need, focusing on various legal issues. For more information, visit the LAET website.

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.