The next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits is set for Sept. 18 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Prospective clients should register by Sept. 15. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

A plan to require more hands-on training for law students was pulled just prior to consideration by the American Bar Association (ABA) Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. The proposal, which would double the number of required hands-on learning credits for American law students from six to 12 credits, had met with strong opposition, according to Reuters. Clinical legal professors and externship supervisors largely have backed the change, as have some attorneys and members of the public, saying it will help produce practice-ready attorneys. But many deans of ABA-accredited law schools said the change would be too costly.

When you’re busy, it’s difficult to think of a ringing phone as a prospective client rather than a mere interruption. The TBA's Law Firm in a Box offers a chart comparing services that not only answer phones but can help with client screening, intake and more. Access this and more resources in the Opening a Firm section.

Retired Rutherford County lawyer Allen D. Hale died Aug. 23 at age 73. A lifelong resident of the county, he worked as paramedic, police detective, assistant district attorney and private practice attorney. Visitation will be this Friday at 10:30 a.m. CDT at Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, 820 S. Church St., Murfreesboro 37130. A service will follow at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 5350 NW Broad St., Murfreesboro 37129. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.jenningsandayers.com.

A Nashville grand jury that declined to indict dozens of cases earlier this year has left some defendants facing higher bail and extended jail time, The Tennessean reports. The grand jury, led by foreperson and community organizer Theeda Murphy, issued “no true bills” in 47 cases from January to March, about 15 times more than the five other grand juries that have met since January 2024. While Murphy said prosecutors failed to present enough evidence, defense attorneys argue the move backfired, forcing defendants to pay bail twice or remain in custody. Judges and bonding companies are now untangling the fallout, which attorneys have called “insanely unfair.”

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners plans to set up an ad hoc committee next month to explore new jail options, the Daily Memphian reports. Incoming commission chair Shante Avant announced the move Monday as the commission delayed action on putting out a call for proposals to implement a master plan proposed for the new jail. Commissioners voted 8-1 to push consideration of a request for proposals to Sept. 17, after amending the resolution to broaden possible sites beyond county-owned land, allow rebuilding or relocation of the jail and consider private as well as public funding. Much of the debate centered on whether the former Firestone plant site in North Memphis should remain under consideration when exploring options for the jail.

In a memo sent to Congress on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) said it agrees with a lawsuit seeking to strike down grants reserved for colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic, the Associated Press reports. Tennessee and an anti-affirmative action group sued the U.S. Department of Education in June, asking a judge to halt the Hispanic-Serving Institution program (HSI). Tennessee argues that all of its public universities serve Hispanic students, but none meet the “arbitrary ethnic threshold” to qualify for the grants. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding Latino students were attending and graduating from college at far lower rates than white students. More than 500 schools are designated HSIs and received about $350 million in federal support last year. In the letter to Congress, Solicitor General D. John Sauer said the program provides an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity and cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision ending affirmative action as grounds for declining to defend the policy.

The TBA and West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) will present a free webcast, “Building Better Boards: Ethical Considerations and Dilemmas for Attorneys on Nonprofit Boards,” on Dec. 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. The program will cover ethical boundaries for attorneys serving on boards, questions to consider before joining and real-world conflicts of interest. Panelists include Rita Gibson Rayford from Strategic Legal Advocates, Claudia Williams Hyman with West Tennessee Legal Services, Brande Boyd from Butler Snow, Seth Ogden from Patterson Intellectual Property Law, and Harolda Bryson, an attorney for the city of Chattanooga. Registration is free and 1.5 hours of CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee and the state are taking time to “explore the possibility of settlement” in the ACLU’s lawsuit challenging a law that makes it a felony for public officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies, WPLN reports. Lawmakers passed an omnibus immigration bill this year, which among other provisions, made it a felony for local officials to support sanctuary city measures. The lawsuit, filed in June on behalf of seven Nashville Metro Council members, argues the law is unconstitutional because it fails to clearly define a sanctuary city policy and violates protections for legislators acting in their governing roles. A three-judge panel appointed earlier this month has approved a motion for an extension, giving the parties until Oct. 10 to pursue settlement discussions.

Nashville lawyer Ashley L. Upkins was sworn in as president of the National Bar Association at the group’s annual meeting in Las Vegas in August. becoming the first Tennessee woman to serve in the role. Upkins was elected president-elect in 2024 and has been preparing for her year in office. In a recent statement, Upkins called on members to join in advancing the organization’s mission of advocacy and service. She noted the NBA’s long history of protecting civil and political rights, improving economic conditions and upholding the integrity of the legal profession. “Together, we have the power to shape history, safeguard democratic ideals and leave a lasting legacy of justice and equality,” she said in a release. Upkins is serving as the 83rd president of the association, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.