The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on March 25 about business tax deductions. The session will focus on the Tennessee business tax statutes and regulations that allow taxpayers to make various deductions that ultimately reduce their tax liability. Register for the webinar or see all upcoming educational events.

The 2025 Elder Law Basics program, designed for attorneys new to the practice or seeking to refresh their knowledge, will be held virtually on tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. CDT. The program will cover key aspects of elder law, offering insights from seasoned practitioners to help attendees stay informed about developments in the field. Speakers include Josh Bey with Takacs-McGinnis Elder Care Law, Amy Bryant with the Tennessee Office of Conservatorship Management, Drew Clements and Bryson Eubanks with Clements & Eubanks, Barbara McGinnis with Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, Barbara Moss with Elder Law of Nashville and Pamela Wright with The Wright Law Firm. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) will host a free webinar on March 25 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. "Disaster Legal Services: What Attorneys Should Know" aims to equip attorneys with the necessary knowledge to assist clients affected by disasters. Registration is available online.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office Division of Consumer Affairs and the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors warned consumers last week about home improvement fraud and provided tips in a press release to help recognize and avoid fraudulent contractors. "Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs," said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. "If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded — don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money."

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has released a report on Shelby County's criminal justice system following a request by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, more than a year ago. The report, which examined thousands of felony charges filed between 2018 and 2024, found that while Shelby County handles more felony cases than other major counties, it struggles with delays, with only 33% of felony charges disposed of within a year. According to the Commercial Appeal, investigators pointed to several factors contributing to delays, including turnover in the district attorney’s and public defender’s offices, a reduction in criminal court judges, and frequent changes in defense counsel, which often result in case resets. The report also fund that the court system has work to do in furthering transparency and making things accessible to the general public. Since taking office, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has pushed for a public-facing database that could provide some of this data.

Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) of Nashville was named the 2025 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion Saturday night after two days of preliminary rounds. The school prevailed over Agathos Classical School from Columbia. Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner presided over the round, while members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Executive Committee, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., TBA Vice President Heidi Barcus and TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright served as jurors. Earlier in the day, the top eight teams were announced, an MVP for each of the 16 teams was recognized, individual awards were presented to the best advocates and witnesses, and Sevier County High School of Sevierville was awarded the 2025 Sportsmanship Award. The top three artists in the inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Contest also were recognized and the first place winner was on hand to accept the award. Read more about the event and see photos.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a new structure for handling the appointment of attorneys in indigent cases. One question that has been raised is whether attorneys currently taking appointed cases will be able to continue to do so under the new structure. In a recent interview with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., AOC staff explained that the plan assumes that all those currently taking cases will continue to do so. This proposal in no way is intended to exclude anyone. While the process for appointment will be different, the goal is to maintain the current roster of attorneys while also expanding the pool of available lawyers. AOC staff indicated they have been encouraged by interactions with lawyers who previously stopped accepting appointed cases but are interested in getting involved again. They also believe the new structure will be appealing to new lawyers and those interested in practicing in rural areas since the contract model will provide a “book of business” and more steady income. Watch the full interview or learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting President Donald Trump’s application to stay preliminary injunctions issued by multiple district courts in cases addressing birthright citizenship. According to a press release, the brief emphasizes that courts should interpret the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment in line with its original public meaning and should limit their judicial power to specific cases and controversies, consistent with the separation of powers. “Courts are empowered by the Constitution to resolve cases and controversies, not to issue sweeping policy proclamations or manage the executive branch,” Skrmetti said. After Trump signed the executive order, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” three federal judges have issued nationwide preliminary injunctions, freezing the order and ruling it violated the Citizenship Clause. The Trump administration had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in last week. 

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week with TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley with Adams and Reese. He is joined by TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright and TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. in a live recording from TBA's third annual "Day on the Hill" event. They discuss key highlights from the event and the impact of attorney advocacy on state legislation. Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link. See a photo from behind the scenes.

TBA’s 2025 Immigration Law Forum will take place April 18 in Nashville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT. This seminar is specifically designed both for experienced immigration lawyers and those who are newer to the practice area. The first half of the seminar is focused on updates, while the second half will focus on activism and support. The schedule is packed with speakers who are leaders in their fields, so make plans to join this informative program! For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.