Launched in 2015, Memphis Children’s Health Law Directive (Memphis CHILD) is a medical-legal partnership (MLP) that helps low-income families in Shelby County with legal matters affecting the health or well-being of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital patients. MLPs place attorneys into health care settings to address legal issues impacting the health of patients. Top case areas for Memphis CHILD include Social Security Income (SSI) benefits, education concerns, housing issues, conservatorships and family law. Each partner — including Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS), University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Le Bonheur, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) — plays a unique role in the collaboration to provide comprehensive legal services for kids and families. Read more in an article from the Winter 2025 issue of Le Bonheur's "Securing the Promise" publication.

Judge D. Michael Swiney officially retires from the Tennessee Court of Appeals on Jan. 12, 2026. In this profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts, he looks back on his career and ahead to what retirement might bring. Swiney views his time on the bench as an important civic duty. “I don’t want to say I was called to be a judge, but I’ve always thought that public service is important and it’s something that those of us that have the opportunity to do it need to consider it.” As for post-retirement life, Swiney and his wife Suzann continue to take that matter "under advisement." “We decided we are going to wait and then decide when the time actually arrives,” he said. “I know I’d like for at least a little while not to have anything scheduled, even if it’s supposed to be something that’s fun.” Swiney is a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. He worked in private practice in Knoxville from 1979 to 1999. Beginning in 1994, he served as a certified mediator with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee until he was appointed to the Court of Appeals in July 1999. He also served as an adjunct professor at Winston College of Law from 1997 to 2006.

Nashville School of Law (NSL) 3L Scott Vincenti has been awarded the inaugural Bill Koch Harry Phillips American Inn of Court (AIC) Scholarship. The scholarship, years in the making, honors NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr.’s three decades of service as president of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court in Nashville. “I am grateful for the many contributions that funded this scholarship, and I am delighted that Scott Vincenti is its first recipient,” said Koch. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to a full-time third or fourth-year student who has worked hard to stay in good academic standing, ranks in the top 20% of the class, and shares a statement of financial need. Read more in a press release from the law school.

U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan previously announced he would assume senior status on Oct. 5, 2026, after more than two decades on the federal bench in East Tennessee, allowing him to hear a reduced caseload. According to a new opinion piece in Knox News, his tenure has left a lasting imprint on Knoxville’s legal community, where he has been recognized for his public service, mentorship and long-standing civic involvement. Varlan earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and has served as a district judge for 22 years following a legal career. Varlan served as Knoxville’s law director for a decade before entering private practice and later being confirmed to the bench by the U.S. Senate.

State lawmakers are preparing for Savanna’s Law to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. According to WBIR, the law creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders. It is named for Savanna Puckett, a Middle Tennessee sheriff’s deputy killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, who had a history of domestic assault arrests. The law establishes a registry for individuals convicted more than once of domestic violence. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, co-sponsored the legislation. A victim advocate at the Anderson County Family Justice Center noted that many abusers never face criminal charges and that victims often seek civil orders of protection instead. “There’s nothing you can do that can solve everything. But if we can do something that solves some of it, that’s important,” Massey said.

From Lennon and McCartney to Jagger and Richards, the greatest rock and roll collaborations offer more than unforgettable music—they reveal the dynamics of trust, communication and ethical boundaries that are just as vital in the practice of law. Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, on Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. CST for a CLE program that connects the Rules of Professional Conduct to real-world examples from legendary rock partnerships. Explore how these iconic collaborations can teach attorneys about managing conflicts of interest, maintaining competence and fostering effective communication. Get ready to learn ethical lessons that will leave you humming a better tune in your legal practice. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

TBA staff enjoyed their annual holiday party earlier this month and wish all TBA members a happy holiday season! The TBA will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offices will reopen Friday at 8 a.m. CST. Online CLE programming will remain available throughout the holidays.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 21 suspended 16 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 11 of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include eight suspended this year, one suspended in 2024 and one suspended in 2018. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The legal profession demands excellence under pressure, but over time, unrelenting stress can erode clarity, focus and well-being. Left unchecked, chronic tension undermines productivity, clouds judgment, strains relationships and increases the risk of ethical missteps. Join your colleagues to develop mindful law practice management skills and tools that strengthen focus, organization and long-term success in your law practice and beyond. This webcast on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m. CST explores how intentional awareness can transform how you organize your workload, manage communications and navigate conflict. Visit the TBA website for more information.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence (AI) recently released its final report. The “Year 2 Report on the Impact of AI on the Practice of Law” focuses on the future of AI and the law. The task force, created in August 2023, brought together lawyers and judges from across the ABA to address the impact of AI on the legal profession and the practice of law. The report addresses these areas and provides insights and resources that will help equip the legal community to address these developments. It also lists AI-related programs and events recommended by the task force and from across the ABA, many of which are available to lawyers, judges and members of the public at ambar.org/aiLaw. Read more in a press release from the ABA.