The TBA’s Practice Management Center is now “Law Firm in a Box” — a unique tool offering TBA members a host of resources for launching and growing a law firm. Checklists, buying guides, comparison charts and more are available in each of the tool’s six segments: Opening a Firm, Building a Firm, Managing a Firm, Protecting a Firm, Winding Down a Firm and Accessing Expert Advice. Don’t lose access to this valuable member benefit, which now can be found on the TBA website.

Both the state House and Senate Judiciary Committees have passed measures that would amend the state constitution to expand the list of crimes for which judges have discretion to deny bail, the Tennessee Journal reports. Under current law, judges have authority only to decline bail in capital offenses. SJR25, introduced by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 25, while HJR49, introduced by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, passed the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26. The proposal would allow judges to deny bail on 24 new offenses, mainly violent ones in which 100% of sentences must be served, and another 16 offenses in which 85% of the sentence is mandatory. If considered by the full chambers, the resolutions would have to pass by a constitutional majority in this General Assembly and a two-thirds vote in the 114th General Assembly before being placed on the next gubernatorial ballot. To be adopted by voters, the proposal would have to win a majority of those voting in the governor’s election. According to the Times Free Press, Senate Judiciary Chair Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, opposes the measure, saying it will pack county jails and put local governments in a financial bind.

Memphis lawyer Greg Siskind with Siskind Susser began working on a AI tools for immigration lawyers in 2016, and co-launched Visalaw.ai in 2023. Recently, the company won $1.6 million in seed financing from Atlanta-based Valor Ventures to accelerate its growth and innovation. The tool, according to Siskind, is designed to enhance the productivity, efficiency and profitability of immigration law firms by harnessing AI-powered legal research, assessment, document drafting, summarization and visa application construction. He says his own firm has seen up to a 90% reduction in time spent on drafting key filings. Read more about the investment in a news release from the company.

Samuel “Sam” Jackson has been named the new managing partner of Spencer Fane’s Nashville office. He replaces Charles Robert Bone, who has held the position since the firm acquired Bone McAllester Norton in 2021, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bone now works directly for a company that had been one of his top clients: real estate developer Southwest Value Partners. His father, Charles W. Bone, remains of counsel at Spencer Fane. Jackson has focused his practice on labor and employment matters and education law, and will oversee an office of 36 attorneys. He earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in 2000.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Cookeville in his fourth term, announced his plans to run for governor an event in Williamson County, WSMV reports. According to sources, Rose said at a Republican women’s function, “I am convinced my best days are ahead and that the best opportunity I have to serve Tennessee is in a different role. So, I’m going to come home at the end of this period and I’m going to offer myself … as a candidate for governor.” Before being elected to Congress, Rose served as Tennessee’s agriculture commissioner. He is also a farmer, attorney and owner of an IT training enterprise.

KPMG has become the first accounting, tax and consulting firm allowed to practice law in the United States, Bloomberg Law reports. KPMG won final approval from the Arizona Supreme Court today after obtaining initial approval from a court committee evaluating applications under that state’s new law firm ownership rules. The alternative business structure, known as KPMG Law US, will operate independently but as a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. It will provide legal services such as integrating contracts and tech systems after corporate mergers.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has issued a warning about a new email spoofing scam affecting residents. The fraudulent emails, which have the subject line "Exciting News!", falsely claim that Hargett has filed a sponsorship on behalf of the recipient. Recipients are instructed to watch for a follow-up email from the secretary's office, furthering the deception. Hargett's office emphasizes the importance of vigilance against such scams, which can lead to personal information theft. The public is urged to verify any suspicious communications before taking action.

The TBA Intellectual Property Section will continue its webcast series on March 19 with a session on "The Impact of AI on Prior Art.” The webcast will run from 11 a.m. to noon CDT. Watch for more details coming soon.

Judges across the county continue to rule on challenges to presidential executive orders. A federal judge in Washington state has blocked the Trump administration from suspending the U.S. refugee program. By contrast, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., declined to reinstate refugee funding in a case brought by Catholic bishops, The Hill reports. In another case, a federal judge in Maryland blocked immigration agents from conducting enforcement operations in houses of worship for a handful of religious groups, according to the Associated Press. With regard to the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked the administration’s freeze of federal aid and a judge in Maryland blocked DOGE access to the Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management. The administration lays out its arguments for these changes in the orders, which are available on the White House website.

In a recent press release, the ABA outlined the status of its efforts to revise law school accreditation standards. For the last year, the association has been considering changes to Standard 206, which currently outlines the steps law schools must take to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. At its last meeting, the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar considered comments submitted in response to proposed changes, as well as other potential changes. It says it is continuing to review the standard to “ensure compliance with the recent executive orders and [direction from] the U.S. Department of Education” and intends to submit its recommendation to the ABA House of Delegates in August. Last week, the ABA decided to suspend the standard until Aug. 31, when adoption of a revised standard is anticipated. The council also said that “literal compliance” with Standard 205 will not be required. That standard prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability or military status.