This year’s Tennessee Supreme Court Boot Camp, set for Oct. 4, will include two special elements not to be missed! As in past years, attendees will observe oral arguments in real cases and then engage in a discussion about the preparation and considerations for deciding to seek review in the court. But this year, attendees also are invited to see Justice Holly Kirby sworn in as the court’s newest chief justice prior to the CLE at the state capitol, and then hear former TBA president Bill Harbison present a special program on the history of the court at Holland & Knight after the Boot Camp. The TBA's Boot Camp program will kick off at 9:30 a.m. CDT at the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville with oral arguments before the full court. An analysis and discussion will follow with Chattanooga lawyer Robert Parsley with Miller & Martin, and Nashville lawyers Donald Capparella with Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella, and Edmund Sauer with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings. The program will wrap up at 4:30 p.m. CDT.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Board and YLD Fellows gathered at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, Mexico, this past weekend for the Fall Board Meeting. YLD President Quinton Thompson gave special recognition to Nashville lawyer Alix Rogers, Murfreesboro lawyer Morgan Hanna and Cookeville lawyer Amber Vargas for their work holding pro bono wills clinics this summer for essential workers. Rogers also was recognized for her work training YLD district coordinators across the state and for leading a panel of lawyers at a recent law school visit. Finally, Memphis lawyer Jeffrey Moore was awarded the “disco gavel” for his enthusiasm and efforts to bring people together. During the meeting, members planned for upcoming events, including additional pro bono clinics, the Diversity Leadership Institute, the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial competition and Diversity Law Week. They also discussed long range planning and how best to engage young lawyers across the state. See photos from the meeting, which was held during Mexico's Independence Day celebration.

Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, has announced two federal grants will be awarded to area nonprofits. Lifeline to Success, which helps men and women with serious felony convictions transition back to society, will receive $500,000. The funding will be used to support the organization’s new rehabilitation center, Welch Home for Success, and a 12-month demonstration program offering peer support, therapeutic and mental health services, job training and life coaching to reduce recidivism and support long-term success. In addition, West Tennessee Legal Services in Jackson will receive $600,000 to provide legal services and improve coordination of justice systems impacting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Kansas City-based Spencer Fane LLP has assembled a team of lawyers — including two in Nashville — to launch a sports law practice. The new practice will be led by Denver-based Peter Goplerud and Nashville lawyers Loren Mulraine and James Crumlin. The practice will build on work already being done by the firm in areas such as name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The team will focus on corporate, entertainment, higher education, intellectual property and labor and employment law; contract negotiations; internal investigations; and National Collegiate Athletic Association compliance and eligibility issues. Spencer Fane entered the Nashville market in 2021 when it merged with Bone McAllester Norton PLLC.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is embarking on more than $400 million worth of construction projects to handle children entering state custody and to improve detention centers, Tennessee Lookout reports. The projects include a new assessment center, two intake facilities and six other facilities across the state at a total cost of $88.3 million. Another $333 million will be spent for a new Woodland Hills Youth Detention Center in Nashville and improvements at John S. Wilder Youth Detention Center in Fayette County, where reports of abuse by guards, riots and poor living conditions have been frequent. A new Wilder center also is to be built to house another 24 to 48 minors, potentially bringing its population up to nearly 170.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated to active or inactive status after being suspended for various administrative violations. They include 11 who had been suspended for CLE violations: one in 2023, two in 2022, two in 2021, three in 2020, two in 2018 and one in 2013; nine who had not paid the professional privilege tax: eight in 2023 and one in 2022; and 46 who had not paid the annual Board of Professional Responsibility fee: 30 in 2023, 10 in 2022, two in 2021 and four in 2019. See updated lists at the links above.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold two legal clinics this week. Tomorrow, LAS will hold a wills and power of attorney clinic from 3:30-6:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville School of Law, 4013 Armory Oaks Dr., Nashville 37204. On Saturday, the group will hold a clinic from 9:30-11:30 a.m. CDT at Belmont University, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. See all September clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts is joining the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings to provide free legal services for nonprofits and Black-owned small businesses in Nashville on Sept. 21. Advice will cover business formation, corporate governance, contracts and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible entities may receive up to one hour of assistance. Clients should sign up online. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

A news item in yesterday's issue of TBA Today had the incorrect date for an upcoming legal clinic in Memphis. The clinic, sponsored by Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) in partnership with The Hub, will take place Sept. 27 from 1-3 p.m. CDT. The clinic, which is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, takes place at 590 Washington Ave., Memphis 38105. Sign up to volunteer here or contact Heather Staggs, 901-255-3421 with any questions.

The Memphis Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society will host its annual Constitution Day Program on Sept. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT at the Majestic Grille, 145 S Main St. in Memphis. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Attendees will hear from University of Toledo College of Law Professor Lee J. Strang, who will speak on “The Free Exercise of Religion in 2023." Those interested in attending may register online or contact Greg Grisham, 901-333-2076.