The University of Tennessee College of Law will host a symposium on March 9 looking at the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The daylong program, sponsored by the Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, will focus on how the decision has impacted constitutional rights, marginalized communities and women's health. The five sessions will feature law professors from a wide variety of law schools across the country. Programming will be offered in person and virtually. See the full line up or register here.

Prospective law students, current law students, and law school alumni are eagerly awaiting release of the 2024 U.S. News Law School Rankings, which usually occurs sometime in March. This year, rankings may be delayed due to changes being made to the methodology, Above the Law (ATL) reports. The publishers say the results will come sometime “in the spring.” Six of the metrics used in the past will not be included this time and graduates with school-funded public interest jobs will be counted the same as other employed graduates. U.S. News has not indicated how weights for other metrics will be affected, what bar passage data will be used, or whether peer evaluations will be included. Using the data known to be in the mix, ATL previews what the rankings could look like.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold three legal clinics in March. The “Attorney of the Day Clinic” will take place March 2 and 16 from 1-3 p.m. at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Room 134, Memphis 38103. The monthly clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library will take place March 11 beginning at 10 a.m. CST. The library is located at 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38111. For both clinics, clients will be served on a first come, first served basis. All times central. For questions or to volunteer contact Heather Staggs or Walter Casey.

The YLD is replaying three CLE webcasts from earlier in the year to help lawyers refresh and rejuvenate their practice. The three one-hour programs will be held on March 7, 8 and 9 and will run from noon to 1 p.m. CST each day. Join TBA President Tasha Blakney, TBA YLD President Brittany Faith and their colleagues for informative and lively talks on How to Use Your Engagement Letter (March 7), How to Log Off When Your Workday is Done (March 8) and How to Measure Success (March 9). Buy one, two or all three courses!

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is looking for volunteer attorneys for a debt relief clinic on March 2 at 3:30 p.m. CST. The clinic is fully virtual and open to clients in Middle and East Tennessee. Volunteer attorneys need not represent debtors in bankruptcy but should be familiar with consumer bankruptcy law, including Tennessee exemptions. Although clients who qualify will be referred to willing attorneys for pro bono Chapter 7 representation, clinic volunteers need only commit to advising clients during the virtual clinic. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Rucker will kick off the clinic with a presentation to clients about bankruptcy and then volunteer attorneys will meet with clients in online breakout rooms. The clinic is being held in collaboration with the Belmont University College of Law, Federal Bar Association, Knoxville Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS), Legal Aid Society and Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Contact Alix Rogers to volunteer to help.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended 67 attorneys who did not pay the annual professional privilege tax as required. The attorneys include those living in Tennessee as well as 12 other states. View the order or see the list with any reinstatements noted.

The TBA Health Law Section Executive Council has begun planning the 35th Annual TBA Health Law Forum, which will take place Nov. 2-3 at the Music City Center in Nashville. Topics for this year's forum include annual favorites such as fraud and abuse, fraud enforcement, legislative updates and ethics. This year's forum will also explore several timely topics involving reimbursement, the No Surprises Act, cyber security, malpractice, antitrust concerns and more. The introductory Health Law Primer will precede the forum on Nov. 1. Stay tuned for more info, including speakers and how to register for this premier event.

The following attorneys were suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 21, 2023, for failing to pay the state professional privilege tax pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 67-4-1702. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 26, attorneys who are deemed noncompliant for 90 days or more are summarily suspended. Those who since have complied with the rule are noted as reinstated.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended 13 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; five of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2023 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The law license of Knox County lawyer James Robert Stacy was transferred to disability inactive status today pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Stacy may not practice law while on inactive status. He may petition the court for reinstatement by showing that his disability has been removed.