Elder Law Basics 2022 will be presented virtually Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. CDT. Designed for attorneys new to the practice or those looking to brush up on their knowledge, this program will provide an overview of the intangibles of elder law. Topics will include powers of attorney, estate recovery, reverse mortgages, how clients can find and afford health care in retirement, ethics and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned practitioners providing the information you need to stay on top of developments and changes in the field. Register here.

At the request of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, the Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation has established a scholarship fund in honor of the late Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams. More than $6,000 has already been raised. Those interested in contributing should visit GiveButter.com and select the “John Everett Williams Scholarship” on the second screen. Checks may be mailed to The Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation, Attn: Suzanne G. Keith, 629 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206-4211. The scholarship will be needs-based and will be awarded to Tennessee law students attending Cumberland School of Law. Both Williams and his father, the late John L. Williams, received their law degrees from the school. Judge Williams died Sept. 2 at the age of 68. He served on the court from 1998 until his death.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today permanently eliminated limitations on distance learning, allowing Tennessee-licensed attorneys to complete all continuing legal education requirements through remote learning. The order deletes Rule 21, section 4.09, and amends sections 3.01(c), 4.02(c) and (d), 4.03(a), 4.04, 4.08(f), 5.01(g), 5.01(h), and 10.01(c)(1) and (2). Appendix A of the order shows a red-line version of the changes, while Appendix B shows the new text with amendments incorporated. The court reports that it received numerous comments about the change from individual attorneys as well as from the Memphis Bar Association, Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, Nashville Bar Association and Tennessee Bar Association. Read more from the court.

Online classes earned high marks from law students in a new survey, suggesting that remote learning has improved over the past two years and can be as effective as in-person instruction when done right, Reuters reports. Among survey respondents who took online classes, 76% rated the courses as good or excellent. That is a shift from early in the pandemic, when research found that law students were largely dissatisfied with online classes. The Law School Survey of Student Engagement also asked about the frequency of online classes: 70% of respondents said their classes were mostly in person this past year, 10% said they were mostly online and 20% said they were a mix of both. Finally, the survey identified two areas where online classes fell short: online students were less likely to feel supported by career services and fewer reported having positive relationships with their classmates.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today denied a reinstatement request from Georgia lawyer Khristie L. Kelly, who had petitioned for reinstatement on July 19. The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education opposed Kelly’s reinstatement based on her failure to pay fees and establish compliance with mandatory continuing legal education requirements for three compliance years. Kelly was advised twice that her petition would not be granted until outstanding obligations were resolved. The court reports that Kelly did not satisfy the obligations by the deadline.

The law license of Georgia attorney Robert Andrew Free was transferred to disability inactive status today. Free may not practice law while on inactive status. He may be reinstated to the practice of law after showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

At the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference last week, 10th Judicial District Attorney General Stephen Crump received the Pat McCutchen Award, the highest honor given by the conference. Past award recipient and 18th Judicial District Attorney General Ray Whitley said Crump “is a prime example” of a prosecutor who actively improves the quality of justice for all Tennesseans and advances the conference as Tennessee’s voice for criminal justice. Crump began his career as an assistant district attorney in 1997. In 2014, he was appointed district attorney general by then-Gov. Bill Haslam, and was reelected in 2022. The award was established in 2000 in honor of the late Pat McCutchen, who served as conference executive director and district attorney general for the 19th Judicial District. The award was presented during the conference’s fall gathering in Chattanooga. Read the full release or see a photo from the event.

The Stonewall Bar Association will hold a fall mixer tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CDT at Baker Donelson’s Nashville office, 1600 West End Ave., Ste. 2000. On site parking will be validated. All are invited to join the group for networking, sipping, food and more. RSVP to Sam Felker.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s busy November schedule — which kicked off yesterday — is the topic of the latest episode of "Cases and Controversies" podcast from Bloomberg Law. Reporters Kimberly Robinson and Jordan Rubin bring listeners up to speed on closely watched financial reporting litigation and a pair of criminal cases slated for argument. “Affirmative Action, Habeas, and Supreme Court Stamp” also breaks down what’s been happening outside of the courtroom. This includes two emergency requests stemming from the 2020 presidential election, new comments from Justice Samuel Alito on last term’s draft opinion leak, and the next Supreme Court postage stamp. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Google Podcasts, Megaphone, Spotify or Stitcher.

The Knoxville Bar Association and its Bankruptcy Section, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight, will hold a Pro Bono Debt Relief Clinic on Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon EST. The event will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Judge Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and other solutions for clients before volunteer lawyers meet with them to discuss their options. Sign up to volunteer.