The ABA’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs has a helpful resource to help lawyers understand and treat compassion fatigue. According to the ABA, compassion fatigue “is the cumulative physical, emotional and psychological effect of exposure to traumatic stories or events when working in a helping capacity, combined with the strain and stress of everyday life.” Symptoms for this condition include: becoming emotionally detached and numb in professional and personal life; becoming demoralized and questioning one’s professional competence and effectiveness; and having disturbing images from cases intrude into thoughts and dreams. The resource suggests that criminal, family or juvenile law attorneys could be especially prone to compassion fatigue as a result of continuous exposure to human-induced trauma. Read the full article for helpful tips on treating the condition.

Learn how to succeed in the Court of Criminal Appeals by taking part in the upcoming boot camp from the TBA’s Appellate Practice Section. Court of Criminal Appeals Boot Camp 2021 will allow attendees to observe oral arguments in real cases being presented to the court and afterwards hear an analysis from judges and the lawyers who participated in the arguments, who will discuss preparation and give tips and considerations for deciding to seek appellate review. The virtual program will take place Nov. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. CST and is worth one dual and three general credit hours of CLE. Register now.

The TBA’s annual Year End CLE Blast is back this year to help all those needing last-minute CLE credit. During the entire month of December, the TBA will be bringing you reliable and convenient on-demand CLE programming in a variety of practice areas designed for the Tennessee lawyer. This year’s Blast will be all virtual and easily viewable from your laptop or phone, no matter where you are. Additional information and registration instructions will be forthcoming. Don’t forget to use the prepaid credits that come with your TBA Complete Membership and save on your CLE costs. Not a member? Join now to start saving.

If you missed the TBA's Business Education Webinar Series this past summer, you can now catch a replay of the webcast Make Meetings Meaningful on Nov. 29. Join Jeff Schoenberger with Affinity Consulting to get sample agendas for effective meetings, facilitation tips, and insights for how to prepare for and run meetings that achieve your goals. The virtual program will run from noon to 1 p.m. CDT and offer one hour of dual CLE credit.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold two clinics next week. A phone clinic will be held on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. CDT to provide general advice. The first 15 callers will be accepted. On Oct. 27, LAS will hold a clinic specifically for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. To volunteer for either of these clinics, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all October clinics.

An attorney representing former University of Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt is threatening to sue the university if it doesn't reach a settlement by Oct. 29, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Michael Lyons, Pruitt’s Texas-based attorney, says the suit has the potential to “cripple UT’s athletic programs for years.” The university fired Pruitt in January over evidence that officials say shows members of Pruitt's football staff engaged in conduct likely to result in serious NCAA rules violations, and that Pruitt failed to monitor their actions or promote an atmosphere of compliance. Pruitt did not receive any of the $12.6 million buyout that was part of his contract due to being fired for cause. University general counsel Ryan Stinnett wrote Monday in response to Lyons that UT has no intention of settling and is prepared to defend its actions.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald has lost custody of “Tarra” the elephant after a decade-long court battle, WKRN reports. Tarra was the sanctuary’s first inhabitant in 1995 after she was brought there by founder Carol Buckley. The sanctuary’s board of directors ousted Buckley in 2010 and she sued for wrongful dismissal and visitation rights with Tarra soon after. The legal battle for the elephant has continued until now, after the Tennessee Supreme Court denied an application for permission to appeal. Tarra will now be sent to South Georgia where she’ll live with Buckley on an 850-acre refuge. The Tennessean reported in June that an appeals court had denied a new trial in the case.

Nashville attorney Keeda Haynes has released a book detailing her journey from serving time in a federal prison to becoming a lawyer, public defender and a Congressional candidate. “Bending the ARC: My Journey from Prison to Politics” is described as a “searing exposé of the profound failures in our justice system, told by a woman who has journeyed from wrongfully accused prisoner to acclaimed public defender.” A launch party to celebrate the book’s release has been scheduled for Nov. 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. CST at Collective615, 3820 Charlotte Ave., Nashville 37209. Haynes will engage in a candid conversation with attendees and read an excerpt from her book. Register for the event here.

Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Jeff McCord yesterday wrote lawmakers to inform them that the state cannot drop federal COVID-19 regulations, despite stern instructions to do so, the Associated Press reports. Republicans on the Government Operations panel earlier this week voted in favor of having the state’s labor agency reject the federal safety protocols, even if it meant risking penalties. In his letter, McCord argued that there is no state statute or process allowing the withdrawal of a rule once it becomes effective. McCord added that the federal government could revoke Tennessee’s authority to oversee its own workplace safety enforcement if the state refuses to comply with the rule. The rule, adopted by Tennessee in late August, outlines protocol for personal protective equipment, social distancing and other safety measures for workers at medical facilities that care for people with COVID-19. It also requires paid sick time for employees who contract COVID-19, need to get vaccinated or are dealing with vaccine side effects.       

State lawmakers today gave final approval to a nearly $900 million spending package promised to Ford Motor Co. for a new assembly plant in West Tennessee, the Tennessean reports. Legislators debated the deal during a three-day special session before it passed with overwhelming support. Total cost of the package will exceed $884 million, including a $500 million grant to Ford, $138.2 million for infrastructure work, structure demolition and more, $5 million for legal services and $40 million to build a Tennessee College of Applied Technology near the megasite to provide skilled workers for the electric vehicle plant. WPLN reports that lawmakers in the state House and Senate also received the required support needed to call a second special session set for next week. Members are expected to discuss masks, vaccines and other restrictions related to the coronavirus.