Former Federal Judge and Prosecutor Harry S. "Sandy" Mattice, Jr., who recently stepped down from the federal bench in East Tennessee, has announced the opening of The Mattice Group, a law firm with offices in Chattanooga. The opening marks Mattice’s return to the private practice of law after 20 years of service in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. The firm will focus its practice in the areas of investigations, complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, crisis management and communications, governmental affairs advocacy and mediation. Read the full press release.

Incumbent and newly-elected Knox County judges and chancellors are among judicial officials being sworn in during a ceremony at 3 p.m. EDT Aug. 31, on the second floor of the Supreme Court Building at 505 Main St., Knoxville. Knoxville Bar Association President Jason H. Long will preside over the Sixth Judicial District event. Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will swear in 13 of the judges, Public Defender Eric Lutton and court clerks Charles D. Susano III and Mike Hammond. Chancellor John F. Weaver will swear in J. Scott Griswold as the new clerk & master. District Attorney General Charme Allen will have the oath administered by Judge Steve Sword. A reception will follow the ceremony. Guests are asked to register for the event.

U.S District Judge Travis McDonough has agreed to grant class-action status to a lawsuit regarding the April 2018 raid of Southeastern Provision slaughterhouse in Grainger County, the Tennessee Lookout reports. According to the ruling, there is "ample evidence" to show that agents targeted the workers in what turned out to be "the largest immigration raid in recent Tennessee history." Jamie Satterfield reports that "court records show agents and federal prosecutors had been meeting for months prior to the search warrant request to plan a round-up of Latinos working at the plant." 

The TBA is hitting the road and coming to Covington! This three-hour program on Sept. 21 is designed to provide attorneys with the latest developments in multiple areas of the law. Kickoff the afternoon with a lunch and learn networking session with TBA leadership. Register here.

Do you want to help domestic violence and crime victims while working in a collaborative environment? Looking for a job that is more than just a job and truly makes a difference in people’s lives? Wanting to use your law license but seeking work/life balance? West Tennessee Legal Services has an immediate opening for an attorney in its Victim Rights Project. The attorney will provide civil legal assistance to domestic violence and crime victims. Litigation experience and prior work with victims or low-income communities is preferred but not required. Read more and apply on the JobLink portal.

LawPay wants to help you reclaim your time with the ease and efficiency offered by its flexible modern payment technology. As the leading online payment solution for legal professionals for over 15 years, LawPay enables you to accept credit, debit and eCheck payments from clients anywhere, at any time. LawPay is committed to providing an unparalleled experience by protecting your trust account against third-party debiting and offering expert support from real people. As a TBA member, you can open a new LawPay account by Aug. 31 and pay no monthly fee until 2023! Get started here.

Legislation that would increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is winding its way through Congress. LSC has requested $1.26 billion to address the increased demand for civil legal services due to the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on low-income communities and the enormity of the justice gap in the United States; however, the House and Senate are looking at smaller increases. The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved legislation in June that would provide $675 million — up from $489 in 2022. In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee is considering a smaller increase.

Bloomberg Law reports that the American Bar Association's (ABA) House of Delegates has "passed a non-binding resolution discouraging changes to state rules barring the sharing of legal fees with non-lawyers. But it also encouraged state bar groups to explore innovations designed to increase access to justice by making legal services more affordable." Arizona and Utah have loosened restrictions on firm ownership and North Carolina, California and Michigan are considering similar measures. Sam Skolnik reports that "[t]he changes are often touted as access to justice measures, but they could also allow law firms to seek outside investors and permit the Big Four accountancies and other for-profit businesses like litigation funders to compete to provide legal services in the U.S."

The University of Memphis seeks a Law Fellow for a two-year appointment to work in the Office of Legal Counsel. The candidate successful will have a law degree from an ABA accredited school, and admission to the Tennessee bar or awaiting bar exam results/admission to the Tennessee bar at the start of the fellowship term. The fellow must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee within six months of the start date.

The American Bar Association's (ABA) House of Delegates voted Monday to withdraw a proposed diversity and inclusion resolution, Standard 206. The resolution was revised three times between spring 2021 and February 2022, and an ABA spokesperson told Law.com that "[t]he resolution, aimed at bolstering the ABA’s existing diversity and inclusion standard, was withdrawn to await further consideration and discussion with other entities." Christine Charnosky reports, "The most recent amendments to Standard 206 would have required individual law schools to ensure the effective educational use of diversity by providing (1) full access to the study of law and membership in the profession to all persons with a particular focus on underrepresented groups related to race and ethnicity, (2) a faculty and staff that includes members of underrepresented groups with the same focus related to race and ethnicity, and (3) an inclusive and equitable environment for a larger list of groups, according to the executive summary." A PDF of the full article is available.