TBA members and guests traveled to Havana, Cuba, Feb. 6-10 for an international CLE experience. The TBA contingent stayed at the Hotel Grand Aston La Habana in the Vedado neighborhood along the Malecón, Cuba’s infamous sea wall. Seven hours of CLE included an introduction to the Cuban legal system, U.S.-Cuba relations, fundamentals of civil and criminal law, and more specialized topics like human rights, anti-money laundering and economic reform. Highlights in addition to the educational programs included a walking tour through Old Havana. On the tour, the group enjoyed a private performance by a renowned Cuban flamenco troupe, then wound their way through the Cuban streets beginning at the Plaza de San Francisco and concluding at Plaza de la Catedral. Travelers went on excursions outside of Havana, with one group going to the town of Cojimar to visit Ernest Hemingway’s house, while the other group traveled to the eco-community of Las Terrazas in Sierra del Rosario. On the last full day in Havana, travelers were able to choose their own adventure, taking either a tour of Cuba’s classic American cars or visiting the Museum of Cuban Art. The trip ended with a farewell dinner at the tour guide's house. One traveler said of the program, “This trip was amazing; I learned so much about the Cuban people and society. The CLEs were engaging and interesting. Everyone was awesome." See photos from the trip. Interested in learning more about TBA's next CLE abroad destination? Complete this form to receive updates.

The TBA’s Practice Management Center is now “Law Firm in a Box” — a unique tool offering TBA members a host of resources for launching and growing a law firm. Checklists, buying guides, comparison charts and more are available in each of the tool’s six segments: Opening a Firm, Building a Firm, Managing a Firm, Protecting a Firm, Winding Down a Firm and Accessing Expert Advice. Don’t lose access to this valuable member benefit, which now can be found on the TBA website.

The indigent representation proposal from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court is designed not only to ensure that the state meets its obligations under the law, but also provides for a phased implementation to strategically address the special needs of some communities and case types. During last year's effort to increase the compensation rate for appointed attorneys, the AOC was encouraged to consider alternatives, including ones that would better address the needs of smaller and rural communities. This proposal seeks to respond to those concerns by providing flexibility and stability to focus on building capacity in those areas, as well as others requiring tailored solutions, such as complex cases. The proposed plan requires a recurring appropriation of $17 million, and over time, the dollars used to pay today’s claims would be used to expand contracting options. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee. Watch for more details about the plan in upcoming issues of TBA Today.

Memphis lawyer Greg Siskind with Siskind Susser began working on a AI tools for immigration lawyers in 2016, and co-launched Visalaw.ai in 2023. Recently, the company won $1.6 million in seed financing from Atlanta-based Valor Ventures to accelerate its growth and innovation. The tool, according to Siskind, is designed to enhance the productivity, efficiency and profitability of immigration law firms by harnessing AI-powered legal research, assessment, document drafting, summarization and visa application construction. He says his own firm has seen up to a 90% reduction in time spent on drafting key filings. Read more about the investment in a news release from the company.

Samuel “Sam” Jackson has been named the new managing partner of Spencer Fane’s Nashville office. He replaces Charles Robert Bone, who has held the position since the firm acquired Bone McAllester Norton in 2021, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bone now works directly for a company that had been one of his top clients: real estate developer Southwest Value Partners. His father, Charles W. Bone, remains of counsel at Spencer Fane. Jackson has focused his practice on labor and employment matters and education law, and will oversee an office of 36 attorneys. He earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in 2000.

The Tennessee court system continues to face challenges providing legal representation to individuals who are guaranteed counsel. Currently, the responsibility to secure counsel for indigent clients in many cases falls to judges. A benefit of the indigent representation proposal from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court is eliminating the use of court time to appoint attorneys in these cases. Under the proposal, judges would be able to rely on the proposed "Office of Indigent Conflicts and Civil Counsel," which would assume responsibility for providing lawyers for indigent representation in child welfare cases and criminal cases when the public defender has a conflict. Attorneys who wish to take these cases would work with the office to secure appointments. This shift eliminates any potential or perceived conflicts by removing judges from the task of appointing counsel. Also, the proposed "Indigent Representation Commission" would be charged with reviewing, developing and, where possible, implementing procedures to improve accountability and prevent misuse of the system. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee. Watch for more details about the plan in upcoming issues of TBA Today.

KPMG has become the first accounting, tax and consulting firm allowed to practice law in the United States, Bloomberg Law reports. KPMG won final approval from the Arizona Supreme Court today after obtaining initial approval from a court committee evaluating applications under that state’s new law firm ownership rules. The alternative business structure, known as KPMG Law US, will operate independently but as a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. It will provide legal services such as integrating contracts and tech systems after corporate mergers.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has issued a warning about a new email spoofing scam affecting residents. The fraudulent emails, which have the subject line "Exciting News!", falsely claim that Hargett has filed a sponsorship on behalf of the recipient. Recipients are instructed to watch for a follow-up email from the secretary's office, furthering the deception. Hargett's office emphasizes the importance of vigilance against such scams, which can lead to personal information theft. The public is urged to verify any suspicious communications before taking action.

Judges across the county continue to rule on challenges to presidential executive orders. A federal judge in Washington state has blocked the Trump administration from suspending the U.S. refugee program. By contrast, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., declined to reinstate refugee funding in a case brought by Catholic bishops, The Hill reports. In another case, a federal judge in Maryland blocked immigration agents from conducting enforcement operations in houses of worship for a handful of religious groups, according to the Associated Press. With regard to the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked the administration’s freeze of federal aid and a judge in Maryland blocked DOGE access to the Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management. The administration lays out its arguments for these changes in the orders, which are available on the White House website.

In a recent press release, the ABA outlined the status of its efforts to revise law school accreditation standards. For the last year, the association has been considering changes to Standard 206, which currently outlines the steps law schools must take to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. At its last meeting, the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar considered comments submitted in response to proposed changes, as well as other potential changes. It says it is continuing to review the standard to “ensure compliance with the recent executive orders and [direction from] the U.S. Department of Education” and intends to submit its recommendation to the ABA House of Delegates in August. Last week, the ABA decided to suspend the standard until Aug. 31, when adoption of a revised standard is anticipated. The council also said that “literal compliance” with Standard 205 will not be required. That standard prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability or military status.