The TBA Animal Law Section today held its annual forum at the Nashville Zoo. Attendees heard from zoo director Rick Schwartz, who has been heavily involved in the world of conservation for 30 years, and met several zoo animals including spotted leopard cubs and a flamingo. Other speakers included veterinarian and lawyer Robert Simpson with the Kingston Animal Hospital, who spoke about legal issues facing veterinarians; Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway, who talked about court programs involving animals; Eric Swafford with Best Friends Animal Society, who discussed dog breed restrictions; Lauren Curry with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, who spoke on conservation issues; and Steven Christopher with the Board of Professional Responsibility, who provided an ethics update. See photos from the day.

K&L Gates has named Lauren Patten managing partner of its Nashville office, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Patten, a Nashville native, joined K&L Gates in early 2021 when the firm opened an office in Nashville. She previously spent six years at Butler Snow. Patten is a trial lawyer and a member of the firm’s complex commercial litigation and disputes group. When K&L Gates announced its Nashville office, Mary Beth Johnson, managing partner of the firm’s Research Triangle Park offices and co-leader of the health care practice, was named leader of the Nashville office.

Nashville's biggest law firm, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP, is reportedly exploring a potential combination with Florida-based Holland & Knight LLP, the Nashville Business Journal reported today. Holland & Knight, one of the nation's 30 largest legal firms, would be the latest and largest in a string of law firms to land in Nashville if a deal is completed. Both firms declined to comment. Waller currently has offices in Nashville, Chattanooga, Austin and Birmingham.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee will observe Constitution Day later this month with the third annual public reading of the U.S. Constitution in both Knoxville and Chattanooga. The Chattanooga event will take place Sept. 16 at the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building, 900 Georgia Ave. The Knoxville event will be held Sept. 19 in the courtyard of the Howard H. Baker Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 800 Market St. Both will start at 11:30 a.m. and continue to approximately 1 p.m. EDT. The public and members of the bar are invited to join the court in reading segments of one minute or less. Those who are interested can register on the court’s civics website. Advance registration is preferred but not required.

Despite backlash from a previous weeklong closure of the Shelby County clerk office, Clerk Wanda Halbert says she will close the office for a second week later this month, likely the week of Sept. 19. "Because of the backlog of additional work outside of new and renewed license plates, as a result of downed mail services, the Offices of the Shelby County Clerk are closing ... to catch up on critically outstanding services,” Halbert's office wrote in a notice. The Commercial Appeal has more on the story.

The Biden administration recently released its finalized immigration policy on the so-called “public charge” criteria for green card applicants, part of a year-long legal battle to undo efforts of the prior administration to limit eligibility for permanent residency. Under the new 455-page rule, set to take effect Dec. 23, green card applicants will not be penalized for use of non-cash public assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid or housing benefits. Instead, immigration officers will look at “the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense” to evaluate if any individual is likely to become a “public charge,” who would then be ineligible to become a permanent resident. Roll Call looks at the new policy.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts is joining the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in providing free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a clinic next Thursday. Issues to be covered include questions about business formation, corporate governance, contract review and navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Eligible businesses may receive up to one hour of assistance but must register by Monday. Clients may sign up online. To volunteer, email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold a veterans clinic Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37203. To volunteer for the clinic, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all September clinics.

The TBA is hosting a free Zoom Roundtable later this month focused on three recent U.S. Supreme Court cases and how they impact lawyers in Tennessee. The event will take place Sept. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Panelists will provide a practical overview of the rulings and answer questions from attendees. Registration is required by 10 a.m. CDT the morning of the event to receive the log in information. The cases to be discussed are: Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, West Virginia v. EPA, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. CLE credit is available for a minimal fee.

The Shelby County Commission will soon fill three judicial commissioner positions that are vacant after attorneys holding them won August elections to become judges, the Daily Memphian reports. “We cannot afford to be light on judicial commissioners,” General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson told the commission yesterday. “And we cannot afford to bring in judicial commissioners who don’t know their job when they walk through the door.” Anderson, who oversees the judicial commissioners, has offered to screen the applicants for the three positions. He says the vacancies leave the court system “woefully inadequate.” Applications for the positions are due Friday and will be followed by interviews on Sept. 21 and a final commission vote on Sept. 26. The judicial commissioners as a whole are part of a new bail court that starts operation in February.