"There are many equitable and legal maxims," writes Russell Fowler in today's issue of TBJ Select. You'll get a kick out of our "History's Verdict" columnist as he explains in this new article what makes a maxim, why they are timeless, and why you will want to know how to use them. Read "In Defense of Maxims: The Oldest Tools in the Lawyer’s Toolbox." Note that if you had an issue linking to the article from the email earlier today, you can access it in the archives. Today's TBJ Select also features David L. Hudson Jr.'s article about Civil Rights hero Sallie J. Robinson, Dan Holbrook's column "Where There's a Will," and other items of interest.

Campaign vendor Phoenix Solutions — under scrutiny after an FBI probe of several state legislators last month — appears to have improperly filed its application to do business in the state, TNJ: On the Hill reports. Washington-based Northwest Registered Agents LLC was hired in November 2019 to register Phoenix Solutions in New Mexico. An electronic signature in the name of a Northwest employee was also used to register Phoenix with the Tennessee Secretary of State four days later. A spokesperson for Northwest, however, said the filing “was unauthorized.” The company said it was not hired for registration purposes in Tennessee. Republican legislators did $231,144 worth of business with Phoenix, mostly under the direction of Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson. Smith, alongside former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, Rep. Todd Warner, R- Chapel Hill, and former Casada aide Cade Cothren, is now at the center of the FBI probe. An anonymous source told the Tennessean earlier this month that Phoenix Solutions is owned by Cothren.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Two clinics will take place on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. CST. A third clinic will be held on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. CST. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

The TBA Mock Trial Committee is seeking sitting judges, attorneys and law students to volunteer for the 2021 Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition. This year, because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the competition will be held virtually on the Empire Mock Trial platform. Also, rather than the traditional 14 district competitions, the qualifying competitions will be based on the state’s three grand divisions. Grand division competitions will be held simultaneously the weekend of Feb. 19-21 with nearly 70 teams vying for a spot at the state competition. The state competition will take place March 19-21. Learn more about volunteer opportunities and get links to registration forms on the TBA mock trial website.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty has added a number of new staff to his office in Washington, D.C., Knoxnews reports. Hagerty last week announced a staff of 23 in his D.C. office, including 13 who previously worked in the Trump administration. John Rader, a Cookeville native, will be Hagerty's chief of staff. Rader served in Trump's administration as deputy assistant to the president for strategic initiative, as a policy and strategy advisor on the National Security Council and as deputy director of presidential appointments. Hagerty also recently announced he would establish a permanent office in Cookeville for the first time. Chattanoogan.com reports that the office will be located in the L. Clure Morton Federal Building at 9 E. Broad St., 3rd Floor. Other offices are located in Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville and the Tri-Cities.

The TBA Juvenile and Children’s Law Executive Council is inviting section members to a Virtual Meet and Greet on Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. CST. Members are encouraged to attend the event to learn more about the section’s plans for the year and provide feedback on the services and programs they would find helpful. Please register before 8 a.m. CST on the day of the event to receive the Zoom email invitation and access information. Not a member of the section? Join here.

Richard Willingham died last year after being in the Shelby County jail for two weeks. A new federal lawsuit by his family alleges that he was deprived of medical care for his acute pulmonary embolism. The Daily Memphian reports that new inmates are routinely placed in medical isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic but that move meant that Willingham was not examined by a nurse at the jail. He finally was taken to a hospital where he died. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, names Shelby County, Wellpath LLC and three health care workers as defendants.

The Memphis Bar Association is seeking a new executive director to lead the association. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree and five or more years of managerial experience. Duties include providing leadership and strategic vision for the organization; managing four direct reports; handling all business, financial, and operational affairs; and collaborating with board members, association members and key external partners. Read the full job announcement. To apply, email resume to memphisbaredsearch@gmail.com by Friday. The position is vacant following the retirement of longtime director Anne Fritz. Maury Tower has been serving as interim executive director since last August.

For the past 13 years, the annual Blickstein Group Law Department Operations Survey has amassed trend data concerning the burgeoning discipline of legal operations. This year’s survey offers the first real data on the pandemic’s effects on law department operations. Download it here. The findings, according to the group, reveal a resilient profession that managed very well through the pandemic with only 6% saying the pandemic hindered their ability to deliver legal services. In cooperation with Above the Law, the group will present a free webinar on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. EST to breakdown the survey findings.

This year’s Law Tech CLE will be offered virtually in six sessions over three days this month. The fifth installment, set for the morning of Feb. 19, will feature a civil judicial panel discussing how courts are using technology to function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists include: Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, 19th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Wall Olita and Knox County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Stevens. The one-hour program will begin at 11 a.m. CST. Each of the six sessions will offer a technology prize giveaway so be sure to register now!