The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has renewed its partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration laws, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The county’s involvement in the controversial 287(g) program was set to expire next month, but Sheriff Tom Spangler signed the renewal and is now awaiting federal approval. Knox and Greene counties are the only jurisdictions in Tennessee operating under the 287(g) agreement, which gives deputies federal authority to conduct immigration screenings and to detain immigrants who entered the country illegally. The program, which Knox County opted into in 2017, originally had to be renewed each year, but the current agreement will now last until terminated by one of the agencies. 

Metro Nashville Police have made an arrest after a toy practice target was placed in the front yard of NAACP President Keith Caldwell, the Tennessean reports. Roy E. Brown admitted to police that he placed the target in Caldwell’s yard because he thought it looked like a flower and would look nice there. Caldwell, a local pastor, signed a state misdemeanor citation that charged Brown with intimidation, but in a Facebook post, said he would advocate for the case to be heard in mental health court. He also said he did not think the target was meant to be racial. Brown’s booking date is Aug. 14.

The 2020 Family Law Forum is now available in a convenient 1-Click online package. The four-hour program covers guardian ad litem essentials, key issues in family law during the COVID-19 pandemic and extensive revisions to the Child Support Guidelines that took effect earlier this week. Those revisions include changes to policies surrounding what happens when a stepparent has health insurance coverage for the child and whether a person can claim voluntary unemployment while incarcerated. Visit the TBA course catalog to see all available online courses.  

Chattanooga native and former Tennessee Valley Authority Chairman S. David Freeman has died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 94. Freeman worked for the TVA from 1948 to 1961, during which time he earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Former President Jimmy Carter appointed Freeman to the TVA board in 1977 and he served as chair from 1978 until 1981. He was a champion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation policies and advised Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Carter and the Senate Commerce Committee on energy policy. After retiring from full-time work at the age of 85, Freeman co-authored a book called "All-Electric America" that is said to make the case that an all-electric, all-renewable society by 2050 is both necessary and achievable. Read more from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Lawyer burnout is a serious problem. While legal work can be incredibly fulfilling, it also can be stressful and downright exhausting. Industrywide, a competitive culture and excessive hours are leading to overworked lawyers and widespread wellness and mental health struggles. A new resource from TBA Member Advantage Partner Clio looks at the causes, signs and consequences of burnout as well as how lawyers can prevent burnout, or deal with it once they have it.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, with offices in Nashville and 19 other cities, has implemented a “shared sacrifice” approach to dealing with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. Beginning in April, partner draws were reduced by a minimum of 25%, with the percentage increasing on a progressive scale, so partners higher in the draw saw a larger cut. Compensation of associates and counsel was reduced by 20%. Staff making at least $75,000 saw a pay cut of 10% while those making more than $100,000 saw a cut of 15%. Chief officers are taking a pay cut more in line with that of partners. The firm is considering similar actions for offices outside the U.S., a spokesman confirmed to Law.com.

The Indiana Supreme Court last week ordered the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners to conduct a one-day remote bar examination on July 28. The examination will consist of the Indiana Essay Examination and a series of short answer questions on topics tested on the Multistate Bar Examination. Similar to the plan in Massachusetts, the Indiana bar exam will be good only for court admissions in that state. Also last week, Kellye Testy, president of the Law School Admission Council, said offering an online bar exam would require the building of a technical system. “I’m not going to say it would be impossible or that it won’t happen, but it’s a really big lift for states. They’re not testing organizations.” Above the Law has more on both stories.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Sullivan County lawyer Jason R. McLellan for one year, with two months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court also directed him to make restitution to a former client. McLellan admitted violating Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16 and 8.4(a) and (d) when he made several unauthorized charges to a client’s credit card, failed to respond to questions about the fees, failed to have the client sign an employment agreement, failed to provide the client any invoices justifying the fees he charged, and failed to notify the client that he terminated representation.

The Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee is hosting a virtual cocktail hour on May 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. CDT. The event “100 Years of Lawyering, Poker, Food Processing, Politics and Other Tall Tales” will feature Nashville lawyers Hal Hardin and Larry Woods. Cost is free for members, $10 for non-members. Learn more or register here.

Given the current pace of change to law firm practices, Above the Law and Litera have partnered to get a better sense of exactly how law firms are responding to the pandemic and what tools legal professionals are using to help them re-prioritize and reconfigure their workflow and client relationships. Interested in sharing your experience? Take the survey here.