The Upper Cumberland Lawyers Association for Women (UCLAW) gathered last week for a reception with TBA President Sherie Edwards following the TBA Court Square CLE series in the city. The group met at Crawdaddy’s West Side Grill in Cookeville. In the photo, standing from left are: Caroline Knight, Circuit Court Judge Amy Hollars, Leslie Ledbetter, Caroline Sapp and Tia E. Jensen. Seated from left to right are: Amber Vargas, Sherie Edwards, Kelly Tollett and Rachel Moses. Not pictured: UCLAW President Lori Dowell. 

The position of First District Governor (three-year term) will be filled by the Tennessee Board of Governors at its meeting on June 18, in accordance with Article 47 of the TBA Bylaws. The First District Governor represents Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. If you would like to be considered for this position, email TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson with your interest by June 1. Please include a resume with your submission as well as any other information that you would like considered by the TBA Board of Governors.

The council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions is soliciting public comments on a proposal to eliminate the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or other standardized test for law school admissions. The council will accept comments for 90 days, Bloomberg Law reports. Law schools are currently required to ensure that applicants have completed a “valid and reliable” admission test. The new proposal comes as more than 80 U.S. law schools have allowed prospective students to take the more general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) instead of the LSAT. Schools would be permitted to continue using the LSAT, GRE or another admission test under the proposal. Bloomberg Law looks at the arguments for and against the proposal. The process for submitting comments has not yet been announced. Watch the section’s website for more information.

Kingsport City Attorney Mike Billingsley is retiring at the end of the month, the Kingsport Times News reports. His last day will be May 31 after a 28-year career with the city. Billingsley grew up in Tullahoma and earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. After graduating, he returned to Middle Tennessee and was in private practice there for 14 years. He took the Kingsport position in March 1994. In addition to serving as city attorney, Billingsley also has acted as the attorney for the Kingsport City Schools. As his last day near, he tells the paper that working for the city has been rewarding. He plans to stay in Kingsport. “This is my home now.”

Make plans now to join this year’s Better Right Now CLE at the TBA’s Annual Convention. This year’s program, set for the morning of Friday, June 17, will focus on changing law firm culture. Sessions will include what legal employers are doing to increase well-being and what is important to millennial lawyers in the workplace. Panelists will include leaders from small to large law firms sharing their insights and takeaways from existing initiatives. The keynote address will be given by Memphis attorney Oscar Carr with the Experiential Healing Center. The program will wrap up with a session on the importance of sleep with Dr. Beth Malow, vice chair of academic affairs and division chief of sleep and neurology for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Check out all convention CLE offerings here.

The Law Office of Taylor R. Dahl in Clarksville is now accepting applications for an associate attorney position. This is primarily a litigation position, with a focus on family law, though the successful candidate could work to other areas. The ideal candidate would be licensed to practice in Tennessee with at least one to two years of experience, but those graduating this year are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be self-motivated, organized, efficient and detail-oriented, and should be comfortable with client interaction and courtroom representation. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Taylor Dahl at tdahl@taylordahllaw.com. For questions call 931-245-5060. See other opportunities on the TBA’s JobLink site.

The TBA’s annual Court Square Series, designed to provide attorneys with the latest developments in multiple areas of the law, will make its last stop in Jackson on June 7. The three-hour event will begin at noon CDT with a networking lunch with TBA leadership, followed by a session on attorney well-being with J. Dusty King of King & King PLC, and an ethics update from Board of Professional Responsibility Disciplinary Counsel Andrew Campbell. The program will be held at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, 197 Auditorium St., Jackson 38301. Looking for another location? Don't miss upcoming programs in Kingsport on May 26 and Chattanooga on June 3.

Hamilton County Judge Alex McVeagh will now be the only candidate running in the Aug. 4 non-partisan general election for the Second Division of Hamilton County General Sessions Court. Chattanoogan.com reports that both of his former opponents have withdrawn from the race. They indicated they only entered the race because they believed McVeagh might be chosen to replace outgoing Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz, who was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. McVeagh has indicated that he will continue to seek reelection to his current seat.

Nashville Bar Association President Martesha L. Johnson notified members today that Executive Director Monica Mackie intends to resign from her position. Johnson notes that Mackie has provided “exemplary service” and will leave the association strong “because of her influence.” Johnson also outlines the process for replacing Mackie. A nine-member search committee has been formed and Mackie has agreed to assist in the search. See the job posting here. Qualified candidates are asked to send a letter of intent and resume to Mackie at monica.mackie@nashvillebar.org by June 3.

A federal judge in Louisiana today temporarily stopped the Biden administration from ending Title 42, the Trump-era border management policy that allows officials to quickly expel foreign nationals at the border under pandemic conditions. The policy was due to end Monday as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to restructure border and immigration policy, The Hill reports. U.S. District Court Robert Summerhays granted a preliminary injunction to a group of Republican state attorneys general challenging the policy change.