A TBA Today story on Monday highlighted recent competition wins by Tennessee law schools but omitted the results of three teams from the University of Memphis School of Law that won first place in their respective competitions. Two teams participated in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, coming in first place in their regional competitions. The first team won the virtual Chicago region and went on to compete at the national competition. The second team was undefeated in its region, and won fourth place for the best brief and an individual award for seventh best advocate. In other news from the school, the Memphis Law Black Law Student Association Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition team took first place in the 2022 Southern Regional Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition.

The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners released a statement today explaining why seat limitations are being met in cities across the state. The board says that it reserved “more than sufficient space based on the number of applicants who tested in previous years” but that the number of applicants has significantly increased. “This is primarily due to other states and the District of Columbia closing applications early” leaving Tennessee "one of the few remaining jurisdictions with open applications.” The board reported yesterday there are no remaining seats in Knoxville and Memphis, but some seats remain in Nashville.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery has informed his staff that he will not seek a second eight-year term this fall, the Tennessee Journal reports. A spokesperson for the AG’s office confirmed the news, sharing the note Slatery sent to his staff. In it, Slatery writes, “I want you to know that after much thought, discussion, prayer and seeking of advice, I sent a letter to the Supreme Court today advising them that I do not plan on applying to be re-appointed.” Prior to taking office as attorney general in 2014, Slatery served as chief legal counsel to then-Gov. Bill Haslam. The Tennessee Supreme Court will appoint a replacement, who would take office on Sept. 1.

Nashville attorney and former Tennessee Bar Association President John Tarpley will be honored next month with the prestigious William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award. Named for former Attorney General William M. Leech and presented by the Fellows of the TBA Young Lawyers Division, the award is given to a Tennessee lawyer who has been of outstanding service to the profession, legal system and the community. Tarpley is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Lewis Thomason. In addition to his service to the TBA, he has held numerous leadership positions with local, state and national legal organizations, and has served as president of the board of directors of the Music City Chapter of the March of Dimes and as a member of the board of directors of First Steps. He is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Nashville. The Leech Award will be presented at the Tennessee Bar Association Annual Convention in Nashville on June 17 during the Lawyers’ Luncheon. Read the full press release.

The Nashville-based Center for Nonprofit Management is holding a free virtual event Friday to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The “Virtual Day of Convening” will feature AAPI voices and narratives through panel discussions as well as visual and performance art. Topics include “What AAPI Means,” “How the AAPI Community Is Addressed in DEI Conversations,” “Hate Crimes and COVID-19” and “The Bamboo Ceiling.” Each session will run for 30 minutes between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Learn more about the event and register here.

New data from the U.S. Labor Department shows the legal sector added 4,700 jobs in April, in what's largely been a trend of monthly growth since May 2020, Reuters reports. According to preliminary seasonally adjusted data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sector jobs totaled 1,177,900 last month.

Law.com and ALM Intelligence are out with their annual Mental Health Survey of the legal profession with more than 3,400 respondents detailing the state of their mental health, work environments, perceptions of colleagues, client expectations and the effects of remote work. The 2022 results show a slight decline in those reporting anxiety, depression and isolation from last year. And there was an increase in those who believe their firms provide a safe environment to raise concerns about mental health. However, for the third year in a row, close to three-fourths of respondents believe their work environment contributes to their mental health issues. Law.com analyzes the survey results and offers a data snapshot of the findings.

The TBA's 2022 Federal Practice Forum will take place Wednesday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CDT, with presentations tailored to both experienced federal court practitioners and those who are new to federal practice. This program features a panel offering tips and tricks on court practice, plus dual sessions covering intentional equity and cybersecurity. The day wraps up with a session on the Ford Motor Company’s appearance in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021.

Throughout the last several weeks, #TeamTBA has highlighted the TBA CLE crew. Now it's time to meet their manager, Jennifer Vossler! As the TBA Director of Education & Professional Development, Jennifer leads her team in providing TBA members with the best CLE courses, education and professional opportunities. Aside from her CLE talents, she can sing virtually any Disney song on command, thanks largely in part to her two-year-old daughter, Emily!

The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff members makes the association run. Check back every Wednesday for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The Nashville Predators hockey team has awarded a $5,000 grant to the 23rd Judicial District Recovery Court to provide bicycles, tricycles and ride-on toys for the children of Recovery Court participants. The court, which serves Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties, is presided over by Circuit and Recovery Court Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash. “We appreciate the Nashville Predators for giving us the means to teach important parenting skills,” Lockert-Mash said. “Simple things like teaching a child to ride a bike or tricycle creates a bond between parents and their children.” Read more here.