Nearly half of lawyers responding to a Bloomberg Law survey said their well-being declined over the first quarter of this year and the problem was even worse for junior lawyers. The Attorney Workload & Hours Survey found that lawyers facing troubled personal relationships, physical health issues or depression were twice as often to report their well-being had worsened. Lawyers with billable hours reported working an average of 53 hours per week, the same as last year. But respondents said they experienced burnout an average of 50% of the time in the first quarter, up from a 40% average in 2020. For junior and mid-level associates, two-thirds reported a decline in well-being, compared to 41% of senior associates.

Tennessee veterans are underrepresented in the Veterans Affairs’ Department (VA) claims and appeals process, but a new three-hour CLE set for Aug. 12 is designed to encourage VA accreditation. The live virtual program will cover representation before the VA, claims procedures, benefits eligibility, right to appeal, disability compensation, dependency, indemnity compensation and pension benefits. Speakers include James R. Drysdale with the VA Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C.

James “Jim” Exum, an attorney at Chattanooga law firm Chambliss Bahner & Stophel, has announced he will run for judge in Hamilton County Circuit Court Division II, the Chattanoogan reports. Exum seeks to fill the seat of current Judge Jeff Hollingsworth, who recently announced he will not seek reelection. According to his campaign, Exum has been practicing in Chattanooga for his entire legal career of nearly 15 years and specializes in "defense of police officers, first responders, government officials and private parties.” Local civic leader Nick Decosimo will serve as the campaign’s treasurer.

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) will host a bankruptcy and debt relief advice clinic on July 28 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will be held at the WTLS office at 210 W Main St, Jackson, TN, 38301. A virtual option will be available for attorneys. To volunteer for the clinic, contact Andy Cole.  

Local coalition, Save Nashville Now, today sued the Davidson County Election Commission, claiming the commission has taken illegal steps to put a tax referendum on a September ballot, the Tennessean reports. That referendum would give voters the option of rolling back Nashville's 2020 property tax increase and limiting the city's ability to raise taxes in the future. A July 27 election was cancelled late last month by a Nashville judge. The commission voted 3-2 to appeal that ruling and “conditionally” set a new election date for Sept. 21, dependent on whether the appeals court reverses the original decision. Save Nashville Now is suing to block the September election, claiming the commission has violated local and state rules regulating election dates for referendums. The coalition is made up of businesses, faith-based groups and community advocates and is represented by Nashville attorney Daniel Horwitz. 

The Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) has dismissed ethics charges against Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott following an investigation into statements he made on whether gay people and Muslims were entitled to legal protections, Nashville’s News Channel 5 reports. Four ethics complaints were filed after video circulated in 2019 of Northcott saying he would not prosecute domestic violence cases involving same-sex couples and did not recognize gay marriage. He also received complaints after claiming on social media that Muslims are "evil because they profess a commitment to an evil belief system." A hearing panel granted Northcott's motion to dismiss the case in April, and the BPR chose not to appeal.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis and a group of police leaders and officials yesterday met with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss quelling the recent surge of violent crime, the Daily Memphian reports. The Biden administration is developing a strategy to combat the uptick in crime, which includes investment in “community intervention,” by using federal pandemic relief funds being sent to cities and states. Memphis set a new record for homicides in 2020 with 332 and violent crime across all categories was up 24% citywide compared to 2019. 

Applications are now being accepted for 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge, made vacant by the retirement of Judge Thomas J. Wright. The 3rd Judicial District encompasses Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, and Hawkins counties. Attorneys at least 30 years of age who have been residents of the state for five years and are currently residents of the 3rd Judicial District may apply by submitting a Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CDT on July 27. The commission will hold a hearing for the vacancy on Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. EDT. Read all application instructions on the AOC’s website.  

Clarksville attorney Liz Evan played an essential role in enacting new legislation that makes it a Class E felony for members of the clergy to engage in sexual contact with anyone they treat for an emotional, mental or physical condition. The Tennessean profiled Evan, a judicial law clerk at the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, who pulled from similar laws in Wisconsin and North Dakota to write Senate Bill 1531. The legislation passed the state House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law. It went into effect July 1. The new law also applies to healthcare professionals and alcohol and drug abuse counselors. It says a victim receiving treatment from members of these professions "is incapable of consenting to sexual contact” in that relationship. "Clergy members all need to know that they're going to be held accountable for misusing their power," Evan said.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed Charles K. Grant to serve on its Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). Grant is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson where he practices in employment and business litigation matters. He previously served on the state Supreme Court’s Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure and the Disciplinary Hearing Committee, District V. Grant is a past president of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, the Nashville Bar Association, the Napier-Looby Bar Association and a past recipient of the TBA’s Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Award. Read more on Grant’s appointment to the BPR from Baker Donelson.