Jack Smith, a former HCA attorney and U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, has been named as a special counsel to oversee criminal investigations related to former President Donald Trump. Smith, appointed today by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, will oversee investigations into Trump’s actions related to the events of Jan. 6 and documents found at Trump’s private residence at Mar-a-Lago. Smith served as acting U.S. attorney in Nashville during the Obama-Trump transition, stepping down in 2017. He then served in the legal role at HCA before moving to The Hague in 2018, where he has served as chief prosecutor for Kosovo war crimes cases. The Nashville Post reported on the Tennessee connection. The Hill has more on the appointment process.

Memphis lawyer Louis F. Allen died Monday at the age of 85. A 1964 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Allen primarily practiced as a trial lawyer and achieved partner status at both Waring Cox and Glankler Brown. He retired in 2017 after 53 years of service. He also served in the Judge Advocate General Corp of the Air Force Reserves. He was a fellow of the American College Trial Lawyers, Tennessee Bar Foundation and Memphis Bar Foundation. Visitation and funeral services were held today at Christ Church Memphis following a private burial. Memorial donations may be made to the church at 4488 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38117 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee will host its next Stand Against Injustice virtual lunch and learn on Nov. 29 from 1-2 p.m. CST. This month's topic will be "Antisemitism in Our Day." The program will explore the rise of antisemitism in Tennessee and across the country. Speakers include the chair of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial, a Vanderbilt University anthropology professor and a local rabbi. Learn more here.

The Biden Administration today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a lower court order that blocked the president’s student loan relief program, The Washington Post reports. That order, issued Monday, came in a suit brought by six Republican-led states. Implementation of the plan has been on hold since Oct. 21, when the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay. Last week, in yet another a case — this one brought by two borrowers — a federal judge in Texas struck down the plan as unlawful as well. In that case, the U.S. government already has asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the decision.

An order issued yesterday by the Tennessee Supreme Court altered the requirements for meetings of the Tennessee Lawyers Fund for Client Protection. The amendment to Rule 25, Section 5.01 states there will “be no personal appearances except upon request of the Board” or “written authorization of the Board Chair, pursuant to a written request” that is submitted 14 days prior to the meeting.

The downtown Nashville homeless shelter and recovery program Room in the Inn is the site of a free monthly legal clinic known as Project Homeless Experience Legal Protection (H.E.L.P.). The clinic offers assistance on civil matters such as disability benefits, and criminal matters, including expungements. Many struggle to exit homelessness because of issues navigating the legal system. That is where the H.E.L.P. clinic, started by Baker Donelson’s Nashville office 14 years ago, steps in. Shareholder Jonathan Cole says the firm recognized a need among the city’s homeless. “A lot of times there’s a legal issue that is an impediment or contributing factor that’s preventing them from getting more established, on their feet, into more permanent housing,” he said. “If we can remove some of those barriers, it’s a great help to them.” Initially launched in New Orleans, the clinic has now been implemented in over 25 cities. WKRN looks at some of the clients helped by the clinic.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson from the practice of law yesterday after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning two complaints of misconduct. Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license to practice law in such cases. Anderson is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 17.

The Knoxville law firm LaFevor & Slaughter is seeking an associate attorney with two to five years of experience to handle family law matters, including divorces, child custody cases, grandparents’ rights and other complex family matters. Candidates should have a team mentality with a "go-getter" attitude and be able to multitask, meet deadlines and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Read the full job description and get details for applying on the TBA’s JobLink platform.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced she will step down from her post, The Hill reports. Her announcement came after news that control of the U.S. House had officially flipped to Republicans. Though she will cede her leadership seat at the end of the term, Pelosi will remain in Congress. She has led House Democrats since 2003. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, is widely viewed as the favorite to replace Pelosi, but Katherine Clark, D-MA, and Pete Aguilar, D-CA, are also expected to launch bids for higher leadership positions.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today reappointed two members of its Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission to second terms. Lori Thomas Reid and J. Marcus Rudolph will each serve another three-year term that will expire on Jan. 9, 2026. The high court noted it was reappointing Reid and Rudolph “because of their outstanding contributions to the Commission.” Read the order.