Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently named Clint Wren as assistant director of career services. Wren previously served as a staff attorney and pro bono coordinator for Legal Aid of East Tennessee in Knoxville, where he represented clients in civil matters and built partnerships to expand access to legal services in the region. "Clint brings a unique combination of legal experience and a strong commitment to public service that will greatly benefit our students as they navigate their career paths," said Caitlin Torney, director of career services at LMU Law. Read more in a press release from the school.

Judge Chris Frulla, recently appointed to the 30th Judicial District bench by Gov. Bill Lee, began his career in archeology. After earning a degree in anthropology and working on archeological surveys, he decided to follow his father’s example and pursue law, graduating from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He practiced as an attorney for more than 13 years before colleagues encouraged him to apply for a judgeship after Judge Valerie Smith was elevated to the Court of Appeals. Sworn in on Sept. 3 by Smith, Frulla described the moment as humbling. “Walking out on the bench the first day, to my surprise, my father was sitting in the gallery. He said he is just so proud of me, and he had to see it with his own eyes.” Read more in a profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert is disputing the city of Millington’s claim that her office owes more than $30,000 in unpaid rent for its satellite location, saying she never signed nor agreed to a lease. Millington officials argue Halbert was aware of the lease, which the county commission approved retroactively to January 2023, and accuse her of trying to avoid payment. Halbert maintains the clerk’s office has historically operated in Millington without rent and says she was excluded from discussions about the agreement. City officials counter that rent is justified due to rising costs and increased traffic, warning they may pursue legal action if the issue is not resolved. Two attempts in 2024 to remove Halbert from office were dismissed. The Daily Memphian has the story.

The Texas Supreme Court has signaled plans to end the state’s reliance on the American Bar Association (ABA) for law school accreditation and instead take direct authority to decide which schools’ graduates may become licensed lawyers in Texas. Reuters reports that, if adopted, Texas would be the first state to break from the ABA’s oversight, though Florida, Ohio and Tennessee are reviewing similar measures. The court says it wants a streamlined system with neutral criteria, such as bar exam pass rates, while preserving graduates’ ability to practice across state lines. While the ABA and most Texas law deans have raised concerns about costs, uncertainty and lawyer mobility, the court has invited public comment through Dec. 1 before changes take effect in January.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently released its 2024 By the Numbers report which shows that for the fourth consecutive year, housing cases dominated legal aid caseloads, accounting for 288,000 closed cases or 37.2% of all matters handled. The number of clients aged 60 and over reached 171,572 in 2024, with the report highlighting the growing legal need among older Americans, especially older women. Veteran households also saw increased representation, with 34,205 families receiving legal assistance.

Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated Cocke County, Mayor Rob Mathis has helped lead recovery efforts, securing funding for roads, community projects and a balanced budget without raising taxes. But Knox News reports that the county’s biggest unresolved challenge is its flood-damaged jail, which has been closed since last September, forcing taxpayers to spend $2 million annually to house inmates in other counties. FEMA initially indicated the county qualified for a new 216-bed jail but later reduced its support to repairs for the old 88-bed facility, frustrating local leaders. Officials have said they will appeal the decision.

The TBA Construction Law Section will host the inaugural Joint Georgia/Tennessee Construction Conference Oct. 9-10 in Chattanooga. The two-day event will kick off with a welcome networking reception followed by a day of high quality CLE sessions for both Georgia and Tennessee lawyers. Topics include regional differences in construction law, a view from the bench session featuring judges and arbitrators, insurance 101, AI and ethics, construction defect trends and a case study session. The program will offer 6.75 total CLE hours, including one dual hour. CLE credit will be submitted to both Georgia and Tennessee. Get more information and register.

You’ve probably used a live chat window on a website; maybe with a business like Amazon, FedEx or an airline. Often times it’s handier than being on hold, even if you like hold music. Add the same capability to your website for client and prospect engagement. This chart compares major live chat vendors. Find this and more in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the president's birthright citizenship executive order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The appeal, shared with the Associated Press on Saturday, sets in motion a process at the high court that could lead to a definitive ruling on whether the citizenship restrictions are constitutional. The administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship. In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as unconstitutional. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the rulings wrongly confer “the privilege of American citizenship on hundreds of thousands of unqualified people,” while opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say the policy violates the Constitution. The case could set up a Supreme Court ruling by early summer.

Federal trial courts across the United States are issuing new orders restricting access to sealed documents following a directive from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOC) in response to recent cyberattacks on the judiciary’s case system. More than 20 courts have posted standing orders stating that while sealed documents may be filed through the Case Management/Electronic Case Files system, they cannot be viewed electronically. The move comes after the judiciary reported “sophisticated and persistent” cyberattacks that targeted sealed filings in espionage and other sensitive cases, with Bloomberg News reporting that Russian government hackers had infiltrated the system for years. The AOC said it is implementing a sealed document security system to address vulnerabilities and strengthen protections. The changes follow earlier restrictions this summer, including a July order from the Eastern District of Virginia requiring sealed documents be filed only in hard copy. A Senate classified briefing on Sept. 9 addressed the breach, which lawmakers said raised concerns about national security and the judiciary’s ability to safeguard sensitive records.