The Tennessee Justice Bus will join the University of Tennessee Extension for its Spring Health Fair and National Healthy Kids Day on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the Dickson County Government Building and the Dickson County YMCA. Attendees will have access to a variety of local and statewide legal information and resources, including the ability to use the Justice Bus’s onboard technology to research legal issues through Help4TN.org and TN.FreeLegalAnswers.org. Get more information about the event.

TBA’s member benefit partner SoFi will offer a free webinar on June 4 at noon CDT to help lawyers better understand the current status of the student loan landscape. Join Brian Walsh, SoFi’s financial planning leader, as he breaks down the latest changes and how SoFi at Work can help. The session also will include a live Q&A to answer any questions from attendees. Register here.

The law firm of Rainey Kizer Reviere & Bell celebrated its 50th anniversary on Monday with a ribbon cutting at its Jackson office. Founded in Jackson in 1975 by Tom Rainey and Jerry Kizer, the firm now employs 50 lawyers and has offices in six cities across Tennessee and Kentucky. WBBJ was on site to record the ceremony and interview the firm's president, Dale Thomas.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission is partnering with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the Hard Bargain Association and Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands to hold a wills clinic in Williamson County. The clinic is set for May 3 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. CDT at Mercy's Community Clinic, 143 SE Parkway Ct., Franklin 37064. Attorneys and at least one notary are needed, and law students are welcome to participate. Click here to view an informational flyer or register here to help.

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, introduced the Sister City Transparency Act to identify the risks of foreign espionage within sister city partnerships, which exist to promote cultural exchange and economic development. The bill would direct the comptroller general to study partnerships involving foreign communities in countries with significant public sector corruption and report to Congress. Three Tennessee cities have official partnerships with 21 cities around the world through Sister Cities International. Read more in a press release from Blackburn's office.

The Tennessee Safe Baby Court program has expanded to Blount County with the overall goal of reducing the amount of time a child is removed from a home. “Children are their most vulnerable and most resilient at this age, so if children are removed from their home into the child welfare system ... the long-term effects of that trauma are significant,” Blount County Juvenile Court Judge Kenlyn Foster told WATE News. The Safe Baby Court will operate out of the Juvenile Court. WVLT reports that last year, Knox County’s program took on the most cases of any county in the state, helping more than 20 families, totaling nearly 40 children. Twenty-two counties across the state operate Safe Baby Courts, which are focused on children ages 0 to 3 who are involved in the child welfare system.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a class action lawsuit over the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the legal status of some student visa holders in four northeastern states and Puerto Rico. The group argues the move puts those students in danger of being deported, The Hill reports. The U.S. State Department defended the actions saying it revokes visas every day to secure the borders and to keep communities safe. According to the Associated Press, about 1,100 students at more than 170 schools have been impacted since last month. In Tennessee, three schools so far — Christian Brothers University, University of Memphis and University of Tennessee — have reported impacts on their students.

Baker Donelson has opened new offices in Princeton and Iselin, New Jersey, adding 26 new attorneys, including a health care transactional team, a litigation team, and several real estate attorneys in a significant expansion. Of the 26 new attorneys, 17 are joining as shareholders, two as of counsel and seven as associates. Also joining are two paralegals and six support staff. All of these professionals are joining from the health law firm of Epstein Becker Green. Baker Donelson Chair and CEO Timothy M. Lupinacci said, "A key aspect of our strategic vision is elevating our ability to serve clients as trusted advisors with industry depth and proactive counsel ... As a national firm, expanding our footprint to include New Jersey is exciting, and our growth will continue to be driven by adding the right talent who share our vision." Read more in a press release from the firm.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will launch its 2025 Equal Justice Campaign — now in its 40th year — with a kickoff event April 23 at GEODIS Park from 5-7 p.m. CDT. The event will bring together a group of justice-minded leaders, including 2025 Equal Justice Campaign Committee members, past Equal Justice Campaign Committee members, supporters of LAS, in-house corporate counsels, Leadership Cabinet law firm partners, pro bono directors at major law firms, leaders from the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations, and LAS executive leadership. RSVP for the event here.

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility on April 21 voted to withdraw Formal Opinion 2025-F-172, which was issued March 14 and addressed limited scope legal services provided by a private attorney. Formal Opinion 2025-F-171, also issued March 14 and still applicable, addresses the ethical propriety of a non-disparagement clause in a products liability case settlement agreement that makes the lawyers in Firm A parties to the settlement proposed by Firm B. See all past opinions from the board.