The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners has released statistics about the state's July 2024 bar exam. According to the board, 759 individuals — 647 first time test takers and 112 repeaters — took the exam. They represent 103 different law schools and saw an overall pass rate of 72%. For first time test-takers at Tennessee law schools, Vanderbilt University Law School saw a 97% pass rate followed by Belmont University College of Law at 94.8%, the University of Tennessee College of Law at 91%, University of Memphis School of Law at 78.7%, Nashville School of Law at 70% and Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law at 64.2%. See all statistical information released by the board.

Indiana joins a growing number of states in exploring innovative approaches to expand delivery of legal services, including through regulatory reforms. This month, the Indiana Supreme Court issued an order responding to recommendations from its innovations commission's July report, including directing development of "initial parameters for a legal regulatory sandbox," Reuters reports. Sandbox programs provide a controlled venue allowing entities to offer legal services that may otherwise run afoul of existing regulations, while still protecting the profession and consumers by maintaining a professional discipline process. Indiana's program follows initiatives in other states that allow alternative business structures, including early innovators Arizona and Utah. Reuters has an update on Arizona's program, which now has over 100 approved entities that allow non-lawyers to have an economic interest in law firms. Utah, the first state with a regulatory sandbox, continues to review and update its program, writes the ABA Journal.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) in Memphis will host an estate planning clinic at City View Towers, 256 S. Camilla St., Memphis 38104, on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. CDT to help seniors with wills, powers of attorney and more. Attorneys and licensed notaries are needed to volunteer. Contact Melissa Hamilton at melissah@clcmemphis.org or (901) 543-3395 x209 for more information.

The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) recently announced that Lead Counsel and Executive Director Jessica Van Dyke will transition into the role of legal director. Jason Gichner has been appointed as the new executive director, effective Oct. 14. “I am honored to step into this role and continue building on the foundation that Jessica has laid,” says Gichner, who has served as deputy director since 2019. Chief Operating Officer Becca Morris states, “Jason’s deep commitment to justice and our cause makes this transition an exciting new chapter for TIP as we continue our fight for the exoneration of the wrongfully convicted.” Read more in a press release from the organization.

Tennessee's early voting period for the Nov. 5 general election begins today and runs through Oct. 31. In addition to voting in the presidential, congressional and state legislative races, some local seats and referendums are on the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State has more election information, including for early and absentee voting, at GoVoteTN.gov. Specific times and polling place details vary by county. USA Today has more on early voting across the country.

The TBA was recognized today with two major awards from the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) at the annual NABE Communications Section Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina. First, it earned a Luminary Award for “Authored Article” for Journal Editor Julia Canada Wilburn's article about former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee’s time on the bench. “A Justice for the People,” which ran in the July/August 2023 issue of the Journal, looks at a career that took Lee from rural Tennessee to state’s highest court. The TBA also was honored with an award for its 2023 year-end CLE marketing campaign, which offered a creative appeal to lawyers to take advantage of educational opportunities in days leading up to the compliance deadline. The “What’s Your CLE Mood?” and “12 Days of Ethics” series of social media and TBA Today posts used humor and nostalgic holiday imagery to market TBA’s CLE programs. See photos from today's award ceremony.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has made progress in shortening the delays in laboratory testing of sexual assault evidence, according to a new audit by the state’s comptroller. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the turnaround has been reduced to 10 weeks. Two years ago, the bureau reported turnaround times of up to 45 weeks, delays that hindered criminal prosecutions and deferred justice for survivors. TBI Director David Rausch told a committee of lawmakers reviewing the report that the agency had hired 49 additional scientists — with another in the hiring process — to help speed up forensic testing. It also outsourced 908 kits to a private lab in Florida last year. This year, the bureau has contracted with the lab to test another 192 kits.

A new law sponsored by state Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, and Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, strengthens penalties for indecent exposure by inmates in correctional facilities from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The new law aims to protect prison staff by cracking down on misconduct by inmates and reduce the number of incidents. At the time of its passage, Yager said, “Indecent exposure has no place in our correctional facilities, and unfortunately, this misconduct has become an increasing method for inmates to abuse and harass correctional staff.” Since the law went into effect July 1, the Tennessee Department of Corrections has identified 109 inmates across the state who could be charged under the new law. It will be up to local district attorneys to decide whether to charge and prosecute these cases, the LaFollette Press reports.

Knox County Assistant District Attorney Robert DeBusk resigned Tuesday following allegations that he lied under oath about violating attorney-client privilege by accessing protected communications between inmates and their defense attorneys. DeBusk was suspended after questions arose about his improper access to an email and a recorded voicemail from jail inmates to their attorneys, raising concerns about his handling of privileged information. Knox News has the story.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, Belmont Law, TBA YLD, the Davidson County Criminal Clerk’s Office and Tennessee Justice Center are partnering for two expungement clinics on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. One will take place at Belmont Law while the other will take place at the Tennessee Justice Center. The clinics are part of the Capitol City Pro Bono challenge. Volunteers are needed at both locations. Sign up using this form. Contact squintero@las.org or ginny.blake@belmont.edu with questions.