The Belmont Law Journal will host its criminal law symposium, “Law, Security and Justice in the Digital Age: Redefining Enforcement and Accountability,” on March 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT. The event will feature keynote speakers Sarah Lageson and David Thaw, along with two panels of practitioners discussing issues at the intersection of law and technology. Lageson will speak on "Big Data, Bad Warrants: Rethinking Accountability" while Thaw will address the limits of AI criminality. Attorneys interested in attending can register online and view the full agenda.

The 2026 TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) class met last week in Nashville for its “Issues in Policy & Politics” program. For the first time, the group joined other TBA members on Wednesday for the fourth annual Day on the Hill event — hearing from TBA’s lobbying team and meeting with elected officials. That night, class members attended the Big Shrimp legislative reception. On Thursday, the class heard from San Diego attorney Janice Brown, a favorite TBA speaker. She spoke on “Activators & Leadership.” A second session with TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley of Adams & Reese and Ross Smith of Bass Berry & Sims focused on “Lawyers as Lobbyists.” The day ended with lunch and class caucus, at which class member share reflections on the program. See a photo from Brown’s presentation.

The TBA Litigation Practice Section is continuing its “Perspectives From the Bench” series on May 21 at the new TBA office in Nashville. The program will feature a conversation with Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins and former Supreme Court Justice and current Nashville School of Law Dean Bill Koch. Attorneys Hunter Branstetter with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison and Todd Presnell with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings will moderate the discussion, which will focus on each justice's path to the bench, the role of mentors, the importance of the Rule of Law and more. Make plans now to join colleagues for this informative program from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT and a networking reception that will follow at 4:30 p.m. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

Agathos Classical School of Columbia was named the 2026 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion after two days of preliminary rounds. The school prevailed over the University School of Nashville. Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell presided over the round, while members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Executive Committee, TBA President Heidi Barcus and TBA President-elect Charlotte Knight Griffin served as jurors. Earlier in the day, the top eight teams were announced, an MVP for each of the 16 teams was recognized, individual awards were presented to the best advocates and witnesses, and Unicoi County High School of Erwin was awarded the 2026 Sportsmanship Award. The top three artists in the inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Contest also were recognized. James Overstreet of Houston High School in Germantown was selected as the top artist. Read more and see photos from the event.

Alix Rogers has been promoted to assistant dean of career and professional development at Belmont University College of Law. She joined Belmont Law in 2022 as the school’s inaugural public interest coordinator, where she built a robust public interest program and launched monthly pro bono legal clinics. She later advanced to director of career and professional development.

Rogers is deeply engaged in bar leadership and public service. She serves as Middle Tennessee governor of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (TBA YLD), the division’s representative to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and co-chair of the TBA YLD Rural Judicial Fellowship Program. She also serves as vice chair of the TBA Mentoring Committee and is a member of the TBA Access to Justice Committee. In addition, she contributes to several advisory committees for the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission.

Her leadership extends to the broader community, where she serves on the executive boards of the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Community Helpers of Rutherford County.

Rogers’ contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the American Bar Association’s Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access and multiple awards from the Tennessee Bar Association, including the President’s Special Recognition Award. In 2024, she was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to a six-year term on the Tennessee State Board of Appeals.

For law students and early career lawyers, time is limited, and movement is often the first thing to fall away. Yet regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to manage stress, maintain energy and stay focused through long days of reading, writing and client work. The key is not finding more time but using existing time more intentionally. Small adjustments can have a real impact: take the stairs, stand or walk during calls and build in brief stretch breaks between tasks. Even 10-15 minutes of focused activity can improve mood and sharpen concentration.

It also helps to treat movement like any other commitment. Scheduling a short walk or workout makes it more likely to happen. Choosing activities you enjoy, whether yoga, biking or group classes can make consistency feel natural rather than forced. Adding variety through strength, cardio and flexibility work supports overall health and helps prevent burnout. In a demanding profession, your well-being is easy to overlook. Consistent movement, even in small amounts, is a practical way to stay resilient, focused and effective over time.

The AccessLex Private Loan Exchange is a new nonprofit-curated resource launched by AccessLex Institute to support students with information about private loan borrowing to fund legal education. The exchange brings together offerings from a range of private and state-based lenders in a single, easy-to-navigate webpage, resulting in a thoroughly researched directory of private education loan options available to law students. Read more about the service from the National Jurist.

A recent article in Bloomberg Law reports that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has begun hiring prosecutors directly from law school in select jurisdictions. Notably, Southern Florida and Minnesota are among the areas relaxing the traditional requirement of one to three years of prior legal experience. This shift comes as the DOJ works to address staffing shortages resulting from a wave of departures.

Gov. Bill Lee’s administration has unveiled his annual budget amendment, which is usually a sign that the legislature is within less than month of wrapping up its business for the year. According to the Tennessee Journal, the proposal details $40 million in recurring funding and $190 million in one-time expenditures. Finance Commissioner Jim Bryson noted that the totals were less that officials have become accustomed to because of flat revenues. Funding in the amendment includes money for health programs, including TennCare, Rural Health Clinics and Strong Families Pregnancy Center Grants; housing programs; safety and security programs such as the K-12 School Safety Grants and House of Worship Safety Grants; and a number of tourism projects, including design of an expansion of the National Civil Right Museum. See the full list of proposed spending.

Defendant, Darrell Kindred Wakefield, pled guilty to one count of sexual battery in exchange for a two-year sentence. He subsequently filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(f)(2), asserting that his plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered because he did not fully understand the consequences of being placed on the sex offender registry. The trial court denied the motion. On appeal, Defendant contends that the trial court erred in determining that he failed to establish a manifest injustice, warranting the withdrawal of the guilty plea. Upon review, we affirm.