A total of 445 youth spent at least one night in the offices of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) in 2025. The Tennessean reports that the average office stay was around a week, while the longest topped out at 102 days. DCS says that an influx of high-need cases and the closure of several transitional homes contributed to the 400% increase over 2024 numbers. The issue has been under scrutiny since 2021 when it was first revealed that hundreds of kids were spending the night in offices. In early 2023, the department told lawmakers that childen were no longer sleeping in offices, save for a few in Shelby County who would be placed soon. The practice began again in November 2023 according to the paper.

The Putnam County Bar Association kicked off the new year with a meeting on Jan. 22. The following leaders were elected for 2026: President Russell Tribble, Vice President Taylor Beth Gothard, Treasurer Dale Bohannon and Secretary Rachel Moses. Tribble practices as an assistant district attorney with the Office of the District Attorney General for the 13th Judicial District. Gothard practices with the Law Office of Joy Buck Gothard. Bohannon practices with the Law Office of Dale Bohannon. Moses practices with the Legal Aid Society. All are in Cookeville.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 22 suspended 22 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 12 of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include nine suspended in 2025 and one suspended in 2021. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court currently is considering a range of potential changes to regulation of the state's legal profession. In response, the TBA has formed the Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force to consider the issues, and make recommendations for any proposed action to the TBA Board of Governors. Members are encouraged to become familiar with the issues as well and provide feedback to the task force. Comments to the task force should be submitted via email to townhall@tnbar.org. Comments also may be filed directly with the court. Visit TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page to learn more about the areas the court is reviewing.

New Memphis Bar Association (MBA) leaders recently took office at the group’s Annual Meeting. They are: President and Shelby County Attorney Marlinee Iverson; Vice President Matt May with Rosenblum & Reisman; Secretary/Treasurer Justin Joy, a shareholder at Lewis Thomason; and Immediate Past President Lauran Stimac with Evans Petree. Six board members also took office: Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Taylor Bachelor, Will Gibbons with the City of Memphis, Mathew Jehl with Burch, Porter & Johnson, Charles Mitchell with Black McLaren Ryland & Griffee, Amber Griffin Shaw with Harris Shelton and Van Turner with Turner Feild Law. Read more in a news release from the group and see photos from the meeting.

Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.5 and Rule 43, Section 14, the following attorneys have been suspended in 2026 for failure to timely pay their annual registration fees and/or submit certification that all eligible funds are held in an IOLTA account. The annual registration fee is due and payable to the Board of Professional Responsibility on or before the first day of the attorney’s birth month of each year. Attorneys who have since complied with the requirements, and for whom notices have been received from the court, will be noted as reinstated.

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law's National Moot Court Team claimed their fourth regional championship in six years at the 76th National Moot Courtroom's Region VII Competition. The competition was held in November at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Team members Elijah Parkhurst, Maia Poulos and Jaleigh Rogan, all third-year students, earned the Best Brief Award. Poulos also was named Best Oralist. The team earned its place in the elimination rounds with a victory over Charleston School of Law, defeated the University of Memphis School of Law in the quarterfinals, and defeated Vanderbilt Law School in the semifinals. The championship title was secured with a final-round victory over the University of Mississippi School of Law. The team now advances to the National Final Rounds in New York City. Read more about the competition from the school.

We all know sleep is important, but for many young lawyers and law students, getting enough of it can feel nearly impossible. Long hours, demanding schedules, and the challenge of balancing work with family, friends and personal committments often push sleep to the bottom of the priority list. Yet sleep is essential for mental sharpness, emotional balance and overall health. We tend to be aware of these benefits, but we often compromise on our sleep schedules!

One of the most effective ways to improve sleep is to build consistency into your routine. Try to go to to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Establishing a calming wind-down routine can also help signal to your body that it is time to rest. Try to avoid caffeine later in the day or trick your brain with decaf coffee or caffeine-free soda. While it is tempting to scroll through social media or watch television up until bedtime, limiting screen time before bed can significantly improve sleep quality.

Your sleep environment matters. A quiet, dark and comfortable bedroom can make it easier to fall and stay asleep. If your mind is racing with deadlines or to do lists, consider journaling before bed to clear your thoughts. Regular physical activity can also promote deeper sleep, though it is best to avoid intense workouts too close to bedtime. Limiting daytime naps may further support better nighttime rest.

If sleep challenges persist, do not hesitate to seek professional guidance. Quality sleep is a cornerstone of wellness, supporting focus, sound judgment and emotional resilience. By prioritizing healthy sleep habits now, young lawyers can strengthen both their personal well-being and professional performance.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division is hosting a Leadership and Law Academy in Chattanooga! The academy is for all high school students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Qualified students must be interested in pursuing a legal career and be motivated learners who actively participate in school classes. The academy will take place during a teacher in-service day on March 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.  Applicants must be available to attend the entire day and have parent permission to participate. The academy will provide students with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about the legal system, meet local judges and lawyers, and learn about legal careers. There is no cost to attend. Interested students should apply here by Feb. 20.

Knox County lawyer Carey Davis Patin was reinstated to the practice of law on Jan. 21 after being on inactive status since Aug. 4, 2020. Patin filed a reinstatement petition, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.