TBA members gathered for a special event which combined two TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) CLE series: "Does it Please the Court?" and "Exploration." The day began with YLD President-elect Jen Sneed leading a discussion with Tennessee Supreme Court Justices Holly Kirby and Mary Wagner on a variety of topics relevant to the Tennessee legal community. Next, YLD Membership Chair Patrick Morrison led a discussion with Jessica Van Dyke from the Tennessee Innocence Project. After a ranger-led hike and lunch, YLD Past President Quinton Thompson moderated a panel with Memphis attorneys Constance Brown, Nicole Grida, Will Perry and Faith Watson on "The Ethics of Saying No." This event marked the inaugural "Does it Please the Court?" CLE. The next one in the series, From First Generation to the Bench, will be a webcast on Nov. 20 at noon CST. This was the third installment of the Exploration series which seeks to blend professional development and the peace and beauty of Tennessee State Parks. See photos from the event.

Chattanooga family law and criminal defense attorney Alan Ray Beard died Oct. 3 at age 69. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Illinois University and served two tours in the U.S. Army, including time as a judge advocate general (JAG) attorney with the 101st Airborne. Details on a military service and celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Companion Funeral Home.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday filed a brief in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the federal district court correctly rejected NetChoice’s demand for emergency relief from Tennessee’s Protecting Children from Social Media Act. The law requires social media companies to verify a new user’s age; obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts; and allow parents to supervise, modify and deactivate their child’s account. NetChoice, a trade organization that represents tech giants like Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snapchat and X, sued Tennessee in October 2024 seeking to enjoin the act’s basic protections. Read more in a press release from the AG's office.

Enrollment is now open for the Tennessee Bar Association’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee group health insurance plan, available exclusively to TBA members. The plan offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions and may deliver savings compared to your current health plan. Don’t wait! Enroll today and give your firm the benefits it deserves. Watch this Q&A with Buck Orrison with TBA Member Insurance Solutions to get answers to your questions about coverage in the coming year. Not part of a group? TBA also offers a dedicated health plan for solo attorneys.

Microsoft 365 offerings combine an always up-to-date install of Microsoft Office with email hosting, mobile apps and web-based apps. Compare Microsoft’s 365 options with this link. Find this and more in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

Registration is open for this year's Disability Law Forum. Join colleagues Oct. 23 via Zoom for three virtual sessions that will cover a variety of topics applicable to disability law practitioners. These include a session with Jennifer Cronenberg from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), a course dedicated to preparing for an administrative law judge hearing, and a Disability Determination Services/Office of Hearings Operations update with Kim Joseph and James Stanfield. Other speakers include Lena Beal, John Dreiser, Emma Drozdowski Webb and Christopher George.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will present a new installment of its Rookie Series on Jan. 29, 2026, at noon CST in collaboration with the TBA's General, Solo & Small Firm Section. The live webcast "Opening Your Own Firm" is tailored to aspiring solo practitioners and entrepreneurial attorneys interested in launching a solo or small law firm, and will help those lawyers begin answering the question "Are you ready to build your own legal practice and take control of your career?" Whether fresh out of law school or transitioning from an established firm to a solo practice, or launching a firm with colleagues, this program will provide a valuable opportunity to learn from attorneys who successfully have made similar transitions. The webcast will cover essential steps for opening a firm, including practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, as well as providing information on how the TBA may be an asset during the transition. For more information and to register for the program visit the TBA website.

At the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL), diversity is more than a value, it is the foundation of all it does. While TABL was created to uplift and support Black lawyers across Tennessee, the group welcomes anyone who shares its commitment to equity, opportunity and inclusion within the legal community. TABL currently has three vacancies on its board of delegates and is seeking dedicated leaders to fill the positions. Available roles include a representative from Knoxville, a representative from the SL Hutchins National Bar Association (NBA) chapter in Chattanooga and a law professor delegate. For the Chattanooga and law professor delegate seats, nominees must be members of their local NBA affiliate. There is no affiliate in Knoxville so the requirement does not apply for that role. TABL membership is free. Learn more at tablawyers.org or contact Chicoya Smith for more information.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 6 dissolved a temporary suspension imposed Sept. 9 on Sumner County lawyer William Shea Forgety. The suspension was imposed after Forgety failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The court reports that Forgety now has responded to the complaint and complied with all conditions imposed by the order of suspension, and immediate dissolution of the temporary suspension is appropriate.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 29 directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to hold an immediate hearing on a petition from Michael Lloyd Freeman to dissolve a suspension imposed on Sept. 3. The court suspended Freeman for failing to respond to the board about four complaints of misconduct. Freeman alleges he has responded to the board and should be reinstated. The court directed the board to consider the petition and report back to the court with its recommendation.