House and Senate Republicans began meeting privately on Tuesday morning to negotiate differences between two chambers’ approaches to Gov. Bill Lee’s proposal to create a statewide school voucher system. The talks are a continuation of discussions held between Senate Education Chair Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, and House K-12 Subcommittee Chair Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, on Monday night, the Tennessee Journal reports.

Maury County lawyer James Thomas Dubois Jr. has been reinstated to the active practice of law today. Dubois had been on disability inactive status since Feb. 13, 2023. He filed a petition for transfer to active status on March 14. The Board of Professional Responsibility found that Dubois demonstrated he no longer suffers from a disability and the petition was satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has censured Madison County lawyer Marcus Allen Lipham for violating Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(c) and 3.1. The court found that Lipham filed a lawsuit on behalf of a client that lacked any meritorious basis in fact or law. He then subsequently failed to file a response to the defense counsel’s motion to dismiss or seek leave to amend the original complaint, and agreed to dismissal of the suit with prejudice without his client’s informed consent. The court said Lipham also failed to respond to a motion for sanctions filed by defense counsel or notify his client of the motion hearing.

Legal technology company Aderant and Vanderbilt University Law School have joined forces to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the practice of law. Aderant, a global provider of legal business management solutions, has introduced AI tools like MADDI to enhance law business management. The platform also is being used by the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab to explore how AI intersects with the delivery of legal services and access to justice. According to a news release, the partners kicked off the collaboration this week with an address to the law school by Aderant’s chief technology officer. The law lab’s co-director will appear at Aderant’s 2024 Global Momentum conference in Nashville May 6-9.

Join your colleagues for the 2024 TBA Annual Convention in Knoxville, June 12-15, and earn up to eight hours of continuing legal education. This year's in-person CLE lineup will bring together an esteemed group of speakers to cover a variety of timely, essential legal issues. Hot topics include how AI is impacting the practice of law in Tennessee, the ethical considerations of AI and the annual legislative update. Other programs include "How to Be Your Best in the Virtual Legal World," produced by the TBA Young Lawyers Division, and "Exploring the Relationship Between Criminal Justice and Other Areas of Law," produced jointly by the TBA and the Tennessee Alliance of Black Lawyers (TABL). Learn more about these programs. Still need to register for convention? Get started here.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is down to two sites for the planned new federal courthouse in Chattanooga, Chattanoogan.com reports. Those locations are: the TVA Building that spans Broad Street and the Hawk Hill site where the AT&T Field now stands. The 8th Street site is no longer under consideration. According to the news source, GSA anticipates a final site selection by this fall. According to WDEF, local officials are expressing opposition to the Hawk Hill site. The proposed new courthouse would encompass approximately 190,478 square feet, and include seven courtrooms, nine chambers and 40 secured parking spaces. View planning documents on the GSA website.

New law school rankings from U.S. News & World Report are out with fewer big changes than previous years, according to Reuters. Schools in the top four spots remained in the same position and there were relatively few changes among the so-called T-14 schools. Further down the list, though, there was significant movement. Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law both had the largest gain, moving up 28 positions. The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law had the largest drop, declining 37. For Tennessee schools, Vanderbilt University Law School came in at 19 (down from 16 last year); University of Tennessee College of Law came in at 52 (down one spot from last year); Belmont University College of Law ranked 91 (up from 105 last year); University of Memphis School of Law placed at 140 (down from 125 last year); and Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law came in at 165 (up from 175 last year). See the full list for this year. Compare results to the 2023 list.

There’s more to starting a new firm than just having a great legal mind or a great team. There are many business decisions to be made, including determing the type of business entity to set up, the compensation structure for lawyers and legal assistants, and choosing a system for tracking and reporting finances. Get insights on these and other decisions that will need to be made in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Practice Management Center.

There is still time to sign up for tomorrow's Elder Law Basics program, which is designed for attorneys new to the practice, or those looking to brush up on their knowledge of this practice area. The topics will include an overview of powers of attorney, pre-admission evaluations, real estate in elder law, how clients can find and afford health care in retirement, ethics, and more. The program will take place virtually from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT.

Longtime Nashville injury lawyer Bart Durham died April 9 at the age of 89, News Channel 5 reports. Durham, founder of the personal injury law firm Bart Durham Injury Law, moved to Nashville in 1969 and launched the firm in 1975. A tribute penned by Durham’s son, also a lawyer at the firm, reads in part, “Beyond being the founding force and public face of Bart Durham Injury Law, he was, at his core, a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. His tireless commitment to justice, unparalleled work ethic and boundless generosity have left an enduring impact on our family, our firm and the countless lives he touched.” Visitation will be April 16 at 10 a.m. CDT at Woodmont Christian Church, 3601 Hillsboro Pk., Nashville 37215. A celebration of life will follow at noon. Memorial donations may be made to Heart’n Soul Hospice. The Tennessean has more on Durham's career.