Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold four legal clinics this week. Tomorrow, the group will hold a clinic in Gallatin from 4:30-5:30 p.m. CDT at the Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Ave. On Wednesday, a legal clinic specifically for veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held at the Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Academy St., Murfreesboro 37130 from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT, and on Saturday, the McHugh Clinic will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. CDT at 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204. See all August clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.

Don’t miss the Sept. 8 Topgolf Tee-off, which allows an opportunity to earn three hours of general CLE credits followed by two hours of Topgolf gameplay. This unique event provides an optimum learning experience and is a great team-building exercise for your group or firm. Topics for the forum include how to choose between a living trust or will, silent trusts, corporate transparency and much more. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Space is limited, so register now before it’s too late.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 28 referred the case of Shelby County lawyer Monica Aislynn Timmerman to the Board of Professional Responsibility for whatever action the board deems warranted. Timmerman pled guilty to and was adjudged guilty of driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor, in the Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court in February.

More than 100 attorneys from across the country joined Tennessee lawyers in honoring TBA Immediate Past President Tasha Blakney during the ABA Annual meeting in Denver. The Sunday event during the ABA’s Annual Meeting featured comments from former TBA President John Tarpley, an introduction by current TBA President Jim Barry and remarks from Blakney. See photos from the event.

President Joe Biden's new regulation restricting asylum access at the U.S.-Mexico border can remain in effect for now, a U.S. appeals court ruled yesterday. A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold a district judge's ruling that the regulation violated U.S. law by cutting off asylum for some migrants caught crossing the border without documentation. The appeals court allowed the restrictions to remain in place pending the outcome of the government’s appeal. The court also said it would expedite the appeal, Reuters reports. A challenge to the regulation was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups that argued it mirrored Trump-era restrictions that were blocked in court.

Former Rep. Timothy Hill, who was appointed to fill House District 3 seat following the resignation of Scotty Campbell, was elected yesterday to fill the remainder of Campbell’s term, WJHL reports. Hill, a Republican, prevailed over Democrat Lori Love. Hill held the same seat from 2013-2020 and rose to the position of House majority whip. He gave up the seat in 2020 to run for Congress after U.S. Rep. Phil Roe announced his retirement. He and other Republican hopefuls lost the primary to now-Rep. Diana Harshbarger. The state House seat became vacant when Campbell resigned in in April over sexual harassment issues.

As the U.S. Department of Justice commences a civil rights investigation of Memphis Police, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, is calling for an overhaul of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, including removal of director Bill Gibbons. “We need a real Crime Commission,” Hardaway said, challenging the next Memphis mayor to appoint a group accountable to the public. Gibbons, who has been Shelby County district attorney general, Tennessee Homeland Security commissioner, Memphis City Council member and Shelby County commissioner, heads the 50-member commission, which was created in 1996. In 2022, the commission released a new plan to reduce crime after violence escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee Lookout has more on the news.

Edward Blum, the activist behind the U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action, set his sights on two new targets this week, Reuters reports. Students for Fair Admissions, Blum’s group behind the high court case, has a new campaign to end an affirmative action exemption at military schools. The group launched a website called "West Point Not Fair" and is asking those denied acceptance at military schools to contact it. Earlier this week, the nonprofit American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Blum, sued an Atlanta-based venture capital fund that supports Black women who own small businesses. The group says the Fearless Fund is violating a law barring racial bias in private contracts by allowing only Black women to participate in a grant competition.

The U.S. legal services sector lost 1,200 jobs in July, new Labor Department data released today shows. Legal sector jobs totaled 1,182,500 last month as scattered layoffs continue at large firms, Reuters reports. At least two firms – Katten Muchin Rosenman and Armstrong Teasdale – said this week they are laying off lawyers and professional staff in the wake of reduced demand. Today’s jobs report also revised numbers for June legal employment, reducing the total from 1,185,100 to 1,183,700 jobs.

A legal clinic for veterans will be held in Memphis next Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. CDT. The clinic will be moving back to an in-person forum, but virtual/telephonic options will still be available. No experience in legal issues specific to veterans is necessary for lawyers who would like to volunteer. Those interested in helping should contact Jake Dickerson.