The Hill reports that SoFi, a personal finance company that sells products for student loan refinancing, is suing to end the Biden administration’s pandemic-era pause on federal student loan payments, claiming it is an overreach of power. President Biden in November extended the federal pause on student loan payments and interest accrual, which was first enacted by then-President Trump at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden said last year that the freeze was extended until beyond June while his administration faces legal challenges to its own debt forgiveness plan. In the SoFi filing, the company argues that the administration’s pause extension was to “alleviate ‘uncertainty’ for borrowers during the pendency of ongoing litigation regarding the debt-cancellation program,” as opposed to help borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state legislature has discussed several bills and resolutions regarding firearms this week, reports WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News. HJR0131 would establish: “…the declared public policy of the State of Tennessee relative to the right of the citizens and those within the boundaries of this State to keep, bear and wear arms.” HJR0038 would amend the Tennessee Constitution, removing the part that “authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime and to clarify that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms for their defense, and not just for common defense.” HJR0080 would urge the attorney general and reporter to review “any newly passed federal statute, regulation or executive order that may affect the rights of Tennesseans to bear arms.” If passed, it would allow them to sue if found to be an infringement. HB1189 would add protections to manufactures, sellers and dealers of firearms.

There is still time to submit a nomination for TBA’s Public Service Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent; pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney; and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Nominators are welcome to include supplemental information including letters or brief videos of support. Nominations close March 15 and awards will be presented at the 2023 TBA Public Service Brunch on April 15 in Nashville. For more information, contact TBA Director of Access to Justice Liz Todaro.

LAW TECH ’23 is returning as a live and in-person program this year! Join us March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville. This year's program will offer opportunities to network with sponsors, attendees and speakers, and win prizes! Topics to be covered include using technology to advance your practice, what role ChatGPT AI will play in legal document creation, analyzing online advertising and a deep dive into remote ADR. Another highlight of the day will be the ever-popular "Bill & Phil Show" with Bill Ramsey and Phillip Hampton. Learn more and register here.

Journalists interested in learning from longtime Nashville reporters like Demetria Kalodimos, Steve Cavendish and Meribah Knight, or legal media experts Seth May, Paul McAdoo and others have just one more week to apply for the 2023 Reporters Workshop. Sponsored by the TBA’s Communication Law Section, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association Foundation, the program will be held in person April 28-29 in Nashville. Organizers will select 15 print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting, and other timely topics. Journalists interested in attending should apply before 5 p.m. CDT on March 15. Stipends are available to help defer costs of participation. Read more about the program.

It is the age of YouTube where you can learn anything from a 10-minute video online. In today’s culture where clients take pride in doing everything themselves, lawyers need tools to stay competitive and capitalize on clients’ desires. Take this free tutorial video on Staying Competitive in a DIY World and learn how to take administrative burdens off yourself, all while commanding a higher hourly rate for the work clients value. See more resources for your practice in TBA’s Practice Management Center.

In business, a few simple numbers can show owners everything they need to know about the health of their business. Law firms are no exception. Take this free tutorial on Moneyball for Lawyers: Using Data to Build Your Practice to learn how to use the information you already have to make confident, informed decisions to plan your firm’s future, including knowing which numbers to measure, where to find them and how to improve them. See more resources for your practice in TBA’s Practice Management Center.

If you normally work out of an office but find yourself on the go more than ever, this free tutorial on "The $1,500 Mobile Lawyer" addresses the problems of a mobile lawyer and presents an actionable $1,500 budget that will allow you to work from anywhere whenever you need to do so. See more resources for your practice in TBA’s Practice Management Center.

Simply fixing or replacing technology that breaks will never improve your practice. Most lawyers often feel technologically adrift, although they have a general idea of problems they need to fix and new initiatives they want to launch. A technology plan remedies this lack of direction. A free tutorial on Technology and Business Planning will show you how to build a technology plan that identifies problems, addresses inefficiencies and problems, and proactively improves your practice. A business plan also provides direction and continuity for your overall business objectives. See more resources for your practice in TBA’s Practice Management Center.

The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, part of The City University of New York (CUNY), and the National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA) have partnered to conduct a study on Italian Americans and the legal profession. This study is the first to explore Italian Americans’ representation and experiences in various sectors of the legal field. Law students and lawyers are invited to take this three-minute survey. The deadline to complete the survey is April 30. Read more about the effort.