Considering a job change? Check out “Five Questions to Ask Yourself If You’re Anxious About a Job Change” from the TBA's newly expanded JobLink Career Center. Career growth articles are one of the many features offered there. This article focuses on key questions to consider when thinking about a job change. Looking for new opportunities or need to post an opening? Get started here.

According to a spokesperson, Gov. Bill Lee intends to sign a bill banning gender-related medical treatments for minors, WATE reports. The legislation, HB1/SB1, passed the House in a 77–16 vote Thursday, with three Democrats joining Republicans in voting for the bill. The Senate passed it the week before. The legislation would prohibit surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender youth beginning July 1. Treatments that began before then would have to conclude by March 31, 2024. Medical providers who violate the ban could face fines and lose their license to practice.

The U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow will hear a pair of cases challenging President Joe Biden's appeal of rulings that struck down his administration’s effort to cancel billions of dollars in student debt. So far, Republican-appointed judges have kept the plan from going into effect. A Texas federal judge deemed the program unlawful, and the 8th Circuit upheld an injunction in a separate case brought by a group of Republican states. The justices have scheduled two hours of arguments in the case, though it will probably go longer, the Associated Press reports. The public can listen in on the court’s website beginning at 10 a.m. EST.

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new with TBA Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Ashley Harbin. Schwarz and Harbin discuss HB40/SB122, legislation prohibiting foreign ownership of real property by nonresident aliens; HB316/SB268, the Money Transmission Modernization Act; HB337/SB489, legislation amending the Small Estate Act; and HB795/SB283, legislation allowing people to bring guns in the buildings where judicial proceedings are held, but not in the courtroom. Legislative Updates airs each week on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Puerto Rico lawyer Rafael Velez on Friday was suspended from the practice of law in Tennessee for one year, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The probation is conditioned on compliance with a practice monitoring agreement and payment of all costs and fees associated with the disciplinary action. Velez agreed to a conditional guilty plea as to two separate disciplinary complaints and acknowledged his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16(d), 3.2, 3.4(c), and 8.1(b).

The University of Tennessee College of Law will host a symposium on March 9 looking at the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The daylong program, sponsored by the Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, will focus on how the decision has impacted constitutional rights, marginalized communities and women's health. The five sessions will feature law professors from a wide variety of law schools across the country. Programming will be offered in person and virtually. See the full line up or register here.

Prospective law students, current law students, and law school alumni are eagerly awaiting release of the 2024 U.S. News Law School Rankings, which usually occurs sometime in March. This year, rankings may be delayed due to changes being made to the methodology, Above the Law (ATL) reports. The publishers say the results will come sometime “in the spring.” Six of the metrics used in the past will not be included this time and graduates with school-funded public interest jobs will be counted the same as other employed graduates. U.S. News has not indicated how weights for other metrics will be affected, what bar passage data will be used, or whether peer evaluations will be included. Using the data known to be in the mix, ATL previews what the rankings could look like.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will hold three legal clinics in March. The “Attorney of the Day Clinic” will take place March 2 and 16 from 1-3 p.m. at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Room 134, Memphis 38103. The monthly clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library will take place March 11 beginning at 10 a.m. CST. The library is located at 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38111. For both clinics, clients will be served on a first come, first served basis. All times central. For questions or to volunteer contact Heather Staggs or Walter Casey.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today to consider six candidates for the chancery court vacancy in the 7th Judicial District, which includes Anderson County. The vacancy was created by the resignation of the Hon. M. Nichole Cantrell, effective Jan. 31, 2023. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Commission selected James W. “Jamie” Brooks Jr., Karen G. Crutchfield and H. Daniel Forrester. The Commission has forwarded the names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is looking for volunteer attorneys for a debt relief clinic on March 2 at 3:30 p.m. CST. The clinic is fully virtual and open to clients in Middle and East Tennessee. Volunteer attorneys need not represent debtors in bankruptcy but should be familiar with consumer bankruptcy law, including Tennessee exemptions. Although clients who qualify will be referred to willing attorneys for pro bono Chapter 7 representation, clinic volunteers need only commit to advising clients during the virtual clinic. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Rucker will kick off the clinic with a presentation to clients about bankruptcy and then volunteer attorneys will meet with clients in online breakout rooms. The clinic is being held in collaboration with the Belmont University College of Law, Federal Bar Association, Knoxville Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS), Legal Aid Society and Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Contact Alix Rogers to volunteer to help.