Yesterday the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered that the July bar exam be held as a computer-based test due to continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The order explains that many of the test takers are in their 20s and not likely to be vaccinated by the July exam date. Restrictions on holding large, indoor gatherings that will still be in place also contributed to the decision. The National Conference of Bar Examiners is preparing a remotely administered Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) that will be utilized. Applicants who pass the online bar exam will be eligible for admission in Tennessee and any of the 35 other states that accept a UBE score. Registration for the July bar exam will open on March 1. The February bar exam was already set to be taken remotely. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the Knoxville Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Associations in the Eastern District of Tennessee, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, and the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission will host a virtual Debt Relief Legal Advice Clinic for pre-screened individuals on Saturday, March 13, beginning at 9:00 a.m. by Zoom. The advice clinic will be available to qualified individuals who live in counties in the Eastern District that are within the territory of LAET. Attorneys will volunteer to conduct initial meetings with the clients to discuss their situations and options.
Qualification for the free services will be income-based, with pre-screening by LAET in the various court divisions of the Eastern District of Tennessee. The clinic clients may also be eligible for free bankruptcy services.
Individuals who seek assistance may sign up by contacting the LAET listed below:
(865) 637-0484
if you live in Blount, Knox, Loudon, or Sevier County
(423) 928-8311
if you live in Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, or Washington County
(423) 402-4766
if you live in Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, or Sequatchie County
The deadline to call for qualification screening based on income is March 4. To qualify for the clinic, an individual in a household of 4, for example, could make no more than $5,458.33 monthly, depending on expenses. After a person is pre-screened and found to qualify for the clinic, the next step is completing a short questionnaire outlining the facts relevant to the question or problem. Each qualified participant who completes the questionnaire will be given the Zoom contact information and matched with a volunteer attorney. The clinic will begin with an introduction by Judge Bauknight to explain the purpose of the clinic and the basics of chapter 7 bankruptcy, including the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy relief. After Judge Bauknight's short presentation, the clinic clients and volunteer attorneys will be paired in confidential Zoom breakout rooms for individual consultations.
Attorneys interested in volunteering to help in this clinic should click here. Veterans seeking advice can learn more about the clinic by clicking here.
What is happening in the Tennessee Legislature this week? Read Stephanie D. Coleman's summary in this week's Bill Watch.
Bill Watch is a service of the Knoxville Bar Association Legislative Committee. During each week of the legislative session, the KBA will distribute an updated report, through the support of Stephanie D. Coleman of Owings, Wilson & Coleman. The report will indicate progress and recent actions taken on the bills of interest to KBA members. Each week's report will be made available on the KBA Website and News.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. View the notice in PDF document here, or view the full notice on the U.S. District Court website.
The Knoxville Bar Foundation was established in 1992 to improve the administration of justice, to enhance the public’s understanding of and confidence in the legal system, and to serve the legal profession. The Bar Foundation has awarded grants totaling approximately $ 485,000 for local law-related projects and programs since its inception. This is a meaningful contribution to programs that promote and enable the essence of what we as lawyers seek – liberty and justice for all. Last year the Board of Directors approved thirteen grant requests, totaling $30,000.
In May 2021, the Knoxville Bar Foundation will award grants to deserving applicants. The individual grant awards usually are $5,000 or less and the deadline for submitting grant applications is March 5, 2021. Please note that grant funding may not be used for operating costs and endowments. We are excited about this year’s grant program and encourage interested parties and organizations to apply. Submit all grant applications before 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2021 to Charles Swanson, Chairman, Knoxville Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 2027, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901 or deliver to 505 W. Main Street, Suite 50, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
View the full press release and grant application here.
Lawline Online has received a fresh review for the new year! If you aren't familiar with Lawline Online as a resource for your callers, friends and family, you are missing out!
Our message to the public is, "If you think you need a lawyer, chances are, you do." But what if someone isn't sure? What if they don't feel ready to discuss their issue, or know what questions to ask?
The Knoxville Bar Association developed Lawline in 1999 as a telephone recorded-message service to assist potential clients in determining if they have a matter for which an attorney is needed, or if their needs are better met elsewhere. In June 1999, Lawline became a reality with the help of the local courts, governmental and community service organizations, and more than thirty-five members of the Knoxville Bar Association.
Thirty-two years later, Lawline is now Lawline Online, a part of the KBA's collection of public resources. It contains more than 70 topics, grouped in 16 major categories to aid in understanding common legal problems, recognizing potential legal problems, and understanding how the justice system works. If further help is needed, there are readily available links to the Lawyer Referral & Information Service and to local agencies. All this is designed to educate the public and guide them to the best help possible.
Lawline material is regularly reviewed for accuracy by KBA attorney volunteers, and whenever needed, as when changes occur to Tennessee law. The messages are written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner using everyday language, with a clear message that they are not intended to replace the advice of an attorney.
Click Here to learn more about Lawline Online and the amazing work of your peers who help us ensure that we provide the very best public outreach possible - one more thing that makes practicing law in East Tennessee something special.
View the Tennessee Supreme Court's Order soliciting comments to proposed amendments to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21 with Appendix, filed January 15, 2021 under ADM2020-01728. Document link: https://www.knoxbar.org/docDownload/1703397
The Blount County Circuit Court has announced that effective immediately, any garnishments filed in Blount County must use the new form.
View the new form here.
United States Bankruptcy Judgeship Eastern District of Tennessee
Notice of Vacancy
The Sixth Circuit Judicial Council is soliciting applications from persons interested in appointment as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. This position is vacant due to the retirement of United States Bankruptcy Judge Marcia Phillips Parsons.
United States Bankruptcy Judges exercise highly important judicial powers and responsibilities as officers of the United States District Courts. All bankruptcy cases under Title 11, United States Code, and all proceedings arising under Title 11 or arising in or related to a case under Title 11 are referred to the Bankruptcy Judges of a district. A person appointed as Bankruptcy Judge should have the character, ability and impartiality to qualify such person for service in the Federal Judiciary. The term of office is 14 years with a possible renewal appointment in accordance with the Regulations for the Reappointment of United States Bankruptcy Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Sixth Circuit Judicial Council Procedures for the Reappointment of Bankruptcy Judges. The current salary of the position is $199,088.
Bankruptcy Judges are appointed by the United States Court of Appeals pursuant to the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984, P.L. 98-353, 98 Stat. 345, and regulations promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Court of Appeals will make an appointment to this vacancy from a list of at least three nominees submitted to it by the Sixth Circuit Judicial Council.
Qualifications. To be qualified for appointment as a bankruptcy judge, an applicant must possess the following minimum qualifications:
(a) Be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of at least one state, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a member in good standing of every other bar of which the applicant is a member.
(b) The applicant must have engaged in the active practice of law for at least five years (with some substitutions authorized).
(c) The applicant must possess the following abilities or characteristics: (1) competence to perform the duties of the office; (2) integrity and good character; (3) commitment to equal justice under the law; (4) sound physical and mental health; (5) outstanding legal ability and competence as evidenced by ability to deal with complex legal problems, aptitude for legal scholarship and writing, and familiarity with courts and court processes; (6) demeanor, character and personality that would exhibit good judicial temperament.
(d) An applicant may not be related to a judge of the appointing Court of Appeals or Judicial Council of the Circuit, or to a judge of the District Court to be served, by blood or marriage within the degree of first cousin.
The selection process is confidential and may take up to 12 months or longer to complete. Persons shall be considered without regard to race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age (40 years and over), or disability. The selected nominee will be required to satisfy FBI and IRS background investigations prior to appointment and must comply with the financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-521 (1978) (codified at 5 U.S.C. app. §§ 101-111).
Interested applicants may obtain a Bankruptcy Judge Application from the Circuit Executive’s Office or by accessing the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit website at www.ca6.uscourts.gov. Persons interested in applying for this position should send their application to: Office of the Circuit Executive, 503 Potter Stewart United States Courthouse, 100 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Applications are to be submitted only by the applicant personally and must be received by January 6, 2021. Candidates whose applications are not received by the closing date will not be considered.
The U.S. Courts is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
View the announcement online here.
The Tennessee Supreme Court today extended the deadline for comments on a proposal from the Nashville Bar Association that would require all attorneys to complete two hours of continuing education in diversity, inclusion, equity and elimination of bias. Those who would like to comment on the proposal now have until March 3, 2021, to do so. The TBA requested the extension to allow time for its House of Delegates and Board of Governors to consider the issue at meetings in January and February.
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