TBA’s 2024 Local Government Forum will take place this Friday, Nov. 1, as a live virtual event. It will start at 9 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. CDT. This year’s forum will feature sessions on parliamentary procedures, local sustainability measures and the ethics of who government attorneys actually represent. Other topics will include parliamentary procedures, First Amendment cases, local sustainability measures and the Tennessee Public Records Act. For more information and to register, visit TBA's website.

The Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) intake/interview session set for tomorrow in Dunlap will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. The article that ran in Friday’s issue of TBA Today indicated the incorrect time zone. For more information about the event, please call the LAET office in Chattanooga at 423-756-4013.

Colorado lawyer Melanie Beth Shada has received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Shada was hired by a client to prepare estate planning documents. The court found that she sent draft documents to the client, but failed to finalize the documents or respond to multiple requests for information. She also failed to respond in a timely manner to the disciplinary complaint. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 8.1.

Montgomery County lawyer Kevin William Teets Jr. has received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that in representing two clients seeking damages from an apartment fire, Teets accepted a retainer but never filed a lawsuit. The same clients then hired Teets to defend them in a detainer matter relating to a different apartment. In that matter, Teets failed to attend multiple court dates, resulting in default judgment and a judgment for damages being entered against the clients. He also failed respond to numerous requests for information from the clients. The court found that his actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) will hold a 30th anniversary celebration on Nov. 8 at the Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis 38104. The event, which will run from 7-9 p.m. CST, will feature a celebration of the CLC’s work, music from the Stax Alumni band, international food from local restaurants and more. Tickets may be purchased online. Contact Austin Brown, 901-402-0509 with questions.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold two intake/interview sessions next week for prospective clients. On Monday, the group will be at the Marion County Justice Center in Jasper from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. On Tuesday, it will be at the Sequatchie County Chancery (Old) Courthouse in Dunlap from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. For more information, call the LAET office in Chattanooga at 423-756-4013.

The Knox County Juvenile Court will hold its annual Chili Cook-Off Luncheon & Basket Auction on Nov. 8. All proceeds will benefit the Volunteer Advisory Board and assist with hosting the Annual Foster Care Appreciation Dinner for foster care parents and meeting emergency needs of children in foster care. Learn more about participating in the chili cook-off. Baskets for the auctions also are needed. For more information or for questions contact Morgan Akins, 865-215-6475.

The Nashville Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) will hold a pro bono legal clinic for the creative community on Nov. 6. The clinic for income-qualified artists, musicians and creatives will take place from 6-8 p.m. CST at the Country Music Association, 35 Music Square E, #201, Nashville 37203. Those in need of legal services can register for a 30-minute appointment. The deadline to register is Nov. 1. Lawyers who would like to volunteer for the clinic sign up here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 23 suspended 30 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 20 of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2024 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The law license of Georgia lawyer Robert Andrew Free has been transferred from disability inactive status to inactive status pending resolution of an outstanding disciplinary complaint. Free filed a petition for reinstatement on Sept. 12. Earlier this month, the Board of Professional Responsibility recommended removal of the disability status and transfer to inactive status. He will remain on inactive status until further order of the court.