The downtown Nashville homeless shelter and recovery program Room in the Inn is the site of a free monthly legal clinic known as Project Homeless Experience Legal Protection (H.E.L.P.). The clinic offers assistance on civil matters such as disability benefits, and criminal matters, including expungements. Many struggle to exit homelessness because of issues navigating the legal system. That is where the H.E.L.P. clinic, started by Baker Donelson’s Nashville office 14 years ago, steps in. Shareholder Jonathan Cole says the firm recognized a need among the city’s homeless. “A lot of times there’s a legal issue that is an impediment or contributing factor that’s preventing them from getting more established, on their feet, into more permanent housing,” he said. “If we can remove some of those barriers, it’s a great help to them.” Initially launched in New Orleans, the clinic has now been implemented in over 25 cities. WKRN looks at some of the clients helped by the clinic.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson from the practice of law yesterday after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning two complaints of misconduct. Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license to practice law in such cases. Anderson is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 17.

The Knoxville law firm LaFevor & Slaughter is seeking an associate attorney with two to five years of experience to handle family law matters, including divorces, child custody cases, grandparents’ rights and other complex family matters. Candidates should have a team mentality with a "go-getter" attitude and be able to multitask, meet deadlines and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Read the full job description and get details for applying on the TBA’s JobLink platform.

TBA’s Practice Management Center starts with the basics and helps you build and grow your practice with the right tech tools. Start with a review of our general tech section and see our solutions for document management. Need some help? Email tbapmc@affinityconsulting.com for expert advice.

The TBA Administrative Law Section will host its Annual Forum on Dec. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville office of Burr & Forman. A virtual option is also available. Sessions will provide updates on relevant legislation, case law, ethics and administrative rules. Speakers include Janet Irene Kleinfelter with the Tennessee Attorney General's office, Phillip Hilliard with the state Administrative Procedures Division, and Krisann Hodges with the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Administrative Law Section members will receive a special discounted price on the program. Not a member of the section? Join today.

Officials paused in-person family visitation at Nashville jails because of the COVID-19 pandemic but now it looks like this change might be here to stay. Even as state prisons have gone back to in-person visiting, the local sheriff says he thinks incarcerated people are more comfortable seeing their loved ones on screens. But lawyers and families say a lot is being lost. “COVID has taught us all that video conferencing is no substitute for in-person conversations” says Dawn Deaner, the city’s former public defender and now executive director of the Choosing Justice Initiative. She also notes that jail calls with family and friends are recorded and can be monitored, which can affect free and open conversation. WPLN looks at how the policy is affecting some families.

The Ethics Roadshow is back on the road with stops planned in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville next month. This year’s program is again presented by Memphis attorney Brian Faughnan, owner of Faughnan Law. The theme is “While You Were Sheltering” because while most of us were “sheltering in place” during the last couple of years, there have been some significant changes to Tennessee's ethics rules. Each program will offer three components: an update on which rules have changed, an overview of important rules that remain unchanged, and a look ahead at rules changes that may be on the horizon. Make plans to join colleagues now in Knoxville on Dec. 8, Chattanooga on Dec. 9, Memphis on Dec. 14 or in Nashville on Dec. 15.

Swearing in ceremonies for new lawyers continued on Wednesday of this week in Jackson with a small group. Former TBA Young Lawyers Division President and Jackson attorney Terica Smith was on hand to welcome the students to the practice of law. See photos from the event.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) has named Heather Staggs as its is new managing attorney of pro bono programs. Staggs previously worked with West Tennessee Legal Services in its Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Section. In her new role, she will oversee the organization’s pro bono projects and clinics, including the bi-weekly Shelby County Courthouse Pro Bono Clinic and the Second Saturday Benjamin Hooks Main Library Pro Bono Clinic. Staggs earned her law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 2015 and was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2017.

The U.S. judiciary’s administrative office is asking the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to hear a case involving political activity by its staff. A three judge-panel of the court previously found that rules preventing employees from engaging in political activity violated their constitutional right to free speech. The judiciary argues that such rules are necessary to protect the third branch’s “reputation for impartiality and nonpartisanship.” The rules, implemented in 2018, prohibit donations to political campaigns, attendance at partisan rallies and expressions of political views on social media. Bloomberg Law has more on the case.