Author and former TBA President Sam Elliott is set to be featured in the Southern Lit Alliance’s Chattanooga Author Showcase, the Hamilton County Herald reports. Elliott, who practices at Chattanooga’s Gearhiser, Peters, Lockaby, Cavett & Elliott, has written extensively about the Civil War in his works, which include “John C. Brown of Tennessee,” “Soldier of Tennessee” and “Isham G. Harris of Tennessee.” Elliott will be recognized alongside eight other local authors at the event on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. EDT at Stove Works Museum, 1250 E. 13th Street, Chattanooga. A reception will provide opportunities to talk with Elliott, purchase his books and hear him read excerpts from his works.

Apply to join the Tennessee Department of Health as associate counsel in its Office of General Counsel. The position will represent the department in administrative law cases, provide legal advice to healthcare licensure boards, analyze proposed legislation and more. Successful candidates will have three or more years of continuous legal practice, preferably with litigation experience. To apply, email TDH.TalentManagement@tn.gov or complete the application process on www.tn.gov/careers. View this listing or browse all job listings on the TBA’s JobLink page.

The TBA’s BarBuzz podcast is celebrating three years of being on the air! Tune in to the first episode of Season 3 with special co-host David Aguilera, the policy and research advisor for the Tennessee Senate Minority Leader. Aguilera immigrated to the U.S. from Bolivia when he was 12 and realized a passion for advocacy while working construction in New York City to earn money for college. He recounts his 19-year-long journey to gaining U.S. citizenship and his path to becoming an attorney, plus your monthly dose of legal news and bar association events! BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and available wherever you listen to podcasts or on the TBA’s website!

Some bar exam test takers are scrambling to get older laptops after learning ExamSoft's Examplify software will not work on certain newer machines, Reuters reports. According to an email from the software company, laptops running Windows and using Intel’s newest chips are not compatible with the bar exam. Tennessee uses the Examplify software as part of its exam, however, Board of Law Examiners Executive Director Lisa Perlen says there have not been issues here. She said the board early on told applicants about the potential compatibility issue, and so far no one has encountered a problem. 

Twitter sued billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, asking Delaware’s Court of Chancery to order Musk to complete a $44 billion takeover deal, NPR reports. Musk entered into an agreement to buy Twitter in late April but has since launched a fight with the company over the prevalence of fake accounts, which he claims is higher than Twitter lets on. The lawsuit accuses Musk of hypocrisy and bad faith in breaching his contract with Twitter. It says that after Tesla shares declined in value Musk began to disparage the company and make public requests aimed at making Twitter appear negligent. Musk has 20 days to respond to the complaint, but lawyers for Twitter have proposed an expedited timetable, arguing a delay would hurt the company.

Attorney John Coke has been selected to serve as general counsel for the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). Coke has been assistant general counsel since 2016 and transitioned into the new role on July 1. The AOC general counsel heads the legal service and judicial development team, oversees administrative functions and judicial conferences, and supports trial and appellate judges across the state. Before joining the AOC, Coke clerked for 20th Judicial District Judge Joe Binkley Jr. and for Judge Hamilton Gayden, also of the 20th Judicial District. He replaces former General Counsel Rachel Harmon who was promoted to deputy director earlier this year. Read more from the AOC.  

A survey of law students from 39 law schools has found that students are reporting a need for help with emotional or mental health problems, and more are reporting a past diagnosis of depression or anxiety, the ABA Journal reports. Eleven percent of the law students had thought seriously about suicide in the past year, compared to 6% in 2014. Nearly 33% of the students reported they had thought about attempting suicide in their lifetime, up from 21% in 2014. Nearly 70% of the law students thought they needed help in the last year for emotional or mental health problems compared to 2014’s 42%. The study’s authors suggest law school faculty and staff should “invest more energy and creativity and resources in supporting law student well-being.” They also suggested that law school deans of students should hold information sessions on how seeking help might impact the character and fitness evaluation for admission to the bar. Read the survey.

Joe D. Spicer, founding member Memphis law firm Spicer Rudstrom PLLC, passed away Monday. He was 89. Spicer earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law before moving to Memphis to begin his law practice. A skilled trial lawyer, Spicer would spend the next 50 years in courtrooms across Memphis and Tennessee. “Joe’s litigation skills were unmatched,” said Spicer Rudstrom Managing Partner Clint Woodfin in a release. “Perhaps lesser known was his business acumen. His decision to take Spicer Rudstrom statewide in 1996 now serves as the road map for the regional expansion of mid-sized litigation firms. He will truly be missed.” Funeral services for Spicer will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to any charitable organization of your choice.

Hit the slopes in beautiful Snowmass, Colorado, while earning CLE credit! The TBA’s 36th Annual CLE Ski program will take place on Jan. 21-26, 2023. This special event combines 15 hours of quality CLE on a variety of practice areas and topics with the beautiful slopes of one of Colorado's premier ski resorts as its setting. Attendees will stay at the Stonebridge Inn, just 10 miles southwest of Aspen. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information on topics and speakers.

The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility today censured attorney Brette Baldini Healy. Healy was employed as an in-house attorney in Georgia for a seven-year period while her Tennessee law license was administratively suspended. During this time, Healy was not licensed in any other jurisdiction. Her actions violated Rule 5.5 regarding unauthorized practice of law. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney’s ability to practice law.