Learn techniques for developing law leadership skills in the full-day Lead Law program on Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Tennessee Bar Center in Nashville. Leadership training will focus on leading yourself, leading your clients and leading your firm. The course is worth 5.5 credits of CLE.

Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. (MALS) named Cindy Cole Ettingoff as its new Director of Pro Bono Programs. Before working at her own firm, Ettingoff was an attorney with Weintraub, Stock, Bennett, Ettingoff & Grisham. She also served as the staff attorney with the City of Memphis. “Cindy has a diverse legal background as a practicing attorney and a pro bono volunteer, but also has extensive involvements with bar associations at all levels and several local community based organizations,” Harrison D. McIver III, MALS executive director, said.

Shelby County Commissioners got approval from its General Government Committee to select its own legal counsel, The Commercial Appeal reports, but the decision is not being well received by County Attorney Ross Dyer, who argues it is his office’s responsibility to act as legal counsel for the county. "When you put forth a resolution that says you're hiring an attorney to give you legal advice you have infringed on the rights of the county attorney's office and are violating the charter," Dyer said.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a Second U.S. Ciricut Court of Appeals panel has ruled that the family of the man who wrote the popular Christmas tune “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” will resume the rights to the song at the end of this year. The rights to the holiday melody are currently controlled by EMI Feist Catalog Inc., a Sony subsidiary. The song is the most frequently performed holiday song, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

The Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously determined today that the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act applies to all claims relating to the delivery of health care services by covered health care providers. This ruling comes after Nashville parents Adam and Ashley Ellithorpe claimed in 2013 that Janet Weismark, a licensed clinical social worker, treated the couple’s child without their consent. The ruling dismissed the claims because the couple failed to give a pre-suit notice or to provide a certificate of good faith as required by the Act.

Several legal clinics will be held next week in Tennessee throughout Celebrate Pro Bono Month. The Bradley County Bar Association and Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will host a clinic on Oct. 13, 2 p.m. in Cleveland. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 423-756-4013, ext. 1113. Contact Charlie McDaniel for more information. LAET will also sponsor the Kingsport Bar Clinic on Oct. 15, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the United Steel Worker’s Building, 243 East Charlemont Ave. This clinic is open to the public. For more information, contact Christy Harris. Also on Oct. 15, Project Homeless Connect will hold a Civil Legal Clinic from 9 – 4 a.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 North Main St. in Memphis. To volunteer, contact Ann Fritz, 901-527-3575. The Higher Ground Worship Center Legal Advice Clinic, open to the public, will be held Oct. 17, 9 – 11 a.m. at 2424 Yearwood Ave. in Murfreesboro. The event is sponsored by the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & The Cumberlands, Murfreesboro Office. Contact Andrae Crismon for more information. LAET will also hold an outreach event at the Carter County Community Fair on Oct. 16. 9 – 11 a.m. at the Elizabethon-Carter County Public Library, 201 North Sycamore St. Contact Christy Harris for more information.

The National Law Review takes a look at the Tennessee Court of Appeals Aug. 31 case of Hensley v. Cocke Farmer’s Cooperative that centers on an employment agreement dispute after an employee was terminated within six months of the agreement’s execution. The article highlights the two principals of Tennessee law in relation to the case, including, “A [Tennessee] corporation is bound by its minutes even if those minutes are inaccurate.”

The New York Times highlights several states that are having a difficult time carrying out executions due to problems obtaining and using the limited supplies of suitable drugs. “Over time lethal injection has become only more problematic and chaotic,” said Deborah W. Denno, a professor at Fordham Law School and an expert on lethal injections.

Rep. Mike Harrison, R-Rogersville, is exiting the legislature to become the executive director of the County Mayors Association, The Chattanoogan reports. “I could not be more proud of what we have been able to do during my tenure in the Tennessee General Assembly,” Harrison said. House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, announced she will appoint Speaker Pro Tempore Curtis Johnson to serve as Interim Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee chair to fill Harrison's post on that committee.

The American Correctional Association recommended that Tennessee review how it classifies prisoner assaults on guards, the Times Free Press reports. State Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield said he does not think assaults are currently being misclassified, but said he would "evaluate how we're going to implement [or] whether there are some things we need to tweak." The national experts also recommended in their report presented Wednesday to a Senate subcommittee that the state change its current staff work schedule.