James L. Cotton Jr., author of "The Greatest Speech Ever," will address the Tennessee State Senate tomorrow (Feb. 12) on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The book recounts the remarkable story of Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address. Cotton, a General Sessions Court judge in Scott County, will talk about the impact the speech had on bringing a new understanding of freedom to America and will focus on the happenings in Lincoln's life that inspired the key points in what many historians consider the greatest speech in American history. Learn more about Cotton’s book in the February 2014 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal.

The Knoxville Bar Association will hold Community Law Schools on March 6 and 7. The public education programs will offer free seminars on topics that include debt, mortgage foreclosures, wills and advance directives. The sessions will be held March 6 at the O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St., and March 7 at Fellowship Church, 8000 Middlebrook Pk. Register or learn more from the Knoxville Bar Association, (865) 522-6522.

Friday is the last day to participate in the TBA survey of Tennessee attorneys. The results of the survey will be presented in aggregate form, so individual responses will remain anonymous and confidential. For more information or assistance with the survey, contact TBA Membership Director Kelly Stosik at (615) 383-7421 or Will Hampton at Yacobian Research at (877) 250-7890.

High school juniors and seniors are invited to explore the benefits of a legal education at “Discovering the Law,” an event sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Law on Feb. 20. Directed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the DisoverLaw.org campaign is designed to “encourage racially and ethnically diverse students to discover career opportunities in law and choose a path in undergraduate school to help them succeed.” To register, contact the UT Law admissions office, (865) 974-4131, by Feb. 18.

The Tennessee Defense Lawyer Association (TDLA) is looking for an executive director, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The part-time independent contractor will be responsible for handling the administrative aspects of the TDLA. For a full job description or to apply, contact Phil Mischke at (901) 259-7213 or email pmischke@farris-law.com.

In the February Tennessee Bar Journal, Bill Haltom suggests the perfect Valentine’s Day gift your sweetheart: a charter membership in the Perfect 36 Society. The Perfect 36 Society is an emerging group of Tennessee women (many of whom are lawyers) who are working to celebrate the upcoming centennial of Aug. 8, 1920 — the day Tennessee became the final state that ratified the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing American women the right to vote. Although the centennial is four years away, the group will begin the celebration later this year with the unveiling of the Tennessee Women’s Suffrage Monument in the Legislative Plaza in Nashville. Learn more about that historic day and the women’s suffrage movement in Tennessee at the UT Daily Beacon.

Yarboro Ann Sallee was temporarily suspended from the practice of law today (Feb. 6) for failing to respond regarding a complaint of misconduct. View the BPR notice.

The Solid Waste Disposal Commission voted 4-3 on Wednesday to solicit an opinion from the Tennessee Attorney General to settle the dispute with the Loudon County Trustee’s Office over the 1 percent commission currently being charged to manage and invest revenues, the News Herald reports. Attorney Kevin Stevens told commissioners that he did not think the 1 percent fee had a legal basis. The panel also voted 6-1 to begin commission meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, and considered trimming attorney fees and expenses by meeting twice per month but did not take action.

Butler Snow is acquiring locally based litigation firm Walker Tipps & Malone, according to the Nashville Business Journal. The deal will boost Butler Snow's Nashville office to more than 60 attorneys, expanding its practice lines, which currently specialize in health care, commercial litigation and business services. Walker Tipps & Malone brings along civil and business litigation as well as personal injury practices.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County has formalized a partnership with Chattanooga’s Family Justice Center, News Channel 9 reports. In a letter of intent submitted to the city, the advocacy center says it will “co-locate and lease approximately 10,000 square feet at the Family Justice Center facility.” “We are incredibly excited to have a leading organization such as the Children’s Advocacy Center partner on this important initiative,” said Mayor Andy Berke. “Their commitment and willingness to collaborate will produce maximum impact in the community’s effort to address family violence.”