Assistant U.S Attorney Stephen Parker of the Civil Rights Division in the Eastern District of Louisiana will speak to at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Oct. 17 in the Roland Hayes Auditorium. Parker’s presentation “The Tarnished Badge” will focus on the nature and dynamics of public corruption, including professional codes of conduct, temptations surrounding the public trust, investigative strategies, the legal environment and challenges in the 21st century, the Chattanoogan reports. Sponsored by the university’s Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Assistant Studies, the event is free and open to the public.

The Tennessee Justice Center has appointed three new board members, Michele Johnson, managing attorney and incoming executive director, announced today in a press release. Andrew Branham, an attorney with Counsel on Call, Memphis; Lisa Wyatt, an attorney with Heathcare Corporation of America; and Dr. Buzz Sienknecht, a physician and board member of Medical Foundation will join the board. Rebecca K. McKelvey, an attorney at Stites & Harbison PLLC, will serve as the new board chair.

Rep. Eric Watson announced today at a luncheon in Cleveland that he will not seek re-election to his House District 22 seat, and plans instead to run for sheriff of Bradley County. "I understand nothing lasts forever and everything has its season. And I feel like my season as a State Representative has neared its completion. I truly believe that my public service, my involvement with the law enforcement community, and my leadership role in different law enforcement capacities has prepared me for this next step in my life.” he said. The Chattanoogan has more.

In an opinion piece for the Millington Star, injury lawyer David Peel discourages young people from going to law school in the current climate unless truly called to the profession. Peel cites high debt and low job prospects as serious factors for recent graduates to consider, and offers alternative professions to pursue instead of law based on students’ interests. At the end, however, he states, “But if, like me, you are called to plead the case of the injured, little man against the Goliaths of the world, you must go and go now.”

The Bristol Tennessee Bar Association (BTBA) will begin offering monthly free legal advice clinics every second Saturday of each month to assist low-income individuals, WJHL reports. The first clinic will be held Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. at Bristol Faith In Action, 1534 Euclid Avenue Bristol, Va. "Many people have difficulty obtaining legal services due to the cost. So often, I hear from pro se litigants – those who are representing themselves – that they don't know where to turn, they don't know what to do next, and they don't feel as if they are even heard when they go to court,” BTBA Pro Bono Coordinator Suzanne Shackelford Queen said. “This is our opportunity, as volunteer attorneys, to help them navigate the legal waters and to give them a stronger voice so that they will be heard." The TBA has more about upcoming Celebrate Pro Bono clinics.

Despite the government shutdown, the Supreme Court and the solicitor general's office are ready for opening day of the court's new term on Monday, the Blog of the Legal Times reports. The high court announced it will "continue to conduct its normal operations" at least through Oct. 11, drawing from available funds as has the rest of the federal judiciary. None of the nearly 500 court employees has been furloughed. It is unclear what will happen if the shutdown lingers beyond Oct. 11, especially if it continues beyond Oct. 16, the final day of the court's first cycle of arguments.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean plans to appoint a Study and Formulating Committee to look at domestic benefits for same-sex partners of city employees, his office said yesterday. Dean spokeswoman Bonna Johnson said the mayor agrees with a majority of Metro Council members who signed a letter asking him to “consider the provision of domestic partner benefits for Metro employees and to make the appropriate recommendations to the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board.” The Tennessean has more.

Memphis city attorney Herman Morris Jr. is the 2013 recipient of the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s Joseph I. Milligan Jr. Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognized a government attorney for achievements in local government law. Morris is the first attorney from Memphis to receive this award, which was presented at the association’s 78th annual conference. "It is always an honor to be recognized by your peers," he said. "I am humbled, but know this award was due to the hard work of our fine city of Memphis legal department." Memphis Daily News has the story.

Lawyers should be careful of the “like” or “endorsement” features on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Information Week cautions. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct has specific restrictions on lawyer advertising and solicitation of clients including Rule 7.1 that provides lawyers should not make any false or misleading communication about their services, and Rule 7.2 which prohibits reciprocal or quid pro quo endorsements. The article states perhaps the most appropriate thing for attorneys to do at this point is either to disable the endorsement feature (if that can be done) or disclaim any implication of special skills or abilities based on such endorsements.

Top attorneys from several major firms participated on a panel at the Women in Law Empowerment Forum yesterday in Washington, DC. Panelists discussed ways law firms can help women succeed in the industry. "Firm management must set the expectations of what it expects of itself and its partners with respect to promoting partners at the firm," panelist Claudette Christian said. "What we really try to get are male partners in leadership roles to understand that it is their personal responsibility to promote women in the office." The Blog of the Legal Times has the story.