The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking an associate counsel to work remotely. The position will assist with the development and review of contracts and grants, and as needed, appear before legislative committees and legislative staff reviewing state contracts. Applicants should have five to seven years of experience, with at least three years focused solely on state or federal contract issues. See the full job description and application instructions on TBA’s JobLink platform. Applications are due by July 13.

The TBA Animal Law Section will host its Annual Forum at the Nashville Zoo on Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. This fun CLE provides attendees the chance to earn six CLE hours (five general and one dual) with an extended lunch break to explore the zoo. This year’s forum will feature topics relevant to several practice areas, including courtroom programs involving animals, conservation efforts, pet liability, landowner privacy concerns and ethics. Breakfast, lunch and zoo admission are included with registration. Space is limited for this experience, so register now before it’s too late!

Larry Ables, a current Hamilton County prosecutor, has launched a campaign to oust Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Gerald Webb, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Ables previously worked as a defense attorney and chief magistrate judge. If elected, he says he hopes to address gang issues in the county and restore pre-pandemic court processes. 

The next Veterans’ Legal Advice Clinic — a joint project of Knoxville area legal organizations — will take place this Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St. This general advice and referral clinic is supported by the Knoxville Bar Association Barristers and Young Lawyers Division, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office, University of Tennessee  College of Law, Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law, and the local Veterans Affairs office. Sign up here to volunteer. Masks are optional but should be worn pursuant to CDC guidelines.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold two legal clinics this month. The first, a general legal advice clinic, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon EDT on July 16 at the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center. To volunteer, email Mary Frances DeVoe. The second, a family law and housing clinic, will be held July 23 from 9 a.m. to noon EDT in Knoxville. This clinic is being held in conjunction with the YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley and will be held at the YWCA’s Phyllis Wheatley Center. To volunteer, sign up online or email Caitlin Torney.

Rita Roberts-Turner, chief of staff to former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and chief administrative officer at WeGo Public Transit, has joined the law firm of Klein Solomon Mills. She also previously served as chief of staff for Vanderbilt University’s office of general counsel, and as director of human resources, assistant attorney and assistant public defender for the Metro Nashville government. At WeGo, she led legal work and community engagement for the North Nashville Neighborhood Transit Center. Roberts-Turner now will focus on employment law, government services and nonprofit organizations. She joins former Metro legal director Saul Solomon at the firm. The Nashville Post has more on her career.

The TBA recently announced it is hosting a book club that will meet quarterly over the next 12 months. After polling members to select the first book, participants have chosen Killers of the Flower Moon — a true-life murder mystery involving the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. Shortly after discovering oil on its reservation, Osage people began dying under mysterious circumstances. Several who investigated the killings also were murdered. The newly created FBI, under the leadership of director J. Edgar Hoover, teamed up with the Texas Rangers to tackle what would prove to be one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history. Start reading now and watch for details about an upcoming discussion on the book, featuring a special guest, in September.

The Tennessee Department Revenue has released its annual list of bills passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor in 2022 that impact the agency’s work. Short summaries of each are posted on the department’s website and are organized into 11 subject areas: administration, alcoholic beverages, beer tax, business tax, franchise & excise tax, fuel tax, local occupancy tax, privilege tax, sales & use tax, tire fee, and title & registration.

The Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law has announced important dates for the fall semester. A virtual orientation for 1Ls will be held on Aug. 5, while an in-person orientation will take place Aug. 8-9. The first day of fall classes will be Aug. 11. The school also recently announced that Katie Tolliver Jones has been promoted to associate professor of law. Jones joined the faculty in 2017. Since then, she has taught first-year academic success courses as well as upper-level electives such as estate planning and contract drafting. In 2020, Jones was promoted to director of academic success and assessment. In this role, she not only oversees the law school’s academic success program, but also has chief responsibility for administering exams and programmatic assessments. She previously was in private practice in Knoxville. She was the TBA Young Lawyers District Representative for the area from 2012-2013.

Murfreesboro lawyer Mike Jones has announced his candidacy for circuit court judge in the 16th Judicial District, Division 1, the Murfreesboro Post reports. Jones is a founding partner of Perkins and Jones, where he primarily practices criminal defense, civil litigation and family law. Prior to earning his law degree from the Nashville School of Law, he was employed with the State of Tennessee. Jones is running as an independent. He is challenging incumbent Mark Rogers for the seat, which serves Rutherford and Cannon counties.