Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold two phone clinics next week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. Clinics are Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All times central. LAS is looking for attorneys to help answer questions. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

The TBA Corporate Counsel Section is planning its Annual Forum for April 21. This year’s four-hour, remote CLE will cover a range of topics including what to expect from the new Biden administration with regard to regulations; labor and employment law updates; using technology to manage a law office; and how COVID-19 is impacting labor and employment, human resources, workplace liability, vaccines and more. Speakers include Adam Dougherty with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart; Geoffrey Lindley with Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell; and Hemant Sharma from the University of Tennessee.

Knox County is seeking to hire a judicial magistrate to issue arrest, search and forfeiture warrants, and conduct jail arraignments through real-time video conferencing. Applicants must be licensed attorneys and residents of the county. The position lasts four years and will begin on June 30. Resumes should be sent by April 30 to Donna Corbitt, Judicial Court Administrator, Room M-70, City-County Building, P.O. Box 2404, Knoxville, TN 37901. The office may be reached at 865- 215-2370.

Judge Bernice Donald, with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives on “The Importance of a Diverse Federal Judiciary.” Donald appeared before the House Judiciary Committee and spoke about how diversity on the bench reinforces the legitimacy of the institution of the courts and respect for the rule of law among the public. She also spoke about how diversity of lived experiences helps judicial panels look more like the people they serve, an element, she said, which is essential for our concept of justice. Read more about the hearing from Law.com.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking a trial attorney for its Office of General Counsel in Memphis. Responsibilities including reviewing charge files, recommending initiation of litigation, filing petitions for compliance with administrative subpoenas, seeking temporary injunctive relief, conducting discovery, preparing pre-trial and post-trial briefs and materials, and filing motions related to court orders, decrees, and pre-suit settlement agreements. The position will be open for applications until April 21.

The Tennessee Bar Association is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Claudia Jack Award and Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award. The Claudia Jack Award honors an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who has served the legal community and their clients in an exemplary fashion. It is named after the late Claudia Jack, a public defender and long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged. The Drowota Award is given to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice as exemplified by the career of former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank F. Drowota III. The deadline for both nominations is May 3.

Former Nashville Mayor David Briley says he is considering a run for circuit court judge so long as Judge Hamilton “Kip” Gayden does not run for re-election, the Nashville Post reports. Gayden’s term as Davidson County's Circuit Court judge ends next year. He has been on the bench for more than four decades. “I have the greatest admiration for Judge Gayden’s service to the people of Nashville, and it would be an honor for any lawyer to follow him,” Briley said. Briley is an attorney for Bone McAllester Norton and a longtime public servant. He served two terms on the Metro Council and was elected vice mayor in 2015. He took over as mayor in 2018 after Mayor Megan Barry resigned. He then won a special election to fill the remainder of the term.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, last week stripped Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, of his committee assignments, the Nashville Post reports. The decision was announced with no debate or explanation shortly before members left the Capitol for the week. “There are certain expectations that must be met by members of the Tennessee House of Representatives,” Sexton said through a spokesperson. “These include maintaining decorum and professionalism, as well as respect for others, and perhaps most importantly, respect for our longstanding committee process. If any or all of these expectations become an issue, appropriate actions will be taken — including removing a member from his or her committee assignments.” The paper says the dispute appears to stem from an argument between Griffey and House leaders earlier this week over the legislator’s attempt to revive a bill defeated in a subcommittee. The Republican Party in Griffey's home Henry County passed a resolution earlier this week censuring Sexton over the parliamentary dispute and calling on the speaker to resign his position.

TBA’s Practice Management Center has resources for learning how to convert WordPerfect documents to Word. Follow the steps here and avoid the endless rabbit hole of minor repairs. And be sure to check out other whitepapers on document management and general technology support.

The offices of U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are accepting applications from candidates interested in appointment as the U.S. attorney in one of Tennessee’s three federal districts. Interested individuals should download the questionnaire posted on Sen Blackburn’s website or Sen. Hagerty’s website and submit the completed form to both senators by email at appointments@blackburn.senate.gov and appointments@hagerty.senate.gov. There is no firm deadline for submission, but the senators are asking interested candidates to complete the form as soon as they can.