Overton County lawyer Joyce Annette “JJ” Oakley died Nov. 30. Services were held yesterday in Livingston. Oakley earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 1972 and a master of nursing in 1980. She taught for many years but then attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, earning a law degree in 1985. Oakley served as president of the Oakley First National Foundation, which provides scholarships to students in need. She also was a member of the Livingston Regional Hospital Board of Trustees and the Cumberland University Board of Trust.

If you tend to procrastinate, you may be asking, “Is it December already? And how do I get my CLE hours by the end of the month? Don’t panic! TBA has a number of CLE packages based on hours needed, including our most popular 15-hour package. We also have 12, 10, eight and six hour options. Access packages here or browse the full offerings of our Year End CLE event.

The TBA Health Law Section will host a free webinar on Dec. 11 on artificial intelligence (AI), and how health care-related businesses can build a viable AI Governance Program. AI applications have long been used to create health plans and technology services for decision support, back-office transactions, claims processing, supply management, surgical robotics and more. The growth in AI technology, however, has led to enforcement actions and lawsuits, making it important for companies to be aware of new standards. One hour of general CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee.

WSMV Investigates last week published a piece highlighting one family’s experience with Tennessee’s current system of court-appointed representation in the juvenile and criminal courts. A shortage of court-appointed attorneys representing the indigent in Tennessee has led to people languishing in jail despite having not been convicted of a crime, the news outlet reports. Part of that shortage is due to the low reimbursement rate for these court-appointed attorneys. Tennessee's rate is the lowest in the country at $50 per hour and has not changed in more than 25 years. The Administrative Office of the Courts announced in October that it would ask the state legislature to increase compensation for court-appointed attorneys in the juvenile and criminal courts.

The TBA Health Law Section will host a free webinar on Dec. 11 on artificial intelligence (AI), and how healthcare-related businesses can build a viable AI Governance Program. AI applications have long been used by these entities in creating health plans and technology services for decision support, back-office transaction, claims processing, supply management, surgical robotics and more. New applications have led to enforcement actions and lawsuits, further setting new standards for businesses that develop, deploy or use AI models. This event will cover the basics for AI governance. One hour of general CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Register now.

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) recently announced it has been awarded an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living to assist older Tennesseans living with cognitive impairment or a dementia diagnosis. The funding will allow TCAD to provide long-term planning assistance, resources for disease management and behavior management for cognitively impaired seniors. Apportionments will subsidize dementia outreach and implement dementia health navigators across the state who will work in conjunction with area agencies to assist symptomatic individuals. “The resources this grant provides will be a helping hand for those who may find themselves facing one of aging’s biggest challenges — cognitive decline,” said TCAD Dementia Services Coordinator Keita Cole. “Instituting the grant will establish a person-centered approach to caring for those experiencing cognitive decline by expanding a dementia-capable home- and community-based service system in Tennessee.”

The TBA Elder Law Section will host a free webinar for TBA members on Dec. 14 to explore ethical issues when representing older clients. The presentation will delve into questions involving what to do when you suspect a client is mentally impaired, who the client really is when family members show up for the legal consultation, the ethical duties required when children pay for work done for their parents, and more. One hour of dual CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Learn more and register here.

Ethics can get quite complicated when we are representing older clients. What should we do when we suspect that our clients are mentally impaired? Who is the client when a family shows up for the consultation? What are our ethical duties when the children pay for the work that we do for their parents? Join us for a free webinar on Dec. 14 at noon CST while we explore these issues. Click here for more information and to register.

The Association for Women Attorneys (AWA) will be holding its 42nd Annual Banquet on Jan. 25 from 6-9 p.m. CST at The Kent, 61 Keel Ave., Memphis 38107. This year's event will be honoring the Hon. Camille R. McMullen, judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Learn more or register.

WSMV Investigates yesterday published a piece highlighting one family’s experience with Tennessee’s current system of court-appointed representation in the juvenile and criminal courts. A shortage of court-appointed attorneys representing the indigent in Tennessee has led to people languishing in jail despite having not been convicted of a crime, the news outlet reports. Part of that shortage is due to the low reimbursement rate for these court-appointed attorneys. Tennessee's rate is the lowest in the country at $50 per hour and has not changed in more than 25 years. The Administrative Office of the Courts announced in October that it would ask the state legislature to increase compensation for court-appointed attorneys in the juvenile and criminal courts.