Waiting until the last minute to purchase gifts for colleagues and staff is one common tradition among busy attorneys during the holiday season.
Unfortunately, by the time these lawyers make their way to a store or an online shopping portal, the good stuff is gone and it’s too late for timely delivery.
Many attorneys also find themselves scrambling to fulfill their annual continuing legal education requirements before the big apple drops in Times Square the evening of Dec. 31.
In this case, the shelves are bursting with options, says Chattanooga Bar Association Executive Director Lynda Hood.
“We’re offering several excellent CLEs covering a range of topics for attorneys who need to complete their CLE requirements before the end of the year. We spent a lot of time vetting topics and selecting speakers, and I believe everyone who attends one or more of the seminars will benefit from the content.”
Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credits – including at least three in ethics and professionalism – every year, according to Lawline. The remaining 12 credits may be in any other category.
Here is a summary of the CLEs the CBA has scheduled through Dec. 31 and details on how to register.
Probate 2022: A History Lesson With the Three Stooges
This CLE will bring Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton, Probate Mentoring Chief Anne Fricker and Chief Probate Clerk Michelle McGill together as Curly, Moe and Larry (respectively) to discuss the history of probate in Tennessee.
• Tuesday, Dec. 6
• Courtroom of Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton
• Registration: 12:45 p.m.
• Seminar: 1-4:15 p.m.
• $75 CBA members; $95 non-members
• Three hours general CLE credit
Refresh & Restart: Finding Balance in Your Life & Work
This seminar will feature five sessions covering a variety of health and wellness topics.
Kristen Black, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, will lead a session titled “Through the Echoes of the Mind.”
UTC dietetics instructor Emily Maddux will discuss “How to be a Lithe and Lean Litigating Machine.”
Buddy Stockwell, the executive director of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program, will cover “Dealing With Anxiety, Depression and the Hero Persona.”
Julian Kaufan, president of Forte Fitness, will tackle “Exercise Your Way to a Healthier Life.”
And WinShape Senior Director Julie Baumgardener will offer her thoughts on “Creating Meaninful Experiences.”
• Wednesday, Dec. 7
• Pinnacle Bank Conference Center
• Registration: 8 a.m.
• Seminar: 8:15 a.m-1:45 p.m.
• $85 CBA members; $105 non-members
• Five dual CLE hours
• Lunch provided
Ethics for the Litigation Lawyer in State and Federal Court
This year’s ethics CLE will include an update from Criminal Court of Appeals Judge Tom Greenholtz followed by a panel discussion covering a variety of ethical issues facing litigators in both state and federal courts.
Chief District Court Judge Travis McDonough will also discuss current issues in federal court.
Other speakers will include District Attorney General Coty Wamp, General Sessions Court Judge Alex McVeagh, federal defender Myrlene Marsa and attorney Lee Davis of Davis & Hoss.
• Tuesday, Dec. 13
• Hamilton County Commission Room
• Registration: 12:45 p.m.
• Seminar: 1-4:15 p.m.
• $95 CBA members; $110 non-members
• Three dual CLE hours
Legal Issues Concerning Conservatorships
• Tuesday, Dec. 13
• Presented by Chancellor Pam Fleenor
• Courtroom of Chancellor Fleenor
• Registration: 12:45 p.m.
• Seminar: 1-3 p.m.
• $55 CBA members; $75 non-members
• Two hours general CLE
Family Law Update 2022
• Wednesday, Dec. 14
• Presented by attorney Barry Gold
• Baker Donelson conference room
• Registration: 8:15 a.m.
• Seminar: 8:30-11:45 a.m.
• $95 CBA members; $110 non-members
• 2.5 hours general CLE; .50 dual CLE hours
Ethical Mistakes Lawyers Make With Clients: The Dirty Dozen
Sandy Garrett, chief disciplinary counsel of the Board of Professional Responsibility, and attorney and life coach Jessica Kinnard will cover a wide range of topics in this ethics CLE, including text communication, competency, confidentiality, conflicts, fees, exaggerated credentials, conflicts of interest, unacceptable litigation tactics, mismanagement of client files and safeguarding client files.
• Pinnacle Bank
• Registration: 12:45 p.m.
• Seminar: 1-3 p.m.
• $65 CBA members; $85 non-members
• Two dual CLE hours
High Profile Cases of John Cavett, Esq.
The founding member of Cavett, Abbott and Weiss will discuss his varied practice and its emphasis in criminal defense, which included seven state and one federal death penalty cases as well as appellate work in Tennessee and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Thursday, Dec. 15
• Mountain City Club
• Registration: 12:45 p.m.
• Seminar: 1–4:15 p.m.
• $75 CBA members; $95 non-members
• Three hours general CLE
Registration
CBA members and non-members can register by email, online or by mail:
Chattanooga Bar Association
801 Broad Street, Suite. 420
Chattanooga, TN 37402
All fees must be paid in advance, notes Hood. (Tennessee CLE credit will not be filed until fee is paid in full.)
A $30 administrative fee will be subtracted from all refunds if canceled one week before seminar. Reservations canceled less than 48 hours before the program might not receive a refund.
The CBA adds a 3% processing fee to all online purchases.
Attendees who wish to attend via Zoom must request a link. The CBA will email the link to the attendee the day before the seminar.