In 2008, the Tennessee Supreme Court laid out a strategic plan to get attorneys more involved in pro bono work.

Though it isn’t required of the state’s professionals, there is an inspirational goal of 50 hours per year of public service that is heavily encouraged by the justices.

2. Measuring Innovation With Money - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

But will it make real money? Innovation is such a heady, ill-defined concept. Innovation is one of those words – like strategy or creativity – that means either nothing or something different to anyone who hears it. But when handled correctly, genuine innovations are the lifeblood of any company’s continued health and success.

3. Ruling Affects Tennessee Open Records Law - Thursday, May 09, 2013

The Tennessee Open Records Law is one of several state laws upheld in a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling for its limitations on requests for public records by those who live outside of the state in question.

4. Longtime Family Lawyer to Host Divorce Seminar - Friday, March 08, 2013

Prominent Memphis family law attorney Larry Rice is gearing up to hold his 25th anniversary Divorce Skills Seminar next week.

5. Alternative Spring Break on Docket for Law Students - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and its Public Action Law Society are sponsoring the fourth annual alternative spring break next week.

It’s a series of events that will involve 48 law students from seven law schools, some of whom will come here from out of state to participate alongside Memphis law students.

6. Let’s Start a Currency War - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Prior to Nixon’s closing of the gold window in 1971, world currencies traded in value relative to the U.S. dollar, which was tethered to gold at $35 an ounce. Following the divorce, currencies began trading relative to the dollar, but the dollar in turn began trading relative to other currencies.

7. New Hotline Offers Free Legal Help in Civil Issues - Thursday, January 31, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A coalition of Tennessee legal groups is launching a toll-free phone line offering free legal information for civil issues.

The service is called aLEGALz (AY' LEE'-gal ZEE').

8. Circuit Court Filings Up in Fourth Quarter - Monday, January 21, 2013

Filings in Circuit Court were up for the last quarter of 2012 but down in Chancery and Probate Courts compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

The quarterly numbers from The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com, showed a 15 percent increase with the 2,030 filings compared to 1,726 a year ago across the three civil courts.

9. Family and Divorce Firm Opens East Memphis Office - Saturday, January 19, 2013

The family and divorce law firm of Divorce Inc. has opened a new office in East Memphis.

One month after opening its third office in Clarksville, Tenn., the Jackson, Tenn.-based firm has relocated its Collierville office to the Forum I building at 6750 Poplar Ave.

10. Family and Divorce Firm Opens East Memphis Office - Friday, January 18, 2013

The family and divorce law firm of Divorce Inc. has opened a new office in East Memphis.

One month after opening its third office in Clarksville, Tenn., the Jackson, Tenn.-based firm has relocated its Collierville office to the Forum I building at 6750 Poplar Ave.

11. McGhee’s Career of Service Stretches From Police to Bar - Thursday, December 06, 2012

Charles McGhee of Shea Moskovitz & McGhee PLC grew up in a family dedicated to service.

Born in Japan to a U.S. Marine father and Japanese mother, McGhee moved with his parents to San Diego when he was not quite a year old. Upon his father’s duty coming to an end, they moved to Memphis to be near family.

12. Ginkgos and Band-Aids - Thursday, November 22, 2012

LOOK FOR THE WONDER. REPEAT. Right outside my window is a female ginkgo tree, her boyfriend is on the other side of the house, and every fall they engage in an ancient mating dance, a spectacular competition for attention. So exhausting is the effort, it doesn’t last long. So intense is the result, it’s explosive. And then it’s gone, leaving only a memory.

13. Exchanging Violence for Hope - Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Last week we shared four volunteer opportunities with the McKellar Lake Cleanup, Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park, Memphis Athletic Ministries and their after-school program, and the Memphis Crisis Center. This week let us discuss an organization that is focused on breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect by replacing abusive and violent behavior with effective parenting skills: The Exchange Club Family Center.

14. Sunscreen and Then Some - Thursday, November 15, 2012

“Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.” Thus wrote Mary Schmich in her Chicago Tribune column, June 1, 1997.

15. Donelson: Tennessee Republicans See Changes in Past 60 Years - Monday, November 12, 2012

As Memphis voters were going to the polls on Election Day last week, attorney Lewis Donelson was talking about the modern day Tennessee Republican Party he was instrumental in forming 60 years ago.

16. Seely Sees Career at Memphis Area Legal Services as ‘Mission Work’ - Thursday, November 01, 2012

October was National Pro Bono Month in the legal profession, a time when attorneys are urged to use their knowledge for the greater good and help those in need.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has written that “a lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.”

17. With Advertising, Go Big or Go Home - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” or so the slogan goes, but every time I visit Sin City I’m inspired to share how exceptionally well big brands in this congested market advertise in larger-than-life ways. Standing out from the tremendous volume of advertising clutter is the name of the game in Vegas, and marketers could learn a thing or two from this go-big-or-go-home approach.

18. Slow, Steady Growth Suits Summit Asset Management - Monday, September 24, 2012

For Summit Asset Management LLC, steady organic growth over the past 20 years has been spurred by building strong local relationships.

19. Divorce Guide Hits Silver Anniversary - Thursday, September 06, 2012

This year marks the silver anniversary of Memphis attorney Larry Rice literally writing the book on divorce law.

20. Family Law Firm Home for Moskovitz - Thursday, August 30, 2012

Mitch Moskovitz, founding partner at Shea Moskovitz & McGhee PLC, who has been practicing family law in Memphis for 20 years, said he “always knew he was going to go to law school.”

21. Squelch Those Money Squabbles - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Ray’s Take Disagreements over money can literally tear families apart – it’s the No. 1 reason for divorce. One reason financial matters give rise to so much conflict is that only one person typically takes on family money management responsibilities. This easily leads to the other partner becoming financially oblivious and that imbalance can lead to problems.

22. Sexing Up the Ethics Class - Thursday, June 21, 2012

Editor’s Note: Judge Vic is on vacation this week. Enjoy a 2007 column from the archives.

A while ago, I was preparing to guest teach a class in Legal Profession, the law school ethics course. I decided to spice up the session with a little fiction. “Legal Briefs” is a collection of stories written by lawyer-novelists. In it are stories by Grisham, Scottoline, Martini, Patterson and others, including Grif Stockely’s “The Divorce.”

23. Arthurs Find Success With Dad-Daughter Law Practice - Thursday, June 14, 2012

After graduating from Southern Methodist University in 2000, Megan Arthur took some time off to think about whether law school was truly the right fit for her.

24. Keep a Grip On Reality - Monday, June 04, 2012

Business owners who lose touch with reality usually end up going out of business. So let’s chat a bit about reality this week. Among a group of people, the most successful person is usually the one whose viewpoint or image of reality is most closely related to reality. But why would someone’s image of reality deviate from reality in the first place? It’s easy to understand how that can happen if you understand how the brain creates images of reality.

25. Flowers, of Southaven, Resigning From Miss. Senate - Friday, May 25, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Republican Merle Flowers of Southaven, who led redistricting efforts in the Mississippi Senate this year, says he's resigning from the Legislature to spend more time with his wife and their four children.

26. Meeting Client Needs Top Priority for McManus Reilly - Monday, May 21, 2012

The laws surrounding estate planning and employee benefit and health care packages are complex and ever-changing.

With the upcoming presidential election and the potential changes to inheritance tax, among other issues, the financial planning industry is being kept on its toes more than ever.

27. White Finds Calling In Family Law Practice - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Leigh-Taylor White, an attorney with Shea Moskovitz & McGhee, didn’t always know she wanted to be a lawyer.

28. Safe Haven - Friday, May 11, 2012

Victims of domestic violence in need of help will now find navigating the system much easier, thanks to the new Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County.

The 10,000-square-foot center combines civil, criminal, health and social services all under one roof, taking up the entire sixth floor of the Madison Professional Building at 1750 Madison Ave. in the heart of Midtown.

29. Going From Preaching To Prospecting? - Monday, April 30, 2012

Two of the most successful sales professionals I have encountered had one thing in common – they were both ordained ministers before they pursued careers in professional sales.

In one case, the former pastor of a small country church generated millions in revenues, and millions in personal commissions, in a single year. Being a curious person, I asked the super-selling reverend to tell me about the secret to his success. I not only wanted to know how he did it, I wanted to know how he made it look so easy. He said, “Come on over to the house tonight, we’ll have supper and I’ll tell you all about it.” For those of you not from the Deep South, “supper” typically refers to the evening meal. A meal that is usually served well before the sun goes down and long before anyone should be eating an evening meal.

30. Housing Improves 20 Pct. in Q1 - Monday, April 16, 2012

Local home sales saw a 20 percent boost during the first quarter, with increases in both traditional and foreclosure sales, and agents suggest that among such low inventory levels, it’s a move in the right direction.

31. Redbirds Reconnection - Monday, April 16, 2012

One of baseball’s enduring maxims is that anytime you go to a game you’ve got a chance to see something you’ve never seen before.

Apparently, this now applies off the field too, because a few weeks ago a group that included Magic Johnson as the front man paid $2.15 billion to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from financially troubled owner Frank McCourt.

32. ‘Speaking up for Others’ Brought Bellamy to Law - Thursday, April 12, 2012

Raquel Bellamy is bilingual, loves to travel and even lived overseas for a year, so all that no doubt helped solidify the practice area that’s today a big part of the boutique law firm she founded in Memphis.

33. Circuit, Chancery Make Move to Paperless - Thursday, March 29, 2012

The day-to-day business of Shelby County’s Circuit and Chancery courts is on the way to going paperless after more than 150 years of ink on paper.

The Circuit and Chancery courts clerks’ offices will go to electronic, or e-filing, of all court records in June.

34. Prenups: Not Just for Rich - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Ray’s Take There are many reasons to have a prenuptial accord: Firstly, while people expect their marriages to last forever, more than one-third of first marriages fail, and that percentage rises with subsequent marriages; secondly, people are waiting longer to marry and enter their union with more assets; and thirdly, prenups can offer protection if one spouse secretly runs up massive debt.

35. Brown Makes Leap To Family Law Firm - Thursday, March 08, 2012

Family law attorney Aubrey Brown will celebrate his 18th year in practice at the Memphis firm he recently joined, Shea Moskovitz & McGhee PLC.

36. Thomas’ Law Practice Moves to New Office - Thursday, February 23, 2012

Justin Thomas opened his boutique family law firm last year in Clark Tower.

Now, he’s moved into a new office at 6263 Poplar Ave. that has more room to hold his ambitions for Thomas Family Law Firm PLC.

37. Advocate Warns About Stress in Childhood - Monday, February 20, 2012

High levels of stress during childhood may play a significant role in disease causation later in life.

Robin Karr-Morse, author of “Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence” and her new book, “Scared Sick: The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease,” discussed the effects of what’s called toxic stress during a lecture Thursday, Feb. 16, at the University Center on the University of Memphis campus.

38. Parham Focuses Practice On Estate Law Complexities - Thursday, February 02, 2012

Estate law has become so complex that what an attorney calls his or her practice in the field has to have a certain precision.

Attorney Michael R. Parham knew what he meant when he called his practice Parham Estate Planning. He opened the firm in 2009 after several years at Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh PLLC.

39. Caywood Reflects On 50 Years in Law - Thursday, January 26, 2012

David Caywood had about $15 in his pocket on a particular day he was walking the halls during his years at Vanderbilt University.

40. Public Notices Have Important Role - Monday, January 23, 2012

When I first became publisher of The Daily News in Memphis, I’ll admit I knew very little about public notices. I quickly learned that they are a longstanding requirement on governments, individuals and some businesses to give notice to the public when a range of critically important actions are about to be taken – the foreclosure of a home, passage of a local ordinance, the adoption of a child, and so on.

41. New Category Highlights Q4 Chancery Cases - Monday, January 23, 2012

Court filings in the last three months of 2011 showed a new category of cases in Chancery Court.

Delinquent tax collection filings were the second highest category for the three divisions of Chancery Court in the fourth quarter as measured by The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

42. Divorce Atty. Mason Writes Forensic Accounting Book - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Memphis attorney Miles Mason Sr., founder of Miles Mason Family Law Group PLC, wishes he had a better answer for what made him decide to become an attorney.

“It’s because of the conflict,” he said. “I would love to give you an esoteric, philosophical answer to this, but I don’t have one. From the great stress of a divorce comes great opportunity to resolve disputes. But at the end of the day, there’s always the reality of the importance of the divorce lawyer’s will. You have to be tough. You have to be thick-skinned.”

43. Shea Touts Law Alternative To Litigated Divorce - Thursday, October 20, 2011

The collaborative law movement has reached Memphis, and Wanda B. Shea, founding member of Shea Moskovitz & McGhee PLC, has helped an array of people using this relatively new brand of “no court” divorce.

44. Woodruff to Deliver Message of Love, Hope - Monday, October 17, 2011

Best-selling author and ABC “Good Morning America” contributor Lee Woodruff will deliver her message of love, hope and perseverance to a Memphis audience Tuesday, Oct. 18, at The Peabody hotel.

45. Debt Collectors: Business Great but Hard as Ever - Thursday, September 22, 2011

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – These are the best of times, and the worst of times, for America's debt collectors.

The prolonged economic turmoil has created more opportunity than ever for the profession, even while making it harder than ever to get folks to pay up.

46. Council Takes Closer Look at Dollar Signs - Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Memphis City Council members could vote Tuesday, Sept. 20, to add another item to the Nov. 8, 2012, election ballot topped by the presidential general election.

Council members vote on third and final reading of an ordinance that would put to city voters a requirement that two-thirds council approval – or nine votes – is required for any city property tax hike that is, as a percentage, higher than the percentage of the rate of inflation.

47. Tenn. Supreme Court Rules Against Lifetime Alimony - Monday, September 19, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a man does not have to pay lifetime alimony to his ex-wife.

Craig and Johanna Gonsewski (gahn-ZES-kee), who lived in Hendersonville, went through a bitter divorce. In 2009, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ordered Craig Gonsewski to pay his former wife $1,250 a month in alimony. The payments were to last for life or until she remarries.

48. Turley Joins Red Door As Director of Client Relations - Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Gretchen Gassner Turley has joined Red Door Wealth Management as director of client relations, a newly created position.

Hometown: Memphis

Education: Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Rhodes College

49. Council Could Consider Schools Settlement - Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Memphis City Council members take up the schools consolidation lawsuit settlement at their Tuesday, Sept. 6 sessions.

The meeting at City Hall, 125 N. Main St., begins at 3:30 p.m.

50. Census: Fewer Tenn. Kids Living in Married Homes - Tuesday, August 30, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Fewer Tennessee children live in homes with married parents and more children are living with a single parent or with a grandparent compared to a decade ago, newly released census data shows.

51. Three States Supply Inks Lease in SE Submarket - Friday, August 12, 2011

A heating and air-conditioning firm is consolidating offices within the Southeast industrial submarket – where it currently has one office.

Three States Supply Co. LLC has inked a 47,000-square-foot lease at 4290 Delp St.

52. Family Law Firm Moves to Clark Tower - Thursday, August 11, 2011

After more than a decade with an office Downtown at 100 North Main St., the law firm of Richter & Rasberry PC has shifted east.

53. Richter & Rasberry Moves to Clark Tower - Tuesday, August 09, 2011

The family law firm of Richter & Rasberry PC has a new address.

It’s moved from Downtown to Clark Tower, 5100 Poplar Ave. Firm co-founder and managing partner Linley Richter said the move puts the office in a more central location for its clients.

54. City Considers Pension Overhaul - Friday, August 05, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s administration has taken a tentative overhaul of the city’s retirement system to the Memphis City Council that would set a minimum retirement age for city employees, redefine line of duty disabilities and limit benefits for spouses of city employees.

55. U of M Event Honors City’s Legal Pillars - Thursday, July 28, 2011

They’ve argued landmark cases in Memphis courtrooms in addition to representing everyday clients. They’ve grown into lions of the local legal profession. And they’ve helped tilt the course of history in the city.

56. Spring Buying Gives Housing Market Temporary Lift - Wednesday, July 27, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Home prices rose for the second straight month in most major U.S. cities and are stabilizing after years of declines. But analysts say the trend in prices hardly signals a rebound for the troubled housing market.

57. Balton Uses Biz Venture Exp. to Aid Small Biz - Friday, July 22, 2011

After serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years and studying accounting at the University of Hawaii between Air Force duties, Steve Balton decided he wanted to use his skills as a consultant for a full-time job.

58. Thomas Opens Boutique Family Law Firm - Friday, July 15, 2011

When he got out of law school, Justin Thomas didn’t intend to devote himself to family law. He originally thought it entailed too many emotionally fraught situations he didn’t necessary want to be in the middle of. But after getting some divorce work passed his way, he decided family law afforded him an opportunity to help people out in some of their most difficult and trying times.

59. Think Before Buying Home - Thursday, July 07, 2011

Ray’s Take: Home ownership is a bedrock of American culture with many benefits, but being a good investment is not necessarily one of them. Does that shock you? Maybe not as much now as it would have three years ago. However, it was just as true then as it is today.

60. Borrowers Sue Over Apparent Loan Mod Mishaps - Wednesday, July 06, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) – It seemed Maria Campusano's financial problems were behind her when the mortgage on her Victorian home in a Massachusetts mill town was chopped by hundreds of dollars a month.

61. Wells Fargo Rebukes Lending Lawsuit - Monday, June 06, 2011

Wells Fargo has fought for about 18 months to keep allegations about its lending practices, leveled by Memphis and Shelby County governments, from being heard in court.

But last month, a federal judge denied Wells’ motion to dismiss the joint city-county federal lawsuit that alleges Wells aggressively pursued black borrowers to offer them high-cost, predatory home loans.

62. CLC Hosts Fundraiser at Theatre Memphis - Monday, May 30, 2011

A fundraiser Thursday, June 2, at Theatre Memphis for the Community Legal Center will feature a play and a silent auction.

The $40-per-person event features “Crazy For You,” a comedy laced with George Gershwin tunes and dance numbers. There is also a silent auction. And the 6 p.m. reception before the 7:30 p.m. curtain features food prepared by local attorneys with help from catering professionals and complimentary wine and beer.

63. How Much of Your Business Do You Own? - Monday, May 09, 2011

Sometimes you think you own a business but you really don’t.

For example, if you took a $75,000 bank loan to start a business and put in $25,000 of your own, the bank still owns more of the business than you do. Not legally, of course, but financially. There is a key financial ratio called “debt to equity” taken from your balance sheet. Say it shows you have a book value of $100,000 and total debt (liabilities) of $400,000.The debt to equity ratio is then expressed as four to one.

64. Letter to the Editor: Headline Unfairly Mischaracterizes Case - Thursday, April 28, 2011

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Memphis Bar Association to correct what we believe to be a misperception created by the headline, “Six-Year Divorce Case Picture of Judicial Ineptness.”

65. Dixon Hughes Goodman Eyes Local Growth - Monday, April 18, 2011

Certified Public Accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP will step up efforts to expand its forensic, litigation support and valuation practice in the Memphis market following its April 1 formation.

66. Six-Year Divorce Case Picture of Legal Wrangling - Thursday, April 14, 2011

Shem and Danielle Malmquist arrived at the Tennessee Court of Appeals in Jackson this past October without attorneys. They each represented themselves in an appeal of a Shelby County divorce case that has lasted six years over a marriage that lasted less than five months.

67. Family Law, Service to Profession Fuel Brackin’s Fire - Thursday, April 07, 2011

Lucie Brackin is a family lawyer at The Landers Firm PLLC, a Memphis-based law firm that focuses on family law with a strong concentration on dispute resolution as an alternative to litigation.

68. Gone A-Courtin’ - Thursday, March 10, 2011

“Dear Judge Vic: So, I see in your column of a few weeks ago that you dwelled at some length on what a versatile concept law is, giving all kinds of examples and such. I’ll go you one better! Ponder the versatility of the word ‘court’ if you dare! / Name withheld.”

69. New Practices Show Mediation’s Role is Growing - Thursday, March 10, 2011

When two or more parties are locked in a dispute, they now have a growing number of options by which they can resolve it short of pleading their case before a judge in the cold confines of a courtroom.

70. Tenn. House OKs Bill to Allow Divorced Voter Name Change - Wednesday, March 02, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state House has passed a bill to prohibit election officials from purging a voter's registration after a name change due to a divorce.

The House passed the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Ryan Haynes of Knoxville on a 98-0 vote on Monday evening.

71. Fire the Spouse, Keep The Financial Planner - Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ray’s Take: Divorce is never pleasant, yet for some it is a fact of life. As hard as both parties try to forge a happy marriage, sometimes it doesn’t work.

In this position you may think, “I need a good lawyer.” You should also think, “I need a good financial planner.”

72. Whatever Happened to Horace? - Thursday, January 20, 2011

Where is Horace Rumpole when you need him most?

The barrister whose cases and antics entertained me (and millions of others) on PBS’s “Mystery” series for many years is not on the airwaves in these parts anymore.

73. Thornton Finds Balance Between Practice, Pro Bono Work - Thursday, January 13, 2011

Laurie Thornton says it was her own experience with paralyzing fear and a sense of helplessness that led her into the pro bono work she does with her law firm, Glankler Brown PLLC, and with Memphis Area Legal Services.

74. A Stand-Up Schools Vote - Friday, January 07, 2011

This school fight is ours to win.

Somebody else started it.

The school bully tried to take our lunch money one too many times, and this time, he got his clock wound.

David Pickler’s plan – pursued for years – to divorce 70 percent of Shelby County’s school children and run off with the 30 percent with the most money has backfired. I call it Pickler’s plan because he’s gone to great lengths to make sure we all see him as the voice and face of Shelby County Schools, and he’s been president of that board since he was just a cucumber. Although he doesn’t seem to want it right now, he richly deserves the credit.

75. U of M Seminar Stresses Importance of Estate Planning - Friday, December 03, 2010

The prospect of dying or becoming incapable of making important life decisions because of a health issue is not something most people like to think about.

Dan Murrell, the director of planned giving at the University of Memphis, is aware of this.

76. Rice Honored as a ‘Rising Star’ for Innovative Work - Friday, November 26, 2010

Lawyers recognized as “rising stars” have generally been practicing for 10 years or less, but Nick Rice’s experience goes back further than that.

77. Divorce Inc. Opens Collierville Office - Thursday, October 28, 2010

Fast-growing Jackson, Tenn., law firm Divorce Inc. has opened a second office, this one in Collierville, where its partners expect a strong brand and straightforward name will translate into plenty of new business for the firm that’s had an office in Jackson since 2004.

78. Financial Planning, Venus-Style - Thursday, October 21, 2010

Ray’s Take: Yes, men and women are different when it comes to investing. Women are less likely than men to be satisfied with the financial services they receive. Their engagement of services is more likely to be driven by a major life event – divorce, birth of a child, death or inheritance. And, here’s what’s really interesting, if a woman does become engaged in investing her portfolio is likely to perform better than those of male investors.

79. Interest in Government Started Early for Strickland - Thursday, October 07, 2010

Jim Strickland was 12 years old when he first took an interest in politics.

“It was the ’76 election,” said the Indiana native. “Jimmy Carter ran, and I was really drawn to him as a good and honest and decent man.”

80. Proposed Judicial Changes Have Received Little Attention - Friday, September 24, 2010

The proposed consolidation charter on the Nov. 2 ballot would mean a name change for several courts and one less elected court clerk.

The charter must pass in the city of Memphis as well as the county outside Memphis in separate vote counts to begin the new metro government.

81. New County Commission, Mayor Go to Work - Thursday, September 09, 2010

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell took his first batch of appointees to the Shelby County Commission Wednesday in the first committee sessions of the commission’s new term of office.

82. Charter 411 - Monday, August 30, 2010

The metro government charter, to be voted on Nov. 2, would combine the Memphis and Shelby County governments into one new local government.

The 49-page charter is the work of the 15-member Metro Charter Commission, which began in November and completed its work just weeks ago.

83. Lawler, Cooper ‘Divorce’ Over Deli Plans - Thursday, August 12, 2010

The King has given up the corner of Adams and Main Street.

Plans for a new wrestling-themed deli on the ground floor of The Claridge House at Main and Adams using the name of wrestler and announcer Jerry “The King” Lawler have been called off. Lawler was going to lend his name to the venture to be owned by Joe Cooper.

84. Mediation Gains Ground In Flailing Economy - Thursday, August 12, 2010

The old joke is that when two parties go to court, the only ones who really win are the lawyers. But thanks in part to a bad economy, lawyers are learning that it may be more profitable to avoid trying lengthy cases.

85. X Marks the Spot - Wednesday, July 28, 2010

As a member of Generation X, I can appreciate why our generation is characterized as having a survivor mentality. In this second column in a three-part series on generational marketing, we look at the collective experiences that shape the way Gen Xers think, believe, buy, and ultimately, how to market most effectively to them.

86. Some Insurers Stop Writing New Coverage for Kids - Monday, July 26, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some major health insurance companies have stopped issuing certain types of policies for children, an unintended consequence of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, state officials said Friday.

87. Avoiding Joint Bank Account Risks - Thursday, July 08, 2010

Ray’s Take: I’ve talked to many clients whose bankers or adult children suggest they add the child’s name to their bank accounts. The rationale is that if anything happens to the parent, such as illness, injury or death, the child can instantly access the money to pay bills.

88. Federal, State Tax Liens Up In County - Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Interim Shelby County mayor Joe Ford, now the Democratic nominee for mayor in the fall general election, garnered attention last year for his personal financial woes.

89. Senate Panel Votes Against Equal Parenting Bill - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal to give judges more discretion in divorce custody cases is likely dead this session after failing to get a majority vote in a key Senate committee on Tuesday.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Dewayne Bunch of Cleveland failed on a 4-3 vote with two abstentions in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which held it's final meeting.

90. Target Marketing: Improving Your Aim - Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A small-business owner asked me during a seminar how he should determine what his target markets are.

It’s an important question, and I’ve run across more small-business owners than you’d think who aren’t sure who they’re targeting and what those prospects have in common.

91. Finding a Different Lease on Life - Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Ray’s Take: Renting has a bad rap. I often surprise my clients if I recommend they rent. Most people associate renting with being a student and flushing money down the toilet monthly.

Not so. Renting can be a financially smart move, especially now, when so many home sellers are desperate to rent.

92. Investing In the Office Not Advised - Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Ray’s Take:
Many people view employee stock option (ESO) plans as the road to a cushy retirement.

For some it may be, such as the early employees of Microsoft who amassed so much wealth that they are now considered a “volunteer work force.”

93. Obama Promises Quick Court Replacement for Stevens - Monday, April 12, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - The retirement of John Paul Stevens, the U.S. Supreme Court's leading liberal but a justice who also could find conservative allies, will set off an election-year political battle over President Barack Obama's second high court pick.

94. House Sponsor to Revive Equal Custody Proposal - Friday, April 09, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – The House sponsor of a proposal that sought to grant equal custody to divorced parents in Tennessee said Thursday he plans to revive an amended version after withdrawing it two days ago.

95. Bill to Give Tenn. Divorcees Equal Custody Dies - Wednesday, April 07, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to grant equal custody to divorced parents in Tennessee is likely dead this session after the sponsor withdrew it from a House panel on Tuesday.

Lawmakers hotly debated the measure sponsored by Rep. Mike Bell for weeks. But the Riceville Republican decided to withdraw the proposal from the House Children and Family Affairs Committee after an amendment was added that sought to give divorcees the "maximum time" possible with a child, instead of dividing the time equally.

96. Credentials Often Mean Little in Today’s Job Search - Monday, April 05, 2010

Most job candidates emerge from universities and graduate schools with a sense of insulation from unemployment, but the current recession has affected blue and white collars alike.

Now degreed professionals with decades of job experience have found themselves firing off resumes into the vacuum of cyberspace with few ideas of how to make themselves stand out.

97. Comes Receives Top Student Volunteer Award From TBA - Thursday, February 18, 2010

Diana Comes, a second-year law student at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, recently was named Student Volunteer of the Year by the Tennessee Bar Association, the state’s top award for law student pro bono work. She received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Rhodes College in 2008. Currently, Comes is a judicial extern for U.S. Magistrate Judge Tu M. Pham in Memphis federal court.

98. Richards Honored With AWA’s Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award - Thursday, January 21, 2010

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Professor Janet L. Richards will be honored today by the Association for Women Attorneys with the AWA Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award as incoming president. Memphis attorney Michele Howard-Flynn will take the helm of the association.

99. Gest Sells Downtown Home For $1.6 Million - Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Concert promoter and former Memphian David Gest has sold his home on Monteigne Boulevard in Downtown’s South Bluffs neighborhood for $1.6 million to Georgic Properties LLC. The sale closed Dec. 30.

100. AP: 2009 Bankruptcies Total 1.4 Million, Up 32 Percent - Tuesday, January 05, 2010

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – U.S. consumers and businesses are filing for bankruptcy at a pace that made 2009 the seventh-worst year on record, with more than 1.4 million petitions submitted, an Associated Press tally showed Monday.