TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 4, 2024

Shelby County lawyer Cynthia Jeanne Tobin received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 3. As a certified estate planning specialist, Tobin provided estate planning services for a client, including drafting multiple living trusts. At the client’s request, Tobin listed herself as the beneficiary of a gift of $30,000 and a necklace. The court found that Tobin did not advise the client of ethics restrictions against such a bequest and did not decline to represent the client to avoid ethical issues. Instead, she listed her law partner as the drafter of the documents without his knowledge. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.8(c), 1.16(a)(1), 2.1, 4.1(a) and 8.4(c).