Joe Christian is the Senior Attorney Recruiting Manager working within the larger attorney talent management team to identify and recruit potential lateral associates and staff attorneys from across the country. Joe draws on his experience as a former practicing attorney and his career development work at a prominent law school to strategically recruit talent for open positions at the firm.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Joe was the assistant director of the career center at the University of Tennessee College of Law where he worked with students and legal employers across the country to foster employment opportunities. Joe practiced law at a firm in the Knoxville area for more than five years focusing on commercial litigation, intellectual property, business law, bankruptcy, and other civil litigation. During law school, he served as a summer intern with the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Memberships
National Association for Law Placement (NALP) — Nominating Committee, Southeast School Representative (2020-2021); Annual Education Conference Planning Committee, Southeast Representative, Montreal (2019-2020); Experienced Professionals Section, Vice-Chair (2018-2019); Employer Outreach Section, Chair (2016-2018), Vice-Chair (2014-2016)
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
University of Tennessee Alumni Board of Directors (2017-2018)
University of Tennessee Bands Alumni Council — President (2016-2018), Vice-President (2014-2016), Secretary (2011-2014)
Memberships
National Association for Law Placement (NALP) — Nominating Committee, Southeast School Representative (2020-2021); Annual Education Conference Planning Committee, Southeast Representative, Montreal (2019-2020); Experienced Professionals Section, Vice-Chair (2018-2019); Employer Outreach Section, Chair (2016-2018), Vice-Chair (2014-2016)
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
University of Tennessee Alumni Board of Directors (2017-2018)
University of Tennessee Bands Alumni Council — President (2016-2018), Vice-President (2014-2016), Secretary (2011-2014)
Additional News & Insights
Publications
- “Volunteer Internships: How to Confidently Comprehend and Apply the Changing Legalities,” NALP Bulletin (January 2019)
- “Choosing a Practice Area: Weighing the Multiple Factors that Can Affect Your Choice of Specialization,” (co-author) ABA Law Practice Magazine (May/June 2015)
- “Thank You for Sharing! How an Open Exchange of Information with Your Development and Alumni Affairs Offices Can Improve Your Student Counseling and Employer Outreach,” NALP Bulletin (February 2014)
Presentations
- “Show Me the Money: Negotiating Job Offers,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2018)
- “Finding Talent in an Evolving Legal Marketplace,” Knoxville Association for Legal Administrators, Law Firm Leadership Forum (November 2017)
- “Employer Outreach: Part-time Strategies When It’s Not Your Full-time Job,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2015)
- “Just Down the Hall: Partnering with Development and Alumni Affairs for Employer Outreach,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2014)
Accolades
University of Tennessee College of Law — Professional Staff Award for Extraordinary Service (2018)
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment Law and Practice — Senior Managing Editor
Vanderbilt Moot Court Board
University of Tennessee — Pride of the Southland Marching Band, Drum Major (2000-2001)
Accolades
University of Tennessee College of Law — Professional Staff Award for Extraordinary Service (2018)
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment Law and Practice — Senior Managing Editor
Vanderbilt Moot Court Board
University of Tennessee — Pride of the Southland Marching Band, Drum Major (2000-2001)
