Other Admissions & Registration
Registration for In-House Counsel, Military Servicemember Spouse, Supervised Practice, and Practice Pending Admission.
Registration for In-House Counsel and Foreign Legal Consultants
Use this application if you are:
- A lawyer licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction or registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant, or a lawyer licensed in another country; and
- Employed as a lawyer by an organization whose primary business is not the practice of law or providing legal services; and
- Working in Tennessee with a systematic and continuous presence as pursuant to Tenn. Supreme Court Rule 8, RPC 5.5(d)(1).
Registration is governed by Tenn. Supreme Court Rule 7, § 10.01.
Reminders & Notices
REGISTER WITHIN 180 DAYS: Lawyers working in Tennessee as In‑House Counsel or Foreign Legal Consultants must register within 180 days of establishing a systematic, continuous presence in the state.
If you choose to seek admission by exam, transferred UBE score, comity, or military‑spouse admission instead of registering, the 180‑day grace period does not apply. You should register for practice pending admission to avoid unauthorized practice.
Temporary License for Military Servicemember and Military Spouse
Tennessee supports military families by offering a temporary law license for military service members and spouses of active-duty service members under Rule 7, § 10.06.
You may apply if you:
- Are the spouse of an active‑duty U.S. Uniformed Services member stationed in Tennessee or Fort Campbell, KY.
- Were admitted by examination in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- Meet the educational requirements of Rule 7 §§ 2.01 and 2.02.
- Have a passing MPRE score as required at the time of application.
- Are an active member in good standing in every jurisdiction where admitted (or previously resigned in good standing).
- Are not subject to discipline or pending disciplinary actions.
- Meet the character and fitness standards in Rule 7.
- Are physically residing in Tennessee or Fort Campbell due to the service member’s orders.
- Have never failed the Tennessee bar exam.
- Have read the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Pay the required fees.
Reminders & Notices
Supervised Practice
Recent law school graduates who have applied for admission in Tennessee may register to practice under supervision pursuant to Rule 7 §10.04.
This provision allows new law school graduates, not licensed in any other jurisdiction, to practice under supervision while studying for the examination and awaiting results.
Applicants who have never been licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction and who:
- Submitted an application for admission by examination, re-examination, or transfer UBE score;
- Meet the educational requirements of Rule 7;
- Work in Tennessee under the supervision of a licensed Tennessee attorney; and
- Have:
- Not yet taken the Uniform Bar Examination in Tennessee;
- Taken the examination but have not received notification of grades; or
- Have been notified of a score on the Uniform Bar Examination that meets the Tennessee minimum score requirements but have not yet been admitted as a member of the Tennessee Bar.
Services permitted under supervision of a Tennessee attorney and with consent of the client include: appearances in trial courts, courts of review and administrative tribunals; drafting pleadings and other documents; and working with clients.
The supervising attorney must be licensed and in good standing in Tennessee, have practiced a minimum of 3 years, and assume professional responsibility for the direct and immediate supervision for the professional work of the applicant.
The Applicant cannot accept direct compensation from a client but can be a salaried employee if the salary is independent of compensation paid for representation. Work pending admission can be billed at normal entry level rates.
New associates who are recent law school graduates and who have applied for admission in Tennessee can begin practicing under supervision immediately after completing registration for practice under Section 10.04 and Board Policy P-10.04.
Permission to engage in supervised legal service expires:
- Upon admission in Tennessee or any other state;
- For unsuccessful examinees who do not apply for re-examination within 10 days of release of examination scores; or
- Upon issuance of an order to show cause.
- The privilege to engage in supervised practice may not continue for more than sixteen months from the date an applicant graduated law school.
Submit an Application to Register for Practice under Supervision (section 10.04) and the $40 fee by check via U.S. mail to: Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN, 37219. Please clearly mark your name and NCBE number on the check or money order. Note that credit card payments are not available for registration for Supervised Practice at this time.
Practice Pending Admission
Applicants who are licensed and in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction who apply for admission in Tennessee may register to practice pending admission under Rule 7 § 10.07.
The purpose of this provision is to permit attorneys licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction with a pending application for admission in Tennessee to practice during the pendency of the application.
The attorney-applicant must have an active license, in good standing in at least one other U.S. jurisdiction and must associate with a lawyer who is admitted and in good standing in Tennessee.
The attorney-applicant does not need to be employed by or working with the associated attorney and is not required to be supervised by the associated attorney.
Submit an Application to Register for Practice Pending Admission (section 10.07) and the $75 fee by check via U.S. mail to: Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN, 37219. Please clearly mark your name and NCBE number on the check or money order. Note that credit card payments are not available for registration for Practice Pending Admission at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must submit a paper Reinstatement Application with the required documents and fees. Reinstatement cannot be completed online.
You may still register but a late fee will apply, you will be subject to discipline, and will be ineligible for admission by comity.
You must register within 180 days of establishing a systematic and continuous presence.
You must include:
- NCBE application (PDF);
- Certificates of admission and good standing (dated within 6 months); and
- Employer affidavit.
Lawyers licensed outside the U.S. must also provide a certified copy of the record or license of the court that admitted you to practice and 3 letters from attorneys/judges certifying good standing. Certified translations are required for any documents not in English