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First Time Applicant – How to Apply

TENNESSEE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS CONTACT INFORMATION

Tennessee Board of Law Examiners

AN APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION IS AN APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR OF TENNESSEE. Applications for Admission by Examination are accepted only during the following periods:

Exam Schedule JULY 2024 EXAM FEBRUARY 2025 EXAM
Application Period Opens March 1, 2024 October 1, 2024
Application Deadline May 1, 2024 December 2, 2024
Final Deadline May 20, 2024 December 20, 2024
** If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or State of Tennessee holiday, the deadline is the following Monday or business day.  For examination test dates and locations in Tennessee, click here.

Please see Rule 7, §§ 3.01 and 3.03 and Board Policies P-3.01 and P-3.03 for filing and documentation requirements necessary to meet the Application Deadline and Final Deadline.

Use the Application for First-time Applicants if you have not completed a bar examination in Tennessee or if your application has expired.

  • For Applicants who previously applied as a First Time applicant but did not sit for the examination: Submit a First Time Examination Application. If an Undergraduate Transcript and/or finalized Law Degree Verification form was provided for the original application less than 3 years ago, those items do not need to be resubmitted. See Re-Examination/How to Apply for information regarding expiration of documents filed with a prior application, required for a complete application, which may have expired, or that are required to be submitted each examination. If your NCBE application is more than 2 years old, you must submit a new NCBE application and request a new investigation. See the step-by-step instructions, below.
  • For Applicants who last applied more than three years ago: A First Time Examination Application is required, as well as a new NCBE application. In the NCBE application all previous examination application dates, including prior applications in Tennessee, must be provided in response to the NCBE application question regarding “Prior Applications” and the related question in the Tennessee application, as well. All documents from the previous application expire when the application expires. See Rule 7, Sec. 3.04 for information on application and score expiration.

CHECKLIST FOR A COMPLETE FIRST-TIME APPLICATION: All documents required to meet the Application Deadline and the meet the Final Deadline are found on the Checklist for a Complete Application; a link can be found in the main menu and the Checklist can be found in Forms.  

DEADLINES AND FILING REQUIREMENTS

There are two deadlines for Application for Admission by Examination:

  • The Application Deadline, which is December 1 for February exams and May 1 for July exams; and
  • The Final Deadline, which is December 20 for February exams and May 20 for July exams.

Applicants to the Bar of Tennessee are responsible for ensuring that all documents are submitted to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (TBLE) in a timely manner, even if the documents are coming from a third party.

TWO REQUIRED APPLICATIONS

To be eligible to sit for the examination in Tennessee, an applicant must provide two applications – the NCBE Character and Fitness Application (the “NCBE application”) found at www.ncbex.org and the Tennessee application for the current administration of the Uniform Bar Examination in Tennessee, found at synergy.tnble.com (the “Tennessee application”).

  • Prior to beginning a Tennessee application, the NCBE application must be finalized, as explained in the step-by-step instructions below.
  • After completing and submitting the Tennessee application, there will be an option to pay the Tennessee application fee online by credit card. In the alternative, the fee may be paid by money order or check mailed to or delivered to the TBLE office (TBLE, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN 37219). The TBLE does not accept payment without a Synergy application. Hard copies of applications are not accepted. 
  • Note that there is a separate fee for the NCBE application paid directly to the NCBE.
  • NCBE AND TENNESSEE SYNERGY APPLICATIONS – BOTH ARE REQUIRED: The NCBE and the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners are separate entities. The NCBE conducts background investigations for the TBLE.
    • To meet the Application Deadline, an applicant must complete the NCBE application and create a .pdf of the completed application to upload to the Tennessee application as noted in Steps 3 and 5A, below.
    • To meet the Final Deadline, an applicant must finalize the NCBE application in the NCBE portal, pay the NCBE investigation fee, and provide/upload to the NCBE any required documents, attachments, releases and/or forms in the format required in order to complete the NCBE application process; the NCBE provides a detailed Checklist in each applicant’s portal. NOTE – anything uploaded or provided to the NCBE after the Application Deadline, other than the NCBE fee and release forms, must be uploaded to the Tennessee application.
  • Submitting documents only to the TBLE or only to the NCBE will not meet the filing requirements and will not constitute a complete application.
  • An applicant will be ineligible to sit for the exam and licensing will be delayed if the applicant submits the NCBE application only to the NCBE or only uploads a copy of the NCBE application to the Tennessee application.

NOTES ON THE APPLICATION DEADLINE – RULE 7, SEC. 3.03(a)(2)

To meet the Application Deadline, first-time applicants must upload the items listed in Rule 7, Section 3.01 and Board Policy P-3.01(b), to the Tennessee application in Synergy on or before the Application Deadline. Applicants who fail to meet the Application Deadline will not be eligible to sit for the examination and the application will be withdrawn.

Applicants requesting Non-Standard Testing Accommodations must complete and submit Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations and Form 1 in Synergy prior to the Application Deadline. See Board Policy P-3.01(b). Applicants who do not complete the Request will not be considered for accommodations by the Board and the incomplete Request will be withdrawn. A Request for Non-Standard Accommodations will not be considered without a Tennessee application for examination.

The Examination Application and the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations close at the expiration of the Application Deadline. No new applications will be accepted and those in progress will not be available to complete. Applicants who have not submitted the Tennessee Synergy Application, uploaded the completed NCBE Application, and paid the Tennessee application filing fee by the Application Deadline will not be eligible to sit for the examination.

  • Applicants who attempt to pay the fee on the last day applications can be submitted but who have an unsuccessful payment at the Application Deadline will not have completed the application and will not be eligible to sit for the examination.
  • See Board Policy P-3.03. See Board Policy P-3.03(a) regarding consequences of missing the Application Deadline.

Please note that applicants choosing to pay the Tennessee application fee by credit card will be directed to a third-party processor, outside of Synergy. It is highly recommended that applicants use a payment method that will be accepted as the Board does not receive notice of an unsuccessful transaction until the next business day following the transaction. An unsuccessful payment on the day of the Application Deadline will result in an incomplete application. See Board Policy P-3.03(a).

NOTES ON THE FINAL DEADLINE – RULE 7, SEC. 3.03(a)(2)

To meet the Final Deadline, all documents required for a complete application (Board Policy P-3.01(c)), in addition to the documents required to meet the Application Deadline (Board Policy P-3.01(a)), must be received by the TBLE in the proper format on or before the Final Deadline in order to be eligible to sit for the examination. Applicants do not have to wait until after the Application Deadline to begin submitting the required documents enumerated in Board Policy P-3.01(c). The documents can be submitted at any time after the Tennessee application is submitted and prior to the Final Deadline.

NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY FROM THE BOARD

Applicants will not receive notice of deficiency until the Tennessee application filing fee is paid. Prior to the Application Deadline, applicants may submit documents enumerated in Board Policy P-3.01(b) and (c), but all requirements for meeting the Application Deadline must be completed timely. Applicants who meet the Application Deadline will be notified at least once prior to the Final Deadline if a required document is missing or if a document has been submitted in the incorrect format. Note that an applicant may still have a deficiency, such as submitting the incorrect application, for which the applicant will not receive notice prior to the Final Deadline, or by failing to complete the NCBE application process, as described below. See Board Policy P-3.03(d)(1) – (3).

  • Applicants who amend the NCBE application after the Application Deadline but before the Final Deadline without notice to the Board will not receive notice of missing items that would have been disclosed in answers to the questions on the NCBE application, and may be found ineligible to sit for the examination. Amendments submitted 5 business days or fewer prior to the Final Deadline may not be reviewed by the TBLE in time to provide a Notice of Deficiency.
  • The responsibility for ensuring timely completion of the application is on the applicant. The Board will find an applicant ineligible to sit for the exam if an application is missing any item or if any item is submitted in the incorrect format.
  • Applicants are responsible for managing their NCBE dashboard as the Board does not have access to and will not provide notice regarding steps needed to complete the NCBE application process. Applicants who do not complete the NCBE application process such that the application is ready to move forward to investigation will not be eligible to sit for the exam.
  • Documents from third parties and items required to be uploaded by the Applicant that are not received by the applicable Application or Final Deadline will not be considered by the Board, regardless of when the documents were requested or uploaded by the applicant.
  • A fax or email of a document for which the original is required will not satisfy a deadline.
  • Deadlines are “received by” date. A postmark on or before the deadline does not constitute timely receipt unless actually received by the Board by the deadline.
  • Notice of a deficiency does not entitle an Applicant to an extension of time to submit the required documentation. If a required document is not received by the TBLE or uploaded to the applicant’s Tennessee application on or before the Final Deadline, the applicant will not be eligible to take the examination and the application will be withdrawn.

Applicants who do not complete the application process by submitting or causing to be submitted all of the documents required by the Final Deadline will be ineligible to take the examination. Neither the application nor the fees are transferable or refundable; a portion of the fee will be refunded if an application is not completed prior to the deadline.  See Rule 7, Section 11.03. The Board does not have authority to waive or modify the Application Deadline or the Final Deadline.  See Rule 7, Section 12.12.

THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR AN APPLICANT FOUND INELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION IS TO APPLY FOR A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION. Rule 7, Sec. 3.03(e) and Sec. 13.02(a).

Details regarding the documents required for a complete application are listed in the step-by-step instructions below. For examination test dates and locations in Tennessee, click here.

STEPS TO TAKE TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

STEP 1: Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 and Board Policies and Procedures found under Governing Authorities. Throughout the pages of this website, reference will be made to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 as “Rule 7” and to Board Policies and Procedures as “Policy P-[###].”

STEP 2: Go to www.ncbex.org and create a secure NCBE number account. The NCBE number is required on all forms completed for the NCBE and the TBLE application process.

STEP 3: Login to your NCBE number account and complete the online NCBE character and fitness application for background investigation. When you have completed the NCBE application form online, save the application and any attachments you may have already uploaded to NCBE as a .pdf file, which you will need for your Tennessee application. You do not need to submit the materials and payment to the NCBE at this time but will need to do so by the Final Deadline.

  • You may submit the NCBE Character and Fitness Application at any time after February 15 prior to the time applications open for the July exam or August 15 prior to the time applications open for the February examination you plan to take. For example, if you are applying for the July 2024 examination, applications open on March 1, 2024, and you can submit your NCBE application on February 15, 2024.
  • However, you may not upload the .pdf of the NCBE application to the TBLE until the application period is open for submission. . The NCBE Application saved in .pdf format must be uploaded to the Tennessee application prior to the Application Deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STEP 3:

  • The NCBE application (and any attachments already uploaded to NCBE) must be completed and a .pdf saved for you to upload to your Tennessee application in Step 5, below. 
  • EXPLANATION OF THE NCBE APPLICATION AND THE NCBE APPLICATION PROCESS:
    • The complete NCBE character and fitness investigation process includes the NCBE application, payment of the investigation fee to the NCBE, and submittal of certain forms, including Authorization and Release forms.
    • To meet the Application Deadline, you must complete and save the NCBE application and any attachments as a .pdf document to upload to your Tennessee Synergy Application.
    • To meet the Final Deadline, you must finish the NCBE process which includes finalizing the application if not previously done, payment of the investigation fee to the NCBE, and submittal of forms requested by the NCBE in the form and by the process the NCBE requires as listed in your NCBE account.
    • NOTE: If you amend your NCBE application or add attachments after you upload the original NCBE application to your Tennessee application, you must amend your Tennessee application and upload the updated NCBE application amendments and/or attachments. See Rule 7, Sec. 3.02 and Policy P-3.02.
  • FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE TBLE: PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN DENIAL OF YOUR APPLICATION. A DUTY OF CANDOR APPLIES. See Rule 7, Sec. 6.04.
  • Expunged matters: A matter that has been expunged MUST be disclosed unless it is a matter that was resolved as a juvenile.

STEP 4: The Tennessee application, which is separate from the NCBE character and fitness application, must be completed by the Application Deadline. The Tennessee application can be access by clicking on this link to Synergy (https://synergy.tnble.com). Complete the new user registration, if you have not previously applied; you will receive an email to confirm your registration. Check your spam if you do not receive the email and be sure to add “@tncourts.gov” to your trusted senders. Once you have confirmed your registration, you may log in to Synergy from the website or by clicking here.

From the dashboard select “Application for First Time Examination.” You will have a chance to review your answers before you “submit and finalize” the application. Be sure to read and answer each question fully. Failure to provide complete information may result in denial of your application.

Interview Location: As part of the Tennessee Application, you will be asked to select the county in which you wish to appear for your in-person interview.

  • Applicants for admission by examination who are not licensed and/or are not in good standing in another jurisdiction must appear for an in-person interview which will be scheduled up to six weeks after the bar examination. 
  • Applicants who are licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction may, in the discretion of the Board, be required to appear for an in-person interview.
  • All applicants MUST select an interview location.

Pay the application fee

  • After the Tennessee application is submitted, applicants will be given the opportunity to pay the Tennessee application fee by credit card.
    • Applicants selecting the online payment option will be routed to a third-party provider to pay the application fee.
    • A credit card service fees, sometimes called convenience fees, is collected from the vendor in a separate credit card transaction at the same time as the filing fee is paid. 
    • Credit cards are accepted for online payments only.
  • Applicants who prefer to pay by another method can skip the online fee payment and pay by CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, payable to the TN Board of Law Examiners, and mail or deliver the payment to the Board of Law Examiners, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN 37219. Please be sure the applicant’s full name and NCBE number are included on the check or money order. Please do not mail cash.
  • The fee payment must be completed and successful on or before the Application Deadline. Be sure your payment for the full amount is processed by using a payment method you know will support the payment of the filing fee and convenience fee. Please see Board Policy P-3.03(a)(2) regarding online payments that are not successful at the Application Deadline and remain unpaid.
  • For more information on fees, click here.

STEP 5: Once you have finalized the Tennessee application in Synergy, return to the Dashboard and click the “details” link next to the application (looks like a magnifying glass). From that screen, you will upload the required documents listed below in .pdf format unless otherwise noted.  Step 5A lists the document to be uploaded prior the Application Deadline; Step 5B, documents required to meet the Final Deadline.

STEP 5A – ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, click the “details” link in the Tennessee Application, select “Items;” then, click the “paper clip” next to the “NCBE Application” and follow the instructions for uploading the NCBE application .pdf document created and saved in Step 3.

To meet the Application Deadline, you must complete Steps 1 – 5A, as follows:

  1. Complete the NCBE Application and save it as a .pdf document, described in Step 3, above.
  2. Submit the Tennessee Application for First Time Applicants in Synergy as directed in Step 4, above.
  3. Pay the Tennessee application fee, either online by credit card after you have finalized and submitted your Tennessee application, or paid by money order, as described in Step 4, above.
  4. Upload the saved .pdf of the NCBE application (Step 3) to the Tennessee application as explained in Step 5A.
  5. For applicants requesting non-standard testing accommodations, complete the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations and NST Form 1 in Synergy on or before the Application Deadline.

To meet the Final Deadline:

  • Upload all documents required by your application in the correct form and cause to be submitted to the Board documents required from third parties on or before the Final Deadline.
  • All of the processes and documents listed in STEP 5B, including any additional documents required for those licensed in another jurisdiction, educated at a non-accredited U.S. institution, or educated in a foreign country, must be received by the Final Deadline (May 20 for July exams; December 20 for February exams, unless a weekend or holiday, then the next business day).
  • Applicants who are missing required items at the Final Deadline will not be eligible to take the exam or to correct the deficiency.
  • Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Sections 3.10 and 11.02, neither the Executive Director nor the Board has the discretion to waive or extend the dates for filing applications nor may any fees be waived, transferred or refunded, except as provided by Rule.

STEP 5B – FOR THE FINAL DEADLINE, the following items are required to complete your application:

  • COMPLETION OF THE NCBE APPLICATION PROCESS: Complete the NCBE application process for the current NCBE application (a .pdf of the application would have been uploaded with the Tennessee Application on or before the Application Deadline), pay the NCBE fees, and provide all required documents to the NCBE in the format and by the process required.
    • NOTE that if you uploaded any amendments or attachments to the NCBE after you uploaded the .pdf of your application to your Synergy Application, you MUST upload a copy of the amendment and attachments to your BLE application. See Board Policy P-3.02 and P-3.03(c).
    • To see your NCBE application status and steps left to complete, you will need to check your NCBE Dashboard.
    • Applicants are responsible for managing their NCBE dashboard as the Board does not have access to and will not provide notice regarding steps needed to complete the NCBE application process prior to the Final Deadline. See also, Step 3 and “IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STEP 3,” above.
  • UNDERGRADUATE TRANSCRIPTS for degrees earned (Bachelor’s Degree or higher), mailed or emailed directly from the school or transcript service to the TBLE; ELECTRONIC TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SENT TO BLE.ADMINISTRATOR@TNCOURTS.GOV. DO NOT send a transcript from every school you attended, only from those where a degree was conferred. An undergraduate transcript received after the deadline will result in denial of eligibility to sit for the exam, regardless of when the transcript was ordered;
  • The completed LAW DEGREE VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATE OF DEAN OF LAW SCHOOL FORM from every law school attended and, if applicable, the disclosure form from Non-ABA approved law school, other than a Tennessee law schools approved by the Board. Required forms, including forms for foreign law schools, are available here. THE LAW SCHOOL(S) MAY REQUEST A LINK FOR SECURE UPLOAD OF THE FORM BY EMAILING BLE.ADMINISTRATOR@TNCOURTS.GOV.
    • NOTES: Applicants must prepare a Law Degree Verification and Dean Certification forms (the “LDV”) for each law school attended, even if the applicant did not graduate/earn a J.D. at the law school. For each law school, complete and have the Authorization and Release on the LDV notarized and send ALL pages to the law school Dean for completion, including the Instructions.
    • The Law Degree Verification Form must either be uploaded by your law school using the link provided or mailed directly from your law school to the TBLE so that the forms are received by the Final Deadline; forms emailed to the TBLE or uploaded by the applicant are NOT ACCEPTED and will not be considered as part of a timely complete application;
    • For applicants who have not completed their law school studies at the time of the LDV is initially submitted to the TBLE, the law school must complete the LDV with the anticipated graduation date and submit it by the Final Deadline (see above for upload link or mail options), then submit the Late Confirmation of Degree Form on or before the Friday preceding the bar examination.
    • If the LDV Form is not received or received after the Final Deadline, the applicant will be ineligible to sit for the exam, regardless of when the LDV was delivered to the law school.
  • Applicant’s current RESUME uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy by applicant in .pdf format only;
  • A CURRENT, COLOR PHOTO, similar to a photo submitted with a passport application, saved only in .jpg file format and uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy (see Policy P-3.01(c) and FAQs for more info regarding picture size and requirements);
  • An unexpired GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport, uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy by the applicant in .pdf or .jpg file format; and
  • ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL for the current exam, available on the Board’s website, here, signed and uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy after reading the Manual. The General Instruction Manual is posted on the website here. Each applicant must read the Manual and complete the Acknowledgment Form. A new Manual is prepared for each exam and only the Acknowledgment Form for the current exam is accepted (required with each exam application).

OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT, IF REQUIRED, MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL DEADLINE:

  • APPLICANTS SEEKING NON-STANDARD TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS, who met the Application Deadline for the Request for Non-Standard Testing or Courtesy Accommodations, must have all required NST Forms uploaded to or received by the Board on or before the Final Deadline. For complete instructions, go to the Non-Standard Testing Accomodations page. Some Requests for Accommodations require professional assessment, including administration of evaluative testing that may be subject to expiration.
  • APPLICANTS WHO DID NOT GRADUATE FROM AN ACCREDITED UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL OR WHO HAVE A FOREIGN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE and who earned a J.D. from an ABA or Tennessee-approved law school must submit a petition for waiver of the accreditation requirement pursuant to Rule 7, section 2.01(c), and Policy P-2.01. If you earned a J.D. in the United States from an ABA-accredited or Tennessee-approved law school, but did not receive a Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. college or university that was on the approved list of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (SACS) or equivalent regional accrediting association, or you received your undergraduate education at a school located in a foreign country, you must include with your application a petition to request a waiver of the requirements of Rule 7, Sec. 2.01, with evidence that your undergraduate education is substantially equivalent to an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited school, see Rule 7, Sec. 2.01(c) and Policy P-2.01. For applicants who received their legal education in a foreign country and who did not receive a J.D. from an ABA-accredited or Tennessee-approved law school, see Foreign-Educated Applicants. For applicants who did not receive a J.D. from an ABA-accredited or Tennessee-approved law school, see Non-ABA Accredited Law School Graduates, below.
  • GRADUATES OF NON-ABA ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN LAW SCHOOLS IN TENNESSEE APPROVED BY THE TBLE: If you received your legal education at a law school that was not ABA-accredited or located in the state of Tennessee and approved by the TBLE, you may be eligible for admission in Tennessee by examination. Your legal education must be based on in-person attendance, you must be awarded a J.D. Degree, you must have passed the bar examination in the state in which your law school is located, and you must be licensed and have been engaged in the active practice of law for three of the five years immediately preceding the date of your application. You must submit documentation regarding the legal education you received and an Affidavit of Past Practice (found in Forms). For additional information, see Rule 7, Sec. 2.02(d).
    • Proof of bar examination passage in which state the law school was located- in the form of a score report or letter from the appropriate authority in the jurisdiction in which the applicant was educated certifying that the applicant was successful on the examination;
    • Proof of licensing in the form of a Certificate of Admission; note that an applicant licensed in another U.S. Jurisdiction has additional filing requirements as noted below;
    • Information sufficient for the Board to determine that the applicant’s law school was approved in the state in which it is located by an authority similar to the TBLE, and documentation that the curriculum offered is equivalent to a three-year course of study that is substantially equivalent to the legal education provided by approved law schools located in Tennessee. The curriculum shall not include distance, online or other than in-person learning beyond that permitted under Rule 7, section 2.02(e) for ABA-accredited law schools as provided in Definitions 7 and 8 and Standards 306, 311, and 511 of the Standard and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools; and
    • An Affidavit of Past Practice. See also Rule 7, section 5.01(c) and Policy P-5.01(c).
  • APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVED THEIR LEGAL EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES and do not have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited or Tennessee-approved law school must provide the following so that it is uploaded or received by the Final Deadline:
    • The completed “Foreign-Education Option Election” form;
    • An equivalency evaluation, as required by Rule 7, section 7.01(c) and Policy P-7.01 (the “Foreign Education Report”);
    • If seeking admission under:
      • Rule 7, section 7.01(b)(1), based on admission in another jurisdiction and time in practice,  a completed Affidavit of Practice in a Foreign Country if licensed outside the United states, or a completed Affidavit of Past Practice if licensed in the United States.
        • NOTE: If applicant is licensed in both a foreign jurisdiction and a U.S. jurisdiction, applicant must provide both forms detailing applicant’s practice in each jurisdiction; time in practice in the U.S. in a jurisdiction that permits such practice without a license or registration as a Foreign Legal Consultant should be documented on an Affidavit of Past Practice and include documentation that supports the claim that the practice in that jurisdiction was permitted. 
    • Rule 7, Section 7.01(b)(2), based on foreign legal education and a U.S. LL. M., the Foreign Education – Legal Studies in the United States form, completed and signed by the Law School Dean or designee; the law school(s) may request a link for secure upload of the form by emailing BLE.ADMINISTRATOR@TNCOURTS.GOV; the Foreign Education – Legal Studies in the United States form must either be uploaded by your law school using the link provided or mailed directly from your law school to the TBLE so that the forms are received by the Final Deadline; forms emailed to the TBLE or uploaded by the applicant are NOT ACCEPTED and will not be considered as part of a timely complete application;
    • For all applicants with foreign legal education, the completed “Non-US Law Degree Verification and Dean’s Certification” form; the law school(s) may request a link for secure upload of the form by emailing BLE.ADMINISTRATOR@TNCOURTS.GOV; the Non-US Law Degree Verification and Dean’s Certification form must either be uploaded by your law school using the link provided or mailed directly from your law school to the TBLE so that the forms are received by the Final Deadline; forms emailed to the TBLE or uploaded by the applicant are NOT ACCEPTED and will not be considered as part of a timely complete application; and
    • For applicants educated outside the U.S. who are licensed in a foreign jurisdiction or a U.S. jurisdiction, the documents listed in the following two primary bullet points, below.
    • Documents not in English: If the responses are not in English, a translation to English by a certified translator must be provided with the original document.
    • See Rule 7, Section 7.01, Policy P-3.03, and P-7.01, all found here and the website page, “Graduates of Foreign Law Schools.”
  • ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN LICENSED IN ANOTHER U.S. JURISDICTION: An applicant who is presently licensed or who has been licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction must provide the following so that it is received by the Final Deadline:
    • Certification of Admission to the highest court of each state in which you are or were admitted (required to be uploaded to Synergy every two years, unless a change in status, in .pdf file format only); and
    • Certification from the Disciplinary Authority of each state in which you are or were licensed and admitted attesting to your current standing and your disciplinary history (required to be uploaded to Synergy every two years, unless a change in status, in .pdf file format only).
    • The certification may take the form of one certificate or two, but must show the date of admission to the highest court and certify the applicant’s current standing (disciplinary and administrative, with disciplinary history) with the bar of each state in which the applicant is licensed.
    • The required certificates must be dated within the 6 months immediately preceding the application and be from the highest court of each state in which you are or have been licensed, include the date that you were admitted to the highest court of the jurisdiction, and from the disciplinary authority  certifying the current standing of your license in the jurisdiction (good, inactive, suspended, etc.) and your disciplinary history.
    • A certificate from the state bar is not sufficient unless the State Bar is the agency charged with maintaining the official admission and disciplinary records.
    • If you become licensed in another jurisdiction while your Tennessee application is pending, you must amend your application and provide certification of admission to the highest court and good standing. 
  • ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE LICENSED IN A FOREIGN JURISDICTION: Any applicant, whether or not educated outside the United States, who is licensed to practice law in a jurisdiction other than in the United States, is required to furnish with the Tennessee application:
    • a certified copy of the record or license of the court which admitted you to practice in such country and
    • three letters from attorneys in each country in which the applicant is licensed who can verify that applicant is licensed and attest to applicant’s practice in that country (see Rule 7, Sec. 7.02), provided:
      • The three letters from attorneys or judges verifying applicant’s license in a foreign country and attesting to applicant’s practice in that country, must relate to applicant’s work with the recommender in the practice of law and, if from a relative, the relationship must be disclosed in the letter;
      • Letters from an Applicant’s parents, grandparents, siblings or spouse who are practicing attorneys are not permitted; and
    • Documents not in English: For documents that are not in English, a translation to English by a certified translator must be provided with the original document.
  • APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL FIVE (5) OR MORE TIME ON THE FORMER TENNESSEE BAR EXAMINATION OR THE UBE IN ANY JURISDICTION: Any applicant who has not achieved a score sufficient for admission in Tennessee after five or more attempts on the former Tennessee bar examination or on the UBE in any jurisdiction has additional requirements that must be included with the bar exam application. See Board Policy P-4.05 for the information on the petition and supporting documentation that must be provided as part of your application and prior to the Final Deadline.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED BY THE FINAL DEADLINE:

  • Completion of the Tennessee Law Course, access to which will be given approximately 2 weeks after the examination.
  • Approval of character and fitness by the Board which includes completion of the in-person interview (Rule 7, Sec. 6.01 and as explained in the General Instruction Manual) and hearings, if required.
  • MPRE Requirements: Applicants seeking admission by examination score (bar examination in Tennessee or transferred UBE score) must achieve a score of 82 or higher to be eligible for admission.
    • To be valid, the MPRE score must have been earned within two years of successful completion of the bar examination in Tennessee or the date the UBE score being transferred to Tennessee was earned.
      • For example, an MPRE score of 82 or higher from the August 2023 MPRE administration will be valid through the July 2025 bar examination administration.
      • If the score has expired, the applicant must take the MPRE again to be eligible for admission; this does not have to be completed prior to the Final Deadline.
      • EXCEPTION – Applicants who are licensed, active, and in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction may use an otherwise expired MPRE score of 82 or higher.
    • Scores must be sent directly from the NCBE. If you did not chose Tennessee as a jurisdiction to receive your score when you sat for the MPRE please visit NCBE Score Services for instructions on transferring your score.
    • For more information on MPRE Scores, please see Rule 7, Sec. 4.07(d) and Policy P-4.07.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND REMINDERS

AMENDMENTS TO APPLICATIONS: Applicants are under a continuing obligation to notify the TBLE of any changes to any of the information provided in the Tennessee or NCBE applications, if any of the answers to any of the questions in the either application have changed in any way. An applicant who has supplemental, new, modified, or updated information to report must complete the application amendment form. Once completed, save the form as a .pdf file and attach any relevant documentation, including the amended answer provided to the NCBE if applicable. Upload the .pdf file to your Synergy application under ‘Applicant Additional Documentation’. 

SYNERGY PROFILE CHANGES: Applicants may change their personal address and phone number in Synergy by selecting “My Profile Page.” For an email address change, please email the TBLE at: BLE.administrator@tncourts.gov. Please note that if your NCBE application is still pending you are required to amend your application with the NCBE as well. Visit www.ncbex.org for amendment requirements.

Computer-Based Testing: Applicants will have the option to register for laptop testing. All test questions will be in paper format. One month to six weeks after the application deadline, an email from ExamSoft, the testing software provider, regarding the registration procedure for applicants wishing to answer the MEE and MPT items on their personal laptop. By registering and downloading the Software, applicants agree that they have read, understood and accepted the General Information, Instructions and Release of Liability in “Laptop Testing” here.

SCORE EXPIRATIONS: Examination scores are valid for admission for three years from the date of grade release. You must complete all requirements for admission, including taking the oath of admission (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 6) within that time or your scores expire.

SUPERVISED PRACTICE AND PRACTICE PENDING ADMISSION: For information on practice prior to admission pursuant to Rule 7, Sections 10.04 or 10.07, click here. Permission granted under Rule 7, Section 10.03 expires at the latest upon graduation from Law School.

TO ACCESS ALL FORMS, CLICK HERE

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