Lee was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, in 1966 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree in 1969 from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He immediately entered the private practice of law in Nashville, and in 1973 became a partner in the firm of Ingraham, Nichol, Young and Corbett, the predecessor of Ingraham, Corbett &