TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Dec 1, 2025

In the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Sept. 16 order soliciting comments from the Tennessee legal community, the court asks whether it "should consider modifying requirements for admission to the Tennessee Bar for those licensed in other states to promote interstate practice and mobility." Comity admission is governed by Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Article V. An applicant must have been engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application and must meet education and character and fitness requirements. The current application process is a multi-step process that can take up to 14 months, and sometimes longer, to complete. Feedback on potential modification of these requirements may be sent to TBA's newly formed Legal Access & Regulatory Reform Task Force at townhall@tnbar.org as well as directly to the court. Watch TBA Today through the month of December to learn more about the seven points in the Supreme Court’s order and specific ways to engage with the task force. Visit TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page for more information.