TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Mar 16, 2026

Marion Scudder Griffin, the first woman licensed to practice law in Tennessee, is now honored with a historical marker in Memphis recognizing her legal career. According to Local Memphis, Griffin made history in 1907 after the Tennessee legislature passed a law clarifying that women could obtain law licenses. She previously had passed an oral law examination but was denied a license by the Tennessee Supreme Court because state law did not explicitly permit women to practice. Griffin later enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School, completed her studies and reapplied as supporters lobbied lawmakers to change the law. She went on to practice law for more than 40 years and later became the first woman to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly before retiring in 1949. Historians say her achievements helped pave the way for future generations of women in the legal profession.