The Tennessee Bar Association welcomes law student involvement and has a number of special programs to help law students enhance their education, get real-life experience in the legal profession and network with established attorneys.

Diversity Leadership Institute

The Diversity Leadership Institute is a six-month leadership and diversity program for law students designed to:

• Develop the skills necessary to succeed as a law student and attorney;
• Empower law students to make greater contributions to the legal community;
• Match students to mentors in a diverse variety of practice areas; and
• Build relationships among students of diverse backgrounds

Second-, third- and fourth-year students studying at Tennessee law schools are eligible to apply. Applications are available in the fall for the program, which begins each January.

Beyond The Bar Exam: Resources & Opportunities for Those Who Do Not Pass

The TBA YLD is committed to helping those who were not successful on their bar exam. We recommend you read this resource guide to receive encouragement and information on what to do next. Click here to listen to the TBA YLD War Stories podcast - Retaking the Bar.

Rural Judicial Fellowship (RJF)

The Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (TBA YLD) proudly to launched the Rural Judicial Fellowship (RJF) in the summer of 2025. This program is designed to address the critical shortage of attorneys in rural Tennessee counties while providing law students with a meaningful and enriching clerkship experience. This initiative aims to give rising 2L, 3L and 4L law students an opportunity to spend 6 weeks of the summer as a judicial law clerk in a legal community in rural Tennessee. This program provides a $1,000 stipend and the opportunity to work directly with judges, gaining practical legal experience and fostering connections in underserved areas. Click here for more information. Click here for the application. 

Environmental Law Writing Competition

The TBA Environmental Law Section sponsors the annual Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award writing competition to recognize the best legal writing by a Tennessee law student on a topic of state or federal environmental law. The juried competition is held in memory of Jon Hastings, one of the section’s founding members, and has a cash prize pool of $1,500. The winning article also will be published in an upcoming edition of the TBA Environmental Law Section's newsletter. Students must be enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the current academic year to be eligible. For more information, contact TBA staff member Jarod Word.

Administrative Law Writing Competition

The TBA Administrative Law Section Section hosts an annual writing competition for law students to promote an interest in and understanding of both state and federal administrative law . All students enrolled in a Tennessee law school are eligible to enter. Submissions are typically due in the spring. Winning submissions are published in the Administrative Law Section newsletter and the winner will be awarded $1,000. For more information, contact TBA staff member Brooke Leeton.

High School Mock Trial Competition

Tennessee law students have a unique opportunity to volunteer at the State High School Mock Trial Competition each March as bailiffs. The competition spans two days (Friday and Saturday) and includes four trial rounds. For each round, bailiffs are needed in each courtroom. This is a great opportunity to meet practicing lawyers, who score the trial rounds, and sitting judges in the state, who preside over the rounds.

Public Education & Access to Justice

The TBA’s Public Education Committee and Access to Justice Committee are very active and provide a range of opportunities for law students to get involved in committee work, special projects and community events. Learn more by contacting TBA staff member Liz Todaro.