Tennessee
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Tennessee Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
- Phone Number
- 615-741-3234
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
No
- Legal Education Requirements
Must hold a JD from an ABA accredited law school or must hold a law degree from a non-ABA accredited or foreign law school and must demonstrate that their legal education substantially equivalent to that provided by an ABA-accredited school.
- Mandatory Law Student Bar Card Registration in Jurisdiction
- No; option to register during first year of law school
- Mandatory Student Registration Requirements (if applicable)
N/A
- Mandatory Student Registration Fee (if applicable)
- N/A
Bar Exam
- Universal Bar Exam
- Yes. Tennessee intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2027.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- Yes
- Multistate Bar Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Essay Exam
- Yes
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- No
- Multistate Performance Test
- Yes
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- No limit
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 270
- Fee(s)
First time applicant: $625; Re-exam applicants: $450 with the Tennessee Law Course Fee: $15, and $100 option fee for laptop use
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Allowed
- Laptop Fee
- $100
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes, so long as the applicable has achieved a score equal to or greater than the minimum passing score and Tennessee and meet the following admission requirements: hold an undergraduate degree and law degree, be in good standing in all jurisdictions where currently admitted, not subject to any current or pending disciplinary matters, meeting Tennessee's character and fitness standards and not having engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 3 years, possibly 5 years under certain conditions
- Score Transfer Fee
- $675
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 82
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- Within 2 years of passing bar exam
- MPRE Fee
- $160
- MPRE Application Name and Gender Identification Requirements
The MPRE application requires the first and last name to match exactly as listed on valid government-issued photo identification. If the applicant indicates they have been known by a different name, they must list the first name and last name or surname and does not have the option to explain the reason for the name change. The demographic information section asks, “[w]which of the following questions best represents your gender identity?” and provides the following options: “man,” “woman,” “non-binary,” “gender not listed here (please specify),” and “I prefer not to have my response used for research purposes.”
- MPRE Testing Day Procedures
An applicant testing at a Pearson VUE testing center must present a government-issued primary ID and a secondary ID. The primary ID must include a first and last name, recent recognizable photo, and signature. The secondary ID must include at least a first and last name and signature or first and last name and recent recognizable photo. The first and last name used to register must match exactly both IDs presented on test day. Any name corrections must be submitted through the NCBE Account Dashboard at least 48 hours before the first day of the test administration. Before entering the test room, Pearson VUE will collect a digital photograph and digital signature to verify identity. The applicant must consent to the NCBE Candidate Rules Agreement, which in part requires that if the applicant uses the restroom during testing, they must use “the restroom that is closest to the testing room” and pat themselves down (arms, legs, waistline) when leaving and re-entering the testing room. Applicants must also pat themselves down before entering the test room for the first time.
Testing Day Procedures
- Bar Exam Testing Day Procedures
Yes HERE is the link to the most recent guide
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Specific restroom use rules are unavailable online; only information provided is the procedure of leaving the room to be decided and communicated by Chief Proctor.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
Clear bag, no larger than gallon size, 12inx10in; other security measures not available online; empty pockets and no cell phones
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Government ID; no other information available online
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Applicants receive a pre-assigned seat number via email the week prior to the exam.