Certification of Specialists in Tennessee

The Commission currently certifies attorneys as specialists in fourteen areas: Civil Trial, Criminal Trial, Consumer Bankruptcy, Business Bankruptcy, Creditors Rights, Accounting Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Family Law, Juvenile Law, DUI Defense, and Social Security Disability.  Tennessee's certification process includes two steps:   

  1. The attorney must be certified in the appropriate field by the appropriate national agency.
  2. The attorney must apply to this Commission, meet additional requirements and then be certified.

For information on the requirements for certification by the national agencies and their costs, contact:

Civil & Criminal Trial; Family Law; Social Security Disability:

National Board of Trial Advocacy
200 Stonewall Blvd., Suite 1
Wrentham, MA 02093
(508) 384-6565
Toll Free: (866) 384-6565
Fax: (508) 384-8022
http://www.nbtanet.org
 

Consumer & Business Bankruptcy; Creditors Rights:

American Board of Certification
44 Canal Center Plaza #404
Alexandria, VA 22314-1592
(703) 739-1023
http://www.abcworld.org
 

Elder Law:

National Elder Law Foundation
1604 N. Country Club Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 881-1076
http://www.nelf.org

 
Estate Planning:
Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc.
(an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils)
1120 Chester Avenue
Suite 470
Cleveland, OH  44114
Phone: (866) 226-2224
Fax: (216) 696-2582
E-Mail: admin@naepc.org
 

Accounting, Legal and Medical Malpractice:

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
175 East Shore Rd.
Great Neck, NY 11023
(516) 487-1990
http://www.abpla.org
  

DUI Defense:

National College of DUI Defense
445 S, Decatur Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 264-1950
http://www.ncdd.com
 

Juvenile Law - Child Welfare:

National Association of Counsel for Children
1825 Marion St. Suite 242
Denver, CO 80218
(888) 828-6222
http://www.naccchildlaw.org/training/certification.html

After certification by one of the above organizations, a Tennessee attorney may apply to the Commission to complete the certification process. The additional required steps include completion of a Law Practice Management Checklist, proof of $500,000 malpractice insurance coverage, client references and an additional check by the Commission concerning disciplinary complaints. An application fee of $100 will be due to the Commission, and a $100 annual fee once certified. These fees are in addition to any fees charged by the national agencies.

To advertise as a certified specialist, an attorney must be certified by the Commission. Certification by a national agency alone is not sufficient. Attorneys who are not certified must disclose that fact in any unsolicited communication to a prospective client, such as yellow pages or newspaper ads, radio or TV commercials or direct mail pieces. The applicable provisions of Disciplinary Rule 2-101(C) are enclosed.

Also enclosed are the current standards for certification by the Commission. For more information please contact the Commission at the number shown hereon.