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

Consumer & Business Bankruptcy, Creditors Rights:

American Board of Certification
101 Second St. SE, Suite 904
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319)365-2222
Toll Free: (877)365-2221
Fax: (319)363-0127
www.abcworld.org

Elder Law:

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

Accounting, Legal and Medical Malpractice:

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
34 Connie Dr. 32327
Crawfordville, FL 32326
(850)528-7137
Fax: (850)926-8477
www.abpla.org

DUI Defense:

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

Juvenile Law - Child Welfare:

National Association of Counsel for Children
13123 E. 16th Ave. B390
Aurora, CO 80045
(303)864-5359
Fax: (303)864-5351
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 Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 7.4 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.