Certification of Specialists in Tennessee

After certification by one of the below organizations, a Tennessee attorney should contact the Commission to become registered on the Roll of Certified Specialists. As a registered board certified specialist you owe an annual registration fee to the Commission. 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 a national certification agency. 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 apply. Also see Comment 3 to the RPC 7.4.

For new attorneys, the certification period runs from July 1 to June 20. For attorneys are already registered, the Commission sends a renewal notice each May for the following annual period, which begins July 1 each year. 

For more information, please contact Associate Director Mike Sandler via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 615-741-3096.  Specialization is governed by Section 11 of Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21.

For information on requirements for national agency certification & costs, contact: 

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

Civil & Criminal Trial, Civil Pretrial Practice Law,
Family Law, Social Security Disability Law:

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 Law:

American Board of Certification

66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314
(319)365-2222
Toll Free: (877)365-2221
Fax: (319)363-0127
www.abcworld.org
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DUI Defense:

National College of DUI Defense

445 S, Decatur Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334)264-1950
www.ncdd.com

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: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.naepc.org 

Juvenile Law - Child Welfare:

National Association of Counsel for Children

899 N. Logan Street, Suite 208
Denver, CO 80203
(303)864-5320
www.naccchildlaw.org