Tennessee law schools advice and ratings use many statistics, such as employment prospects, median salary and tuition. Intangibles such as campus life, teaching methods and learning atmosphere also may form the basis of a law school evaluation.

Applicants to accredited law schools in Tennessee should begin their search by first considering law schools located in their desired geographic area. They also should consider the top law schools in the state where they plan to practice. Applicants should then select the schools that are within their budget and meet their specific needs. There are three general sources for evaluating Tennessee law schools:

1. Blogs and forums on getting a TN law degree. A credible blog, forum or other type of social media may have posts from students, faculty and law school experts sharing their personal experiences or professional opinions about Tennessee law schools.
2. Rating services of law schools. Recognized experts may provide ratings or rankings of law schools that offer exceptional educational programs or opportunities.
3. Recognition for individual law schools. The best law schools will earn awards, grants and other accolades for their programs.
   

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Get advice for ABA approved law schools in Tennessee through blogs and forums

Blogs and forums contain advice, opinions and comments from law students, professors or lawyers on law schools in Tennessee. They also may rank law schools according to specific criteria.

I recommend: Law Crossing provides basic ranking information on Vanderbilt, as well as comments on professors and their teaching methods. Law School Discussion is a forum that provides advice on law schools, including posts about the University of Tennessee.

Study rankings of ABA law schools in Tennessee

Rankings for law schools in Tennessee are an effective and credible source of advice and ratings. Each rating service should provide its methodology. Rankings typically consist of weighted factors, such as assessments of law professors, selectivity and placement rate.

I recommend: U.S. News and World Report ranked Vanderbilt University in Nashville 15th in 2008. LawSchoolNumbers.com provides the percentile rankings for the University of Tennessee Law School compiled from several national sources.

Look at Tennessee law schools that are the recipients of awards

Awards and accolades can be an excellent way of identifying top tier law schools in Tennessee. Law schools may receive awards for legal research, academic programs or specific papers. The best law schools also will receive grants for their programs.

I recommend: According to the Conference on International Criminal Justice, Planethood Foundation awarded Vanderbilt a grant in 2008 to support externships on criminal law. The Tennessee Legislature passed a joint resolution in 2008 honoring the University of Tennessee College of Law's Legal Clinic.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Law school applicants seeking highly rated Tennessee law schools should use the law school ratings to get a good overview of the schools. However, applicants should be more concerned with finding a law school that will meet their particular needs, rather than attending the highest ranked law school on a list. Law school students may also wish to consider pursuing an online law degree in Tennessee. A TN online law school may provide a more affordable option for busy law school students.

There are many jobs for people who hold a TN law degree. From civil law to criminal litigation to business negotiations, lawyers are in high demand. Law schools generally accept students who hold a Bachelor's degree in any major, but they prefer students who majored in business, political science, legal studies or something similar during their undergraduate years.

Law schools in Tennessee have strict admission requirements, and being the best student you can be will only help your chances of getting accepted. You can begin with getting a paralegal certificate, then advance to get your A.S. or B.S., then proceed to law school.

1. Look into paralegal studies to start your journey to Tennessee law schools. Paralegal careers pay well and offer great experience.

2. Get your undergraduate degree before applying to Tennessee law schools. All law programs require a Bachelor's degree for admission.

3. Apply at ABA-approved law schools in Tennessee. These are accredited by the American Bar Association and guarantee that you can sit for the bar after you graduate.

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Consider a certificate in paralegal studies to help get you into law schools in Tennessee

Paralegals assist attorneys, in short. Depending on their education, they may do almost as much as the attorney himself, although they do not hold bar cards. This is a great career for those interested in law but who don't have the time and/or money to attend law school for a J.D. degree. If you plan to eventually go to law school, you'll need a Bachelor's degree, but a paralegal certificate can be the first step in your preparation.

I recommend: See if the paralegal program at Southwest Tennessee Community College is right for you. Motlow State Community College offers an Associate's degree designed to prepare you for transfer to a pre-law program at a four year college.

Prepare yourself for admission into TN law schools with an undergraduate degree

Admission into law school is extremely competitive. Getting good grades while working on your Bachelor's isn't the only deciding factor as to your acceptance into a law program; teacher recommendations and extracurricular activities factor in as well. Choose a school with a program that interests you as well as has academic clubs and caring teachers.

I recommend: Consider getting a B.A. or B.S. in Criminal Justice and Criminology at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Check into the pre-law program (B.A. or B.S. in Political Science) at Austin Peay State University.

Earn a J.D. degree from one of the accredited law schools in Tennessee

The J.D. is the highest degree that can be held by those in the legal industry. These degrees are usually three-year programs designed to prepare you for taking the Bar Exam. It's important that these are ABA law schools; Tennessee students who go to schools that are not accredited risk not being allowed to sit for the bar.

I recommend: Check out the degree requirements at the reputable Vanderbilt University Law School. Take a look at the timeline for the curriculum at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Consider doing the joint degree from the University of Memphis School of Law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you live in the northeast section of Tennessee, check into law schools in Knoxville, Tennessee. There are also several other schools in this corner of the state.
• •  Be cautious if you want to consider an online law degree in Tennessee. These programs are not accredited and don't guarantee that you can sit for the bar upon graduation.

Tennessee law schools pricing and costs is generally very expensive compared to other types of formal education. The bar exam that is taken after graduation from law school also requires additional expenses, such as the course review, exam registration, transportation and accommodations.

The average TN law degree leaves a student with more that $84,000 in debt, which is a major factor in the decision of many law students to seek employment with major law firms, rather than in the public or non-profit sectors. There are three general factors that affect the cost of a Tennessee law school:

1. Tuition and other fees. Tuition can vary dramatically between law schools, and an online law degree in Tennessee is usually much less expensive.
2. Additional expenses for TN law schools. These costs for Tennessee law schools primarily consist of living expenses, books and other school supplies. A law school, including a Tennessee online law school, also requires additional fees such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) fee, the law school application fee and the subscription fee to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
3. Financial aid. Scholarships, grants and loans are common ways to reduce the costs for Tennessee law schools.
   

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Compare annual tuition prices for ABA approved law schools in Tennessee

The tuition for private Tennessee law schools is often dramatically higher than it is for public law schools. Tuition and other law school expenses are typically less expensive for residents of Tennessee than for non-residents. The tuition and other fees for a year of law school in Tennessee ranges from $10,000 to $45,000 for residents.

I recommend: The Nashville School of Law charges about $10,000 per year in tuition and other fees. The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law charges about $13,000 per year for Tennessee residents and $35,000 for non-residents.

Determine the other costs of ABA law schools in Tennessee

Living expenses tend to be determined more by geography than by the law school. Some law schools in Tennessee may provide the average costs of living and other pricing information on housing, books, supplies and other miscellaneous law student expenses.

I recommend: The University of Tennessee College of Law estimates living expenses for students living off-campus to be $19,000 per year. The living expenses for Vanderbilt University Law School are approximately $21,000.

Save money on Tennessee law schools with grants and scholarships

Financial aid, such as grants, loans and scholarships, is the most common way of reducing law school expenses. Federal loans like the Stafford and Perkins loans frequently have the lowest interest rates and are guaranteed by the United States government. Employment is also an option, but many law schools place limits on the number of hours per week a student may work while attending law school.

I recommend: The Chattanooga Bar Association awards a one-time grant of $2,500 to students at the University of Tennessee. The Tennessee Bar Association awards three scholarships each year to minority students who have completed their first year of law school.

If you are thinking about attending law school in Tennessee, choose an ABA-accredited school so you will be able to sit for the bar once you complete your studies. Attending law school takes three years as a full-time student, so make sure both the program requirements and the campus atmosphere suit you.

Tennessee also requires practicing lawyers to take continuing education classes. These can be taken on campus or online. Select the one that best suits your schedule.

One difficulty for many students attending law school is covering the cost. Check into programs provided by both the state and federal government to see if you qualify for grants or student loans. Apply early for Tennessee state aid because it is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For those completing continuing legal education credits, see if your firm will cover the cost, because many do.

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ABA-approved law schools

Those wishing to practice law in Tennessee must attend an ABA-approved law school. Attending one of the schools accredited by the American Bar Association allows students to sit for the bar after they graduate.

I recommend: The American Bar Association website discusses ABA-approved law schools. Click on the Tennessee link on the Utah State Bar website to see a list of ABA-approved law schools in Tennessee.

Tennessee Bar Association

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is an organization for Tennessee lawyers that promotes a positive image of the law profession to the citizens of the state. The TBA also has programs for professional development and provides information to aspiring law students. The TBA Young Lawyer Division offers mentoring to those planning to become lawyers.

I recommend: The Tennessee Bar Association website tells about the organization and has resources for lawyers or those hoping to become lawyers. A link on their website for law students connects to a variety of resources.

Tennessee Student Assistance Awards

Tennessee Student Assistance Awards are granted to students attending post-secondary schools. Funds for this program come from the federal LEAP/SLEAP program and from the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.

I recommend: The Tennessee Student Assistance Awards website explains the rules and procedures for applying for these awards.

LSAT

To enter law school, students must take the LSAT, or Law School Admission Test. The test lasts for a half-day and consists of five 35-minute-long tests plus a writing sample. The questions are multiple choice, and the final score determines whether or not a candidate can enter the law school of his or her choice.

I recommend: The Law School Admission Council and The University of Tennessee provide additional information on the LSAT.

Tennessee CLE Requirements

CLE, or continuing legal education requirements, keep lawyers up to date on laws and procedures. The state of Tennessee requires lawyers to take a minimum of twelve hours of legal education.

I recommend: TennBarU has posted a copy of the Tennessee CLE Requirements.

EP credits

The state of Tennessee added an additional requirement to the CLE requirements in 1997. Since that time, all lawyers are required to complete three hours of EP, or ethics and professionalism, credits. These credits remind lawyers to maintain client confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold high standards of conduct.

I recommend: Education Over the Net provides online classes to help Tennessee lawyers meet their EP credit requirements. A list of classes and what they cover is located below the general course listings.