First Time Applicant by Exam
MJP/In-house Counsel
Comity Instructions
Application Amendments, incl Re-Examination
For any fees due to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, please note that we do not accept payment by credit card. We accept cash, checks, cashier’s checks and money orders only.
Instructions for Application by Exam
The process for submitting an application for the July 2013 bar examination will change slightly and will be accepted beginning March 4, 2013. An original and one copy of the complete Application, as detailed and defined below, plus an email to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov of the complete, signed and notarized application in .pdf format will be required, as well as full and timely payment of the fees.
The following documents submitted to the Board of Law Examiners constitute a COMPLETE APPLICATION for purposes of being approved to sit for the bar examination:
- the NCBE number,
- the NCBE application completed online and including a bar-coded application number,
- the Tennessee Supplement information,
- three (3) letters of recommendation as outlined in the Tennessee Supplement,
- a completed Undergraduate Degree Verification and Law Degree Verification,
- the checklist, including verification that the Character and Fitness Report has been requested from the NCBE,
- and full payment of fees.
If you fail to provide any of these documents by the final deadline (Jan 10 for Feb exam; June 10 for July exam) you will not be eligible to sit for the bar examination. (Please note that the Notice of Intent form is no longer required. The information from the form has been merged into the Tennessee Supplement).
Some steps to take prior to completing your application include:
Deadlines. Familiarize yourself with the deadlines included under the Exam Schedule tab. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Sections 3.10 and 11.02, neither the Administrator nor the Board has the discretion to waive or extend the dates for filing applications nor may any fees be waived.
Applicable Rule. Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7.
Create you NCBE Number Account. Create a secure NCBE number account by accessing www.ncbex.org and selecting NCBE Number account from the “Applicant Login” at the top of the page.
The NCBE number will be required on all forms completed for the NCBE and the BLE application process.
Complete the online NCBE application. The NCBE application process for the character and fitness investigation will not change. You may begin the NCBE Application at any time within six (6) months of the examination you plan to take; however, you may not submit it to the Tennessee BLE until the application period is open for submission. To access the NCBE Application, login to www.ncbex.org and select Character and Fitness from the “Applicant Login” at the top of the page:
When you have completed the application form online, print out two originals of your completed NCBE application. Sign and have notarized the appropriate pages as required. Make a copy of the application for your records. Scan and save as a .pdf the original, signed and notarized application, including attachments. Submit one original to the NCBE with your payment either by filling in the credit card information or by paying with a check or money order. Mail the other original and one copy plus payment of the filing fees to the TN Board of Law Examiners, 401 Church Street, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN 37243. Email the .pdf file of your application to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
Complete the Tennessee Supplemental Form.Review and complete the Tennessee Supplemental. Print and sign the original and save it and any supporting documentation you will be submitting with the TN Supplement or the NCBE Application as a .pdf file. Mail the other original and one copy with the NCBE Application to the TN Board of Law Examiners, 401 Church Street, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN 37243. Email the .pdf file of your TN Supplemental to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
Election to test by laptop for the essay portion of the exam. If you wish to test by laptop for the essay portion of the exam, complete the laptop testing application located under the tab labeled “Laptop Testing.” NOTE: the COMPLETE APPLICATION must be filed with or before filing the laptop application and release of liability form. The late application deadline of Jan 10 (Feb exam) / June 10 (July exam) does not apply when requesting to test by laptop. Rather, the last day to file your COMPLETE APPLICATION (first-time taker or re-examination) if you wish to test by laptop is Dec 15 (Feb. exam)/May 15 (July exam). Save the signed, completed form in .pdf format. Mail the laptop form to the TN Board of Law Examiners with your completed application or under separate cover on or before the deadline. Send the .pdf file to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
Non-standard testing applications. If you require non-standard testing, please complete the NON-STANDARD TESTING REQUEST form. This form is due at least 30 days prior to the deadline for filing a COMPLETE APPLICATION unless the issue requiring non-standard testing was diagnosed after that time. TN Sup. Ct. R. 7, Sec. 3.11. You must include documentation of the disability and any accommodation previously granted by your college and/or law school as well as a letter from your treating physician confirming the need for and type of accommodations. Save the signed, completed form in .pdf format. Mail the Non-Standard Testing Request form to the TN Board of Law Examiners with your completed application or under separate cover on or before the deadline. Send the .pdf file to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
Undergraduate Degree Verifications. Print out the UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (Academic Form) verification form. Complete and have the top portion notarized and send the form to the registrar/records office of the school/university that granted your undergraduate degree. DO NOT send the forms to every school you attended.
Law Degree Verification. Print out the LAW DEGREE verification form. NOTE: THIS IS A TWO PAGE FORM. Complete and have the top portion of the form notarized and send BOTH pages to your law school Dean for completion.
BOTH FORMS (Undergraduate and Law Degree Verification forms) MUST BE SENT TO THE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL AND MUST CONTAIN THE SCHOOL SEAL. IF A TRANSCRIPT IS REQUIRED YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THIS OFFICE.
Other Bar Admissions. If you have been admitted in another jurisdiction you must also submit a certificate of good standing from each state in which you are or have been licensed.
Letters of Recommendation. You must submit letters of recommendation from three (3) law professors under whom you have studied, or lawyers or judges for whom you have worked. The Board does not accept letters from the following family members: parents, grandparents, siblings or spouses. If a relative other than you parent, sibling, spouse or grandparent is providing the recommendation, the relationship must be disclosed in the letter
Foreign Educated Applicants. If your legal education was received in a country other than the United States, you must furnish information demonstrating that your undergraduate and law school education was substantially equivalent to the requirements of Section 2 of Rule 7 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Such written evidence may include records from your undergraduate and law schools including, but not limited to, courses taken, number of hours per course taken, grades received, and documentary evidence showing accreditation of your schools by the appropriate accrediting agency in that country. See Article 7 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Licensed to practice in a country other than the United States. If you are licensed to practice law in a country other than the United States, you will need to furnish:
(a) A certified copy of the record or license of the court which admitted you to practice in such country.
(b) At least three (3) letters from attorneys or judges in such country certifying that you are in good standing at that bar, or were in good standing at that bar when you left that country.
Check Sheet: Complete, sign, date and print the check sheet. Save the signed, dated form in .pdf format. Mail the printed form to the Board of Law Examiners and email the .pdf version to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Tennessee does not accept previous MBE scores and no longer permits applicants to take two exams concurrently due to the adoption of the MPT exam.
Multi-Jurisdictional Practice/In- House Counsel Admission Instructions
Admission under this Rule is governed by Section 10.01 of Rule 7 of the Tennessee Supreme Rules
Please follow the steps below to apply for the MJP/In-house Counsel Practice Certificate:
- STEP 1
Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 , Section 10.01.
- STEP 2
Go to https://secure.ncbex2.org/php/ncbe_number/views/home.php and create a secure NCBE number account. The NCBE number will be required on all forms completed for the NCBE and the BLE applicant process.
- STEP 3
Go to www.ncbex.org/ea and complete the character and fitness application. Be sure to select the MJP/In-House Counsel option from the drop down labeled "application type" in the section after selecting which jurisdiction you are applying to. A $12.50 online payment is required for this application; the payment link is accessible from the Application Home Page. You may skip the Fee Schedule section by clicking on "Next Question" as the displayed fees do not apply to MJP/In-House Counsel applicants. Be sure to also check In-House Counsel from the drop down for "Applying As" in the Personal Information section of the application. Print out the completed application, have Authorization and Release Forms executed and include all requested forms and supporting documentation.
- STEP 4
Print out and complete the Supplemental Information for MJP/In-House Counsel applicants and attach the requested documents (i.e. proof of admission and current good standing in all jurisdictions in which you are admitted and an affidavit from your employer. See Rule 7, Section 10.01(a)(iv).)
- STEP 5
Mail one original AND ONE COPY of the Supplemental Information, the character and fitness application and the other requested documents to the Board of Law Examiners, 401 Church Street, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37243-0740. Enclose a check or money order made out to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners for $750. This office does not accept credit cards.
- RE-INSTATEMENT OF MJP: See Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Article 10.01(g):
Print out and compete the APPLICATION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION: MJP/IN-HOUSE COUNSEL. Complete the form and attach the requested documents. Mail an original and one copy to the Board of Law Examiners, 401 Church Street, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37243-0740. Enclose a check or money order made out to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners for $375. This office does not accept credit cards.
Instructions for Application by Comity
Each applicant is now responsible for requesting their own background check from the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Please follow the steps below to apply for comity admission to Tennessee:
- STEP 1
Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7.
- STEP 2
Go to https://secure.ncbex2.org/php/ncbe_number/views/home.php and create a secure NCBE number account. The NCBE number will be required on all forms completed for the NCBE and the BLE applicant process.
- STEP 3
Go to www.ncbex.org/ea and complete the character and fitness application. When you have completed the application form on-line, print out two originals of your completed NCBE application. Sign and have notarized the appropriate pages as required. Mail one original to the NCBE with your payment either by filling in the credit card information or by paying with a check or money order.
- STEP 4
Print out and complete the Tennessee Supplemental pages Ci-Cii.
- STEP 5
Submit to the Board of Law Examiners, 401 Church Street, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37243-0740 a completed and notarized TENNESSEE SUPPLEMENTAL pages Ci-Cii AND ONE COPY, and an original PLUS ONE COPY of the character and fitness application to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners with the $900 application fee. (PERSONAL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE OUT TO: TN BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS) This office does not accept credit cards. Note: You should keep a copy of Tennessee Supplemental and character and fitness application for your records.
- STEP 6
Print out the check sheet. Make sure you have completed each item. Sign and date the check sheet and enclose a copy with your application to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners.
Application Amendments, incl Re-Examination
Until you are admitted to the Tennessee Bar or your application is otherwise terminated, you are under a continuing obligation to keep your application current and must update responses whenever there is an addition to or a change to the information previously provided to the Board of Law Examiners or the NCBE. The updates, including address changes, must be made in writing and include all relevant documentation. Any changes in the responses to the completed NCBE Application must be filed with the NCBE if the NCBE report has not been completed (approx 4 months from filing date). All changed must be submitted to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners at the address listed in step 7 below.
Some form of Amendment must be filed by any Applicant who previously submitted a completed first-time application when:
- Applying for first-time examination after withdrawing from a previous exam (for first-time examinees only);
- Information included on the original complete Application has changed that requires the filing of an amendment to the NCBE Application or the Tennessee Supplement;
- An Application has been on file for two (2) years or longer and the Applicant has not been licensed; or
- Upon filing an Application for Re-Examination, as detailed below.
The process for submitting an application for the July 2013 bar examination will change slightly and will be accepted beginning March 4, 2013. An original and one copy of the complete Application, as detailed and defined below, plus an email to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov of the complete, signed and notarized application in .pdf format will be required, as well as full and timely payment of the fees.
The following documents submitted to the Board of Law Examiners constitute a COMPLETE APPLICATION for purposes of being approved to sit for the bar examination:
- the NCBE number,
- the NCBE application completed online and including a bar-coded application number,
- the Tennessee Supplement information,
- three (3) letters of recommendation as outlined in the Tennessee Supplement,
- the checklist, including verification that the Character and Fitness Report has been requested from the NCBE,
- a completed Undergraduate Degree Verification and Law Degree Verification,
- and full payment of fees.
If you fail to provide any of these documents by the final deadline (Jan 10 for Feb exam; June 10 for July exam) you will not be eligible to sit for the bar examination. (Please note that the Notice of Intent form is no longer required. The information from the form has been merged into the Tennessee Supplement. An amendment to the Rule is pending).
Some steps to take prior to completing your application include:
Deadlines. Familiarize yourself with the deadlines included under the Exam Schedule tab. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Sections 3.10 and 11.02, neither the Administrator nor the Board has the discretion to waive or extend the dates for filing applications nor may any fees be waived.
Applicable Rule. Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7.
- STEP 1: Create your NCBE Number Account. Create a secure NCBE number account by accessing www.ncbex.org and selecting NCBE Number account from the “Applicant Login” at the top of the page.
The NCBE number will be required on all forms completed for the NCBE and the BLE application process.
- STEP 2: Application Amendment (not Re-examination).
If you are applying for Re-Examination, skip to Step 3. For all other Applicants, click here for the Application Amendment form. List any amendments to the NCBE application by question or form number and note any amendments to the Tennessee Supplement. Deadlines for Applications and Amendments are listed in the tab on the left column labeled “Exam Schedule.” The Board cannot waive deadlines under any circumstances. Print an original of your completed Application Amendment form and save it as a .pdf file.
- STEP 3: Re-Examination. f you are applying for Re-Examination, click here for the Re-Examination Application form. List any amendments to the NCBE application by question or form number and note any amendments to the Tennessee Supplement. Deadlines for Applications and Amendments are listed in the tab on the left column labeled “Exam Schedule.” The Board cannot waive deadlines under any circumstances. Print an original of your completed Re-Examination form and save it as a .pdf file.
- STEP 4: Applications on file two (2) years or longer. For any Application that has been on file for two (2) years or longer, go to http://www.ncbex.org and complete the Supplemental Report in order to update your Character and Fitness Report. Upon completion of the online application, print two originals of the complete application plus attachments. Sign and have notarized the appropriate pages as required. Make a copy of the application for your records. Scan and save as a .pdf the original, signed and notarized application. Submit one original to the NCBE with your payment either by filling in the credit card information or by paying with a check or money order. Hold the duplicate original and save the .pdf/digital file pending further instruction.
Submitting documents only to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners or to the NCBE does not constitute a complete application and may delay your licensing.
Additionally, you must submit three (3) new letters of recommendation from lawyers with whom you have worked or studied.
- STEP 5: Non-standard testing applications. If you require non-standard testing, please complete the NON-STANDARD TESTING REQUEST form. This form is due at least 30 days prior to the deadline for filing a COMPLETE APPLICATION unless the issue requiring non-standard testing was diagnosed after that time. TN Sup. Ct. R. 7, Sec. 3.11. You must include documentation of the disability and any accommodation previously granted by your college and/or law school as well as a letter from your treating physician confirming the need for and type of accommodations. Save the signed, completed form in .pdf format.
- STEP 6: Election to test by laptop for the essay portion of the exam. If you wish to test by laptop for the essay portion of the exam, complete the laptop testing application located under the tab labeled “Laptop Testing.” NOTE: the COMPLETE APPLICATION must be filed with or before filing the laptop application and release of liability form. The late application deadline of Jan 10 (Feb exam) / June 10 (July exam) does not apply when requesting to test by laptop. Rather, the last day to file your COMPLETE APPLICATION (first-time taker or re-examination) if you wish to test by laptop is Dec 15 (Feb. exam)/May 15 (July exam). Save the signed, completed form in .pdf format.
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STEP 7: Submit your documents. Mail originals and one copy of each form to the TN Board of Law Examiners with the required fees on or before the deadline. Send the .pdf files to BLE.Administrator@tncourts.gov.
