How to Be a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Lebanon, Tennessee

The scales of justice are a symbol of the criminal justice system.

If you enjoy reading, research and writing and have a knack for debating, you should consider becoming a criminal defense lawyer. If you live in Tennessee and wish to work in the town of Lebanon as a criminal defense attorney, you will have to go to law school and build a network. After you graduate from law school and pass the Tennessee Bar Exam, you must take advantage of your professional network and apply for positions with private firms in Lebanon, as well as with the public defender's office.

Instructions

1. Obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college. You must obtain a bachelor's degree to attend law school and sit for the Tennessee Bar Exam. There is no required course of study, but you must graduate. While in college, you must register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

2. Enroll in law school. You must graduate from an American Bar Association-accredited law school before taking the Tennessee Bar Exam. While it is not necessary to go to law school in Tennessee to practice law in Tennessee, doing so could help build your professional network.

3. Join criminal law groups and organizations while attending law school. Being a member of such groups will allow you to interact with criminal law practitioners and others who may speak to the group. You should also join the Tennessee Bar Association and the Criminal Justice Section as a law student to help develop your network.

4. Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is a national multiple-choice exam that tests bar applicants' understanding of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

5. Pass the Tennessee Bar Exam. This is a two-day examination that consists of one day of essays and one day of multiple-choice questions. The essays are specific to Tennessee law. The multiple-choice exam, called the Multistate Bar Exam, tests the common law subjects of criminal law, criminal procedure, property, torts, contracts, evidence and constitutional law.

6. Apply for jobs as a criminal defense attorney. Use the professional network that you built in law school and send your resume to criminal defense firms in Lebanon. Also apply for a position with the Wilson County Public Defender's Office.

References

• Tennessee Board of Law Examiners: Basic Requirements for the Bar Examination
• Tennessee Board of Law Examiners: Bar Examination and Fee Schedule
• University of Idaho: Tennessee Bar Exam

Resources

• TBA: Tennessee Bar Association
• National Conference of Bar Examiners: MPRE
• LSAC: Law School Admission Council