Mentor Requirements

1. The attorney is currently licensed to practice law in Tennessee; is in good standing with the Supreme Court; and, for the previous five (5) years, has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee, in another state, or in the District of Columbia;

2. The attorney has not been suspended or disbarred from the practice of law in any jurisdiction;

3. The attorney has not been subject to any lesser disciplinary action, including any public or private reprimands, within the last ten (10) years by any attorney or judicial disciplinary agency in any state or by any federal or state court; and

4. The attorney has completed initial or recertification mentor training as provided by Supreme Court Rule 21 within the previous seven (7) calendar years.

Beginning Attorney Requirements

1. The attorney actually practices law in Tennessee or intends to practice law in Tennessee;

2. The attorney is in the first three (3) years of his or her practice as a lawyer following graduation from law school, the participation in a judicial clerkship, or the active practice of law in another state;

3. The attorney has graduated from law school no more than five (5) years prior to participating in an Approved Mentoring Program; and

4. The attorney has not previously received full credit (6 hours) for participating in an Approved Mentoring Program.  

Program Prohibitions

• The Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer are not permitted to be affiliated with the same law firm, governmental agency, or corporate law department.

• The Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer are prohibited from discussing specific legal matters during the completion of the Mentoring Plan to protect against the risk of inadvertent disclosure of client or confidential information.

• There shall not be any attorney-client relationship established by the Mentoring Program and communications between the Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer are not confidential.

• The Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer must identify and establish procedures to protect against present and prospective conflicts of interest.

• The Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer must abide by provisions prohibiting romantic or business relationships between the Approved Mentor and beginning lawyer during the period of the mentoring relationship.

• An Approved Mentor cannot work with more than two (2) beginning lawyers during the course of any calendar year.