Tennessee bar applicants may have to pass one more test before being admitted – a drug test. On December 21, 2015, the Supreme Court of Tennessee amended its bar admission rules to explicitly authorize the Board of Law Examiners to request that an applicant submit to a drug test. Applicants who refuse may be denied a law license. Specifically, effective January 1, 2016:
The Board or any individual member thereof, as part of the character investigation of an applicant, may request an applicant to submit to a drug test. Failure or refusal to submit to the drug test shall be sufficient cause for the Board to refuse such applicant a license. Art. III, sec. 3.07(b).
Access the full Order, In re Amendment of Rules 6, 7, and 8 (RPC 5.5), Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court, No. ADMIN2015-00443 (filed Dec. 21, 2015), here.
