Rule 6 - Admission of AttorneysAn applicant who has been approved for licensing under Rule 7 may seek admission to the bar of this Court by either:
(1) Appearing in open court and representing, through a reputable member of the bar, that he or she is a person of good moral character and that he or she has been issued a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to be licensed to practice law under Rule 7 and the statutes of this state; or(2) Filing with the Clerk of the Supreme Court an application for admission by affidavit. The documents submitted by the applicant shall demonstrate that he or she possesses the necessary qualifications for admission.(A) The application for admission on affidavit consists of the following:(i) An application in the form provided by the Appellate Court Clerk's Office and which includes a statement that the applicant possesses all qualifications and meets all requirements for admission as set out in the preceding paragraph; and(ii) A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission issued by the Board of Law Examiners pursuant to Rule 7, Section 9.01.(B) An applicant seeking admission by affidavit shall appear in person before one of the judicial officials in Tennessee listed in paragraph 45, below, who will administer the oath of admission.(C) Upon the applicant's taking the oath or affirmation, applicant shall file the completed application for admission by affidavit, with the signature of the judicial official administering the oath, within 30 days of the date the oath was administered. Applications shall be filed in the office of the Clerk at Nashville. Upon receipt of the application for admission by affidavit and payment of the fee therefor, the Clerk shall issue a certificate of admission. The fee for admission to the Bar of this Court shall be fixed by the Court.(3) Each applicant for admission shall take the following oath: I, ___________, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee. In the practice of my profession, I will conduct myself with honesty, fairness, integrity, and civility to the best of my skill and abilities, so help me God.
(4) The foregoing oath of admission may be administered as follows:(i) In person, by one of the following judicial officials in Tennessee:(A) a Justice of the Supreme Court;(B) a Judge of the Court of Appeals; (C) a Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals; (D) a Circuit Court Judge; (F) a Criminal Court Judge; (G) a General Sessions Court Judge; (H) a Judge of any other inferior court established by the General Assembly pursuant to Article VI, Section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution;(I) the Clerk of the Appellate Courts; (J) a Chief Deputy Clerk of the Appellate Courts; or (K) the Clerk (not including deputy clerks) of any of the courts of such trial judges listed above; or(ii) Virtually, through video conference technology by a Justice of the Supreme Court, the Clerk of the Appellate Courts or a Chief Deputy of the Appellate Courts. The applicant shall present proof of identification in the form of an unexpired Driver's License, Passport, or Military ID prior to taking the oath of admission, in addition to complying with the other requirements for admission by affidavit.Amended by order filed April 18, 2002; amended by order filed October 5, 2009; amended by order filed October 27, 2011 and amended by order filed December 21, 2015, effective 1/1/2016; amended by order filed September 16, 2019, effective 9/16/2019; and as amended by order filed and effective 10/31/2023.