The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) is a nonprofit organization (501c3) dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being. IWF’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) focuses on expanding opportunity for women and opposes policies that run counter to that goal such as excessive and burdensome occupational licenses.
We are submitting the following comments in reference to the proposed rule change ADM2022-00522. Tennessee is one of the few states that require lawyers in private or public practice to work fulltime for five of the previous seven years to be admitted without examination.
This is an onerous requirement for all lawyers who move from another state to Tennessee, but especially burdensome for legal professionals who have worked part time prior to relocating to the state. They are required to re-take the bar examination to be licensed in the state. Burdensome occupational licensing regulations such as this one create barriers to employment, especially for women.
Read the full comment here.