Legal Services in Memphis
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June 15, 2026
For residents who are not sure which kind of lawyer they need, a general-practice or full-service law firm in Memphis can be a practical starting point. These firms handle a broad range of everyday legal matters under one roof, including civil litigation, business and contract questions, real estate transactions and disputes, estate planning and probate, personal injury claims, and criminal defense. Rather than narrowing to a single specialty, this guide looks at how legal services work in Tennessee, how to find and verify a lawyer, what to expect on consultations and fees, and where income-eligible residents can find free civil legal help. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 618,980 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as the legal hub of the Mid-South it supports a deep field of firms serving Shelby County and the surrounding region.
Attorneys in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court, which admits new lawyers through the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners after they pass the bar examination and meet character and fitness requirements. Once licensed, every Tennessee attorney is regulated by the Board of Professional Responsibility, the arm of the Supreme Court that investigates ethics complaints, administers attorney discipline, and runs client-protection programs such as the Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. Before hiring a lawyer, a consumer can check that attorney’s license status and disciplinary history through the Board of Professional Responsibility, which is a free and direct way to confirm that a lawyer is in good standing.
Finding the right lawyer often starts with a referral service rather than a search engine. The Tennessee Bar Association and the Memphis Bar Association both connect the public with licensed attorneys, and the Memphis Bar Association also supports community legal clinics. Many private firms in Memphis offer a free initial consultation so a prospective client can describe the problem and learn the likely approach before committing. Fee structures vary by matter type. Many firms bill by the hour for litigation and business work, charge flat fees for defined tasks such as forming an LLC or drafting a will, and work on a contingency basis for personal injury cases, meaning the fee is a percentage of any recovery and no fee is owed if there is no recovery. Asking for the fee arrangement in writing at the outset helps avoid misunderstandings later.
Income-eligible Memphis residents do not have to pay to get civil legal help. Memphis Area Legal Services is the primary nonprofit provider of free civil legal representation in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties, handling matters such as housing, family, consumer and utility issues, health, public benefits, and elder law for low-income clients. General consumer disputes, including those involving deceptive business practices, fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) and can be reported to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. This article is general information about how legal services work in Memphis and is not legal advice; anyone facing a specific legal problem should consult a licensed Tennessee attorney about their own situation.
Top Legal Services Providers in Memphis
1. Morton, Germany & Grai, PLLC
Address: 45 N. B.B. King Blvd., Suite 201, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 522-0050
Website: https://mggpllc.com
Services: business law and litigation, business and corporate formation, real estate, estate planning and probate, creditor and debtor rights, construction litigation, criminal defense, personal injury and medical malpractice
Description: Morton, Germany & Grai is a full-service downtown Memphis firm located on B.B. King Boulevard between Madison and Jefferson Avenues, serving clients across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The firm pairs a transactional and business practice with litigation and personal injury work, allowing it to handle a wide range of matters for both individuals and companies. Its attorneys cover distinct areas under one roof: Mark J. Grai works in business and corporate matters, real estate, and estate planning and probate; Jeffrey D. Germany handles business litigation, creditor and debtor rights, and construction litigation; and Craig V. Morton and Gary K. Morrell focus on serious personal injury and medical-malpractice cases. The firm also takes criminal-defense matters. That mix makes the office a single point of contact for clients who are unsure whether a problem is a business, property, estate, or injury question.
2. Futhey Law Firm PLC
Address: 1440 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 725-7525
Website: https://futheylawfirm.com
Services: business law, complex and commercial litigation, personal injury, insurance law, class actions, environmental law, intellectual property, real estate litigation
Description: Futhey Law Firm is a Memphis firm on Poplar Avenue in the Midtown area that handles a broad mix of business and litigation matters for individuals and companies across the Mid-South. Its core work spans business law, complex and commercial litigation, personal injury, insurance law, class actions, environmental law, and intellectual property, and the firm also notes experience in related areas such as bankruptcy, constitutional law, RICO, ERISA, and health-care law. The practice is led by Malcolm “Macky” Brown Futhey III, with attorneys Harley Chapman and Robert A. McLean. The firm’s breadth across transactional and contested matters makes it a useful starting point for clients with overlapping business and litigation needs rather than a single narrow issue.
3. Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS)
Address: 200 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 1075, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 523-8822
Website: https://malsi.org
Services: free civil legal help in family and children’s matters, housing and real property, consumer and utility issues, individual and civil rights, health, income maintenance and public benefits, elder law
Description: Memphis Area Legal Services is a nonprofit legal-aid organization, not a private firm, and it is the primary provider of free civil legal representation to low-income residents of Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties in western Tennessee. Its case-acceptance priorities cover family and children’s matters, housing and real property, consumer and utility issues, individual and civil rights, health, income maintenance, and elder law, all on the civil (non-criminal) side. To qualify, applicants generally must be U.S. citizens or legal residents with low income and limited assets and have a legal issue the organization handles; the quickest way to check eligibility is through an online application. The organization is included here as the access-to-justice option for Memphis-area residents who cannot afford a private attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Services in Memphis
Q: How do I check whether a Memphis lawyer is licensed and in good standing?
Every attorney in Tennessee is licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court and regulated by the Board of Professional Responsibility. You can verify a lawyer’s license status and any public disciplinary history directly through the Board of Professional Responsibility, which is free. The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners handles the admission and bar-examination process for new attorneys. Confirming good standing before you hire is a simple safeguard.
Q: What is the difference between a general-practice firm and a specialty attorney?
A general-practice or full-service firm handles a broad range of matters, such as business, real estate, estate planning, personal injury, and criminal issues, which is useful when you are not certain what type of lawyer you need. A specialty attorney focuses on one area, such as bankruptcy or family law. Many people start with a general-practice firm, which can then handle the matter or refer it to a focused practitioner if a case calls for deeper specialization.
Q: How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer in Memphis?
Many Memphis firms offer a free initial consultation, though this varies by firm and matter, so it is worth confirming when you call. After that, fees depend on the type of work. Hourly billing is common for litigation and business matters, flat fees are typical for defined tasks like drafting a will or forming an LLC, and personal injury cases are often handled on contingency, meaning the fee is a percentage of any recovery and nothing is owed if there is no recovery. Ask for the fee arrangement in writing.
Q: Where can I get free legal help in Memphis if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Income-eligible residents can contact Memphis Area Legal Services, which provides free civil legal help in matters such as housing, family law, consumer and utility issues, public benefits, and elder law for Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties. The statewide Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and the Memphis Bar Association’s legal clinics are additional starting points. Legal aid generally serves people with low income and limited assets, so eligibility is based on income, assets, and case type.
Q: Can a lawyer-referral service help me find the right attorney?
Yes. The Tennessee Bar Association and the Memphis Bar Association help connect the public with licensed attorneys, and the Memphis Bar Association also supports community legal clinics. These resources are a vetted alternative to choosing a lawyer at random online, and they can point you toward a general-practice firm or a specialist depending on your needs. A referral does not guarantee any particular outcome, but it connects you with an attorney in good standing.
Q: How do I file a complaint about a lawyer or a business in Memphis?
Complaints about an attorney’s professional conduct go to the Board of Professional Responsibility, which investigates ethics issues and administers discipline for Tennessee lawyers. Complaints about deceptive business practices generally fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) and can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. Keeping copies of your agreement, billing records, and relevant correspondence will strengthen any complaint you file.