Legal Services in Nashville
On this page
June 15, 2026
For residents who are not sure which kind of lawyer they need, a general-practice or full-service law firm in Nashville 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 closings and disputes, estate planning and probate, personal injury claims, and family or criminal matters. 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. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,388 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its size supports a deep and varied legal market.
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 Nashville Bar Association both operate lawyer-referral services that connect the public with licensed attorneys by practice area, and many private firms in Nashville 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 Nashville residents do not have to pay to get civil legal help. The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands provides free representation in civil matters such as housing and eviction, family law and domestic violence, public benefits, consumer and debt issues, and expungements for people living at or near the poverty line, and the statewide Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services maintains referral and self-help resources for those who do not qualify for free representation but still need guidance. 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 Nashville 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 Nashville
1. SoBro Law Group, PLLC
Address: 101 Lea Avenue, Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: (615) 988-9911
Website: https://www.sobrolaw.com
Services: real estate, business and corporate law, banking and financial, estate planning and probate, employment, litigation and alternative dispute resolution
Description: SoBro Law Group is a full-service Nashville firm located in a restored historic building in the SoBro (South of Broadway) district just south of downtown. The firm was founded by the husband-and-wife team of Adam LaFevor and Amy Wood and built its practice around real estate, business transactions, and estate planning while also handling banking and financial matters, employment questions, and litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Its real estate work spans office, retail, industrial, mixed-use, residential, hotel, and large planned-community developments, and the firm represents banks, developers, and companies of all sizes alongside individual clients. For someone who is unsure whether a matter is a business, property, or estate question, the firm’s combined transactional and litigation bench allows several related issues to be handled in one place. The firm invites prospective clients to schedule a consultation through its contact page.
2. Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC
Address: 402 BNA Drive, Building 100, Suite 402, Nashville, TN 37217
Phone: (615) 953-3808
Website: https://www.craftlegal.com
Services: general practice, business law, personal injury, criminal defense, immigration law, education law, lemon law, wills and estate documents
Description: The Law Office of Perry A. Craft is a Nashville general-practice firm led by Perry A. Craft, who has practiced law in Tennessee since 1978 after graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Earlier in his career, Mr. Craft served as Deputy State Attorney General, Assistant State Attorney General, and Senior Counsel for Tennessee. The firm represents both individuals and businesses across a wide range of matters, including general practice, business and contract law, personal injury, criminal defense, immigration, education law, and lemon-law claims, and it also prepares wills, trusts, and end-of-life documents. That breadth makes the office a single point of contact for clients who are uncertain which area of law their problem falls under.
3. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (Nashville Office)
Address: 1321 Murfreesboro Pike, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37217
Phone: (615) 244-6610
Website: https://las.org
Services: free civil legal help in housing and eviction, family law and domestic violence, health benefits and TennCare, food assistance and SNAP, employment, money and debt issues, restoration of rights and expungements, education rights
Description: The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands is a nonprofit legal-aid organization, not a private firm, and it provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents across 48 counties through eight regional offices, including its Nashville office on Murfreesboro Pike. Its attorneys handle civil matters that people cannot be jailed for, including eviction and foreclosure, divorce, custody and protection orders, TennCare and other health-benefit problems, SNAP food assistance, wage and employment issues, debt and tax problems, and expungement and restoration-of-rights cases. The organization serves people living at or near the poverty line and prioritizes low-income and vulnerable residents, including those age 55 and older. Because help is by appointment, the organization asks prospective clients to call before visiting, as many problems can be addressed by phone or mail. It is included here as the access-to-justice option for residents who cannot afford a private attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Services in Nashville
Q: How do I check whether a Nashville 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 family or 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 Nashville?
Many Nashville 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 Nashville if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Income-eligible residents can contact the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which provides free civil legal help in matters such as housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer debt. The statewide Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and the lawyer-referral services run by the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association are additional starting points. Legal aid generally serves people at or near the poverty line, so eligibility is based on income and case type.
Q: Can a lawyer-referral service help me find the right attorney?
Yes. The Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association operate lawyer-referral services that match the public with licensed attorneys by practice area. These services 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 Nashville?
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.