2026 Legal Trends Report Average Tennessee lawyer hourly rate: $298 (up from $281 in 2025). This places Tennessee near the national median.
For comparison: neighboring Georgia averages $363, Kentucky $244. Tennessee's rate reflects its growing legal market in Nashville and Memphis.
📊 Nashville's boom has pushed rates higher, especially in corporate and IP law.
| Practice Area | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Administrative | $355 |
| Appellate | $321 |
| Bankruptcy | $333 |
| Business | $328 |
| Civil Litigation | $312 |
| Civil Rights & Constitutional Law | Currently unavailable |
| Collections | $265 |
| Commercial Sale of Goods | $329 |
| Construction | $289 |
| Contracts | $313 |
| Corporate | $350 |
| Criminal | $246 |
| Elder Law | $286 |
| Employment & Labor | $321 |
| Family | $308 |
| Government | $215 |
| Immigration | $413 |
| Insurance | $201 |
| Intellectual Property | $446 |
| Juvenile | $145 |
| Mediation & Arbitration | $411 |
| Medical Malpractice | $268 |
| Other | $305 |
| Personal Injury | $251 |
| Real Estate | $330 |
| Small Claims | Currently unavailable |
| Tax | $332 |
| Traffic Offenses | $384 |
| Trusts | $311 |
| Wills & Estates | $298 |
| Worker's Compensation | $149 |
🔍 Highest: Intellectual Property ($446), Immigration ($413), Mediation ($411). Lowest: Worker's Comp ($149), Juvenile ($145), Insurance ($201). Family law in Nashville averages around $308, consistent with statewide.
Selected average hourly rates for major Tennessee cities, based on national city data (extrapolated from regional patterns):
📊 Premium: Nashville corporate and IP attorneys often charge $400–$500/hr, above state averages due to Music Row and healthcare headquarters.
note City-level data from 8am™ MyCase (national cities) supplemented with Tennessee practice area averages.
✅ Avg lawyer rate: $298
✅ Family law: $308
✅ Spousal support: factors-based (no formula)
✅ Duration: discretionary (rehabilitative focus)
✅ Marital property: equitable distribution
🔵 Avg lawyer rate: $363
🔵 Family law: $360
🔵 Spousal support: needs-based, separate maintenance
🔵 Duration: limited or permanent
🔵 Marital property: equitable distribution
🔴 Avg lawyer rate: $244
🔴 Family law: $268
🔴 Spousal support: maintenance (factors)
🔴 Duration: rehabilitative preferred
🔴 Marital property: equitable distribution
Demo: 12‑year marriage, $12k/mo income, spouse earns $2k
TN: Judge considers factors (see §36-5-121). Could award $2,500–$3,500 for 6 years. Lawyer fees $308/hr avg.
GA: Similar factors, but Atlanta rates drive overall higher fees ($360/hr family).
KY: Lower rate ($268/hr) but similar support outcomes; maintenance often shorter duration.
National retainer averages from 2025 Benchmark Report – applicable to Tennessee firms (Nashville, Memphis):
🏙️ Nashville family law retainers often start at $3,500–$5,000 for contested divorces, with higher retainers for high-asset cases.
| Document Type | Legal Drafting | Contract Review |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Purchase Agreement | $770 | $580 |
| LLC Operating Agreement | $710 | $630 |
| Last Will and Testament | $1,290 | $1,730 |
| Prenuptial Agreement | $890 | $540 |
| Divorce Settlement | $1,530 | $580 |
| Commercial Lease | $910 | $700 |
| Business Purchase Agreement | $960 | $1,010 |
| Trademark Application | $1,390 | — |
📌 National averages; Nashville attorneys may charge a premium for entertainment industry contracts.
Based on 2026 Legal Trends Report, the average Tennessee lawyer rate is $298/hour. Nashville rates are slightly higher for corporate and IP specialties.
Intellectual Property tops at $446/hour, followed by Immigration ($413) and Mediation/Arbitration ($411).
Tennessee family law attorneys average $308/hour. In Nashville, experienced divorce lawyers may charge $350–$450.
Family law retainers average $3,163 nationally; in Nashville, expect $3,500–$5,000 for a contested divorce.
Yes, under T.C.A. §36-5-103(c), courts may order one spouse to pay the other's reasonable attorney fees based on need and ability.
TN ($298) is lower than GA ($363) but higher than KY ($244). Spousal support rules are broadly similar across all three.