ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - 81592

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Nashville seeks an Associate Counsel in its Professional Standards Unit to provide legal counsel on public records requests and related duties.

The role requires Tennessee bar admission, strong research skills in Westlaw/Lexis, and the ability to handle redactions, cost estimates, and training for the team.

This hybrid position involves collaboration across divisions and a background check given access to confidential information.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee.
• Extremely organized and detailed.
• State public records experience and litigation hold experience preferred.
• Team-focused, solution-driven, efficient and energetic.
• Proficient in performing electronic legal research on Westlaw or Lexis Nexis; willing to learn Adobe Premiere Pro and redaction techniques.

Responsibilities

• Assist Public Records Request Coordinator in reviewing and responding to public records requests.
• Coordinate with units to gather and produce records within legal time frames.
• Learn exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act for applied redactions.
• Track redactions and the basis for redactions.
• Assist with cost and time estimations; coordinate with Fiscal Services Unit on costs.
• Maintain communications with requesters as directed by the Public Records Request Coordinator.
• Maintain monthly statistics as directed.
• Perform research related to public records law as directed.
• Provide training on public records laws and best practices as needed.
• Collaborate on litigation hold matters and other requests assigned to PSU.

Skills

Public records law

Legal research

Detail oriented

Team player

Efficient

Education

Licensed to practice law in Tennessee

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis Nexis

Adobe Premiere Pro

Job description

Executive Service

Closing Date: 10/20/2026

This position is designated as Hybrid (In-Office and Remote)

ASSOCIATE COUNSEL

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Administrative Services Division

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $103,440.00 - $165,048.00

Closing Date: 10/20/2026

This position is designated as Hybrid (In-Office and Remote)

Background Check

Due to the sensitive, confidential information that an employee of the TBI has access to, this position requires an extensive background check including but not limited to an applicant's criminal history, financial history, employment history and education.

Who We Are And What We Do

The attorneys working at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation represent the State of Tennessee. The primary responsibility of the attorneys of the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) is to provide legal counsel to all divisions and units within the TBI on any issues that arise. Attorneys provide counsel to agents and employees in all units and divisions of the Bureau, work with the state Attorney General's office in representing the TBI in ongoing litigation, establish and implement contracts, respond to requests and demands for Bureau records, advise management on employment issues, provide training to employees, and advise on any other legal matter that may be presented to the Professional Standards Unit.

Job Overview

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is seeking an attorney to serve as an Associate Counsel in its Professional Standards Unit. The duties for this position will involve extensive work regarding public records but will not be limited to public records and could include other duties of the Professional Standards Unit as described in this posting.

Key Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of the Public Records Request Coordinator to assist in reviewing and responding to public records requests.
• Coordinate with all units to gather and produce records within the required legal time frame.
• Learn the statutory exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act to be applied when preparing records.
• Track all redactions and the basis for the redactions.
• Assist with cost and time estimations of all parties involved in the response and work with Fiscal Services Unit to process costs associated with public records.
• Maintain a file of either a soft or hard copy of communications with requesters as directed by the Public Records Request Coordinator.
• Maintain monthly statistics at the direction of the Public Records Request Coordinator.
• Perform research related to public records law as directed by the Public Records Request Coordinator.
• General research of other legal issues when requested by agents and management.
• Provide training to TBI team members on public records laws, including exceptions and best practices, as needed.
• Work with the Public Records Request Coordinator on any requests that may be assigned including litigation hold matters.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee.
• Relevant legal experience is desired but not required.
• Applicants must be extremely organized and detailed.
• Although not mandatory, extra consideration will be given to any candidate that possesses State public records experience and litigation hold experience.
• The applicant must be team-focused, solution-driven, efficient and energetic.
• Must be proficient in performing electronic legal research on State-provided Westlaw or Lexis Nexis.
• Must be willing and capable of becoming proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro and be willing to become proficient in how to redact video and audio recordings.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.