Rate My Professor Laura Chastain

Laura Chastain began her academic journey with pre-nursing studies at Tennessee Technological University from 1978 to 1981, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center between 1981 and 1983. This foundation in health science informed her early career interests before she transitioned to law. Earning a B.S. from David Lipscomb University in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law in 1986, Chastain built a distinguished career in legal ethics and professionalism. She has been a Professor at the Nashville School of Law since 2003, teaching courses in Ethics and Professionalism. Currently, she serves as Ethics Counsel for the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Chastain's professional achievements include editing “Board Notes” from 1999 to 2007 and the LAW Newsletter from 1995 to 1996. She was Past President of the National Organization of Bar Counsel in 1990, Past Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of the Nashville Bar Association in 1995, and held leadership positions in various bar associations including Past Director & 2nd Vice President of the Nashville Bar Association in 1999 and former Member of Harry Phillips Inn of Court in 1999. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Middle Tennessee Chapter of Association of Corporate Counsel and the Executive Council for the Construction Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association. Chastain was a Liaison to the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and named Member of the First Advisory Committee of the American Bar Association on Lawyer Assistance Programs. She is admitted to the Tennessee Supreme Court (1986), U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (1987), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2005), Supreme Court of the United States (2005), Kentucky Supreme Court (2010), and Texas Supreme Court (2008).

Chastain is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (1998), Tennessee Bar Foundation (2006), and Nashville Bar Foundation (1997). Her publications include ethics articles for the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Publication (2002–2013), “Board Notes” (1999–2007), and Nashville Bar Association (1995–1999).