greeneville question (Memphis, Johnson City, Kingsport: lawyer, work, house)

[martin9499]

My wife, 8 year old little girl, and I are thinking about a move. I am a general practioner lawyer; my wife is a special ed. teacher. I have practiced 16 years and my wife has taught for so long we think it may be time to slow down or retire maybe providing substituion duties or tutoring.

My daughter is our only child and we want her to be academically challenged but most of all to be safe. We live in a suburb of Memphis Tennessee and that probably says it all.

My question is, while we dont have many bills, can a lawyer start up in Greeneville and make a living ? Is it a closed community or is it one that might like to have some outside blood in the legal community?

[williboy]

I am certainly no authority on law in Greene County. I do however live in Telford about halfway between Greeneville and Johnson City. I would think that a new business of almost any kind would stand a much better chance in the Johnson City area. Johnson City is much larger giving you a much wider potential customer base. I love Greeneville, but it is small and when you are talking about a lawyer most people will search for a recommendation from a friend or family member. The best scenario, it would seem to me, is if you could find an established firm looking for another partner.

[mbmouse]

I agree with Willyboy. Greeneville gets very clicky. Only a few Judges and if you will be counting on court appointed clients and such, you might be on the bottom do to being the "new guy" and that status could last many years. I would also suggest you look to Johnson City or Kingsport as well.
Hope that helps and good luck.

[jabogitlu]

Agreed with mouse or williboy. Also, you're going to find better schools in Johnson City than Greeneville. You can still live somewhere rural in JC or Washington County (out Cherokee Road, or up towards Grey, or out past Jonesborough where Williboy is) and be minutes from the city.

[AppalachianAngler]

Yeah, what everyone else says.

By the way, my parents live outside the Memphis region now, but I grew up in Greeneville and am applying for law school at Memphis now. Greeneville is not very open to outsiders. Most all of the lawyers practicing there now are locals who get most of the work. Being from Memphis, you are more than likely more than qualified than some of those in this area, but qualifications really do not mean much here, it is about connections and being part of the good ole boy network. It is extremely different culture wise than Memphis suburbs or the rest of the mid-south.

Best of luck. If you have any questions, shoot me a PM.

[GrannyLois]

You may already know that there is a federal courthouse in Greeneville.

You might want to meet some of the lawyers there and get a feel for things, and also ask them where their children attend school.

Personally, I love Greeneville and Greene County. We looked at property there last year, and there's all types of people and places. I'm sure the culture is extremely different than Memphis, etc., (like Appal. Angler says), but that can be taken in a positive way, too.