Employment Law in Memphis
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you have a workplace dispute in Memphis, it often begins not in court but with an administrative agency. Discrimination charges are filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the Memphis District Office is located here and covers Tennessee) or the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. If litigation follows, it is heard in the Shelby County Circuit or Chancery Court in the 30th Judicial District, or in federal court for federal claims.
The agency or court determines where your claim is handled; the substantive law lives in our statewide guides. Start with the Tennessee employment law hub, then review at-will employment, wrongful termination, or workplace discrimination.
Employment deadlines are short, so act promptly. To get matched with a local Memphis employment attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Agencies & courts
Agency / Court: Memphis workplace claims often start with the EEOC (federal) or the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (state) before any lawsuit is filed in the Shelby County Circuit or Chancery Court or in federal court.
Many employment disputes begin with an administrative charge rather than a lawsuit. Discrimination charges are filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — the Memphis District Office serves Tennessee and is located here in Memphis — or with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. If litigation follows, it is heard in the Shelby County Circuit or Chancery Court in the 30th Judicial District, or in federal court for federal claims. Verify current agency offices, deadlines, and court procedures on their official websites before you act.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Where do I file a discrimination charge in Memphis?
- Federal discrimination charges go to the EEOC, whose Memphis District Office is located here in Memphis and covers Tennessee, and state charges go to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. These charges usually must be filed before you can sue, and they carry strict deadlines.
- Which court hears an employment lawsuit in Memphis?
- If a case proceeds to litigation, it is heard in the Shelby County Circuit or Chancery Court in the 30th Judicial District, or in federal court for federal claims. A local attorney can advise on the right forum and deadlines.