Dedicated And Highly Effective Legal Counsel Since 1924.

McKenna L. Cox

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Biography

McKenna L. Cox graduated magna cum laude from Wofford College with a bachelor's degree in English, Spanish and Latin American studies. She holds a master's degree in Romance languages and literature from UNC-Chapel Hill and is fluent in Spanish. McKenna received her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2005 with a concentration in advocacy and dispute resolution.

McKenna has over 17 years of experience in family law, adoption, domestic violence, mediation, powers of attorney, immigration, conservatorships, and litigation practice. She is a Rule 31-listed family mediator in the state of Tennessee. McKenna is also a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Catholic Charities CLINIC program for representation of victims of crime in immigration cases. She is member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Federal Bar Association and its Immigration Law Section, the Tennessee Bar Association, the LGBT Bar Association, is the past vice president and pro bono coordinator of the Washington County Bar Association, sat on the Board of Legal Aid of East Tennessee, is an appointed member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, serves as the chancellor for St. John's Episcopal Church in Johnson City, TN, and as the parliamentarian and vice chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee.

McKenna has lived in multiple states in the United States as well as in Santiago, Chile, and has travelled throughout Central and South America, Spain, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Egypt, and most of North America. She enjoys playing with her pet rabbit and her two basset hounds, travelling with her children and husband, photography, singing, paper crafting, and reading historical fiction.

Education

  • University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee
    • J.D. – 2005
    • Major: Special focus in Advocacy and Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
    • B.A. – 1995
    • Honors: Dean’s List
    • Honors: Magna Cum Laude
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa inductee
    • Major: English
    • Major: Spanish
    • Minor: Latin American Studies
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    • M.A., Master of Arts – 2022
    • Major: Romance Languages and Literature
  • Universidad Catolica de Santiago, Chile
    • 1998
    • Study Abroad

Professional Associations

  • Tennessee Bar Association, Member, 2005 - Present
  • LGBTQ Bar Association, Member, 2018 - Present
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member, 2012 - Present
  • Washington County Bar Association, Member, Past Vice President, and Past Pro Bono Coordinator, Member, 2005 - Present
  • Federal Bar Association, Member, Immigration Law Section, 2015 - Present

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, 2020 - Present
  • Washington County, TN Pro-Bono Clinics 2014 - Present
  • Variety of pro bono work with for churches, indigent persons, minors, victims of crimes, and asylum seekers 2009 - Present
  • Wills for Heroes 2012 - Present
  • Chancellor for St. John’s Episcopal Church, Johnson City, TN 2018 - Present
  • Parliamentarian and Vice-Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee 2020 - Present
  • Staff attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Inc, 2005 - 2012

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Practice Areas

  • Divorce and Family Law
  • Adoption
  • Name changes
  • Immigration Law
  • Conservatorships
  • Estate Planning
  • Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Family Law Mediation
  • Landlord/Tenant
  • LGBTQ issues

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2005
  • U.S. Immigration Court, 2015
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2012

Certifications

  • The Rule 31 Listed Family Law Mediator

Honors

  • Selected by Tennessee Supreme Court as Commissioner for the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission 2020 - Present
  • Tennessee Supreme Court Pro Bono Recognition, 2010 - 2022
  • Best New Advocate Award, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, 2006 - 2007
  • Phi Beta Kappa inductee, 1999
  • Magna Cum Laude graduate, Wofford College, 1995 - 1999
  • Graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2007
  • Graduate of CLINIC program for Representing Victims of Crimes in Immigration cases, 2009