Tyler Foster

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
• National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA)
• National Association for Public Defense (NAPD)
• National Lawyers Guild (NLG)
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Federal Bar Association (FBA)
• Tennessee Bar Association (TBA)
• Memphis Bar Association (MBA)
• D.C. Bar (law student membership)

Tyler Foster’s commitment to criminal legal reform is deeply rooted in personal experience. As a young adult, he was incarcerated for several months, during which he became a “jailhouse lawyer.” This experience transformed his life and sparked his passion for using the law as a tool for liberation. Tyler now attends the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law on a full-tuition scholarship. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Memphis.

Tyler is a respected advocate for criminal legal reform. He serves as a board member of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN) and as vice president of the Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH). He previously served on the board of Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence (CALEB). In these roles, he has led grassroots campaigns and built cross-sector coalitions to advocate for transformative justice.

By combining his lived experience with legal training and community-rooted advocacy, Tyler works to dismantle oppressive systems and build a legal system centered on equity, dignity, and collective liberation. He is currently focused on integrating legal advocacy with movement-building strategies to expand access to justice and amplify the voices of directly impacted communities.

U.S. Customs House Scholarship (full-tuition scholarship)

Humphreys Law Fellowship (2025-26)

CALI Excellence for the Future Award – Legal Methods I

Law Review Excellence in Legal Writing Award (Spring 2025)

Dean’s Award for Best Memorandum (Fall 2024)