 She worked as a nurse during law school and received her Juris Doctorate in 1981 from the University of Mississippi.Martin began her legal career in Memphis, Tennessee in 1981 but soon entered a career of public service with the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee in 1983.She served as an Assistant U. S. Attorney from 1983-1988, and as a Special Assistant U. S. Attorney from 1988-1990.