From 1991 to 1995, she worked at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP, focusing on civil litigation.

From 1996 to 1997, she served as vice president of comprehensive services at the Memphis Race Relations & Diversity Institute.

In the latter capacity, she was responsible for the legal interests of the university by serving as the primary in-house counsel on all major litigation and providing regulatory advice on a wide variety of issues.

Lipman was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Jon Phipps McCalla, who assumed senior status on August 23, 2013.

[3] On April 11, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Reid filed a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination.