Clay Billingsley is a native of Union City, Tennessee. He graduated with highest honors from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in accounting. Following college, Clay worked at a regional accounting firm serving clients in the banking, agricultural, and government sectors. He is a Certified Public Accountant.  

In 2006, Clay left public accounting to attend law school at the University of Memphis, graduating in 2009. While in law school, Clay was a staff member of the University of Memphis Law Review and Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure. Clay was also recognized for being one of the top legal memoranda writers in his law school class. 

Clay was admitted to the bar in 2009 and is licensed to practice in Tennessee. He resides in Union City, Tennessee, with his wife, Emily, and their dog, Donna.