Applications Index

ALL Applicants and Declarants are expected to be familiar with the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas.  There is no refund of fees in the event of the withdrawal of any Declaration or Application, nor in the event a determination is made by the Board that the Applicant or Declarant does not meet the requirements imposed under these Rules.  Outdated Applications or Declaration will not be accepted. 

The forms available from the Board of Law Examiners are listed below. Click on the form you are interested in downloading.  When printing the forms, please do not duplex.  Outdated forms will not be accepted, and will be returned unprocessed.  Applications and Declarations are generally updated on yearly basis. 

Rule VI(a) states "Every person who is beginning law study in an approved law school in Texas for the first time (an entrant) and who intends to apply for admission to the Bar of Texas shall, unless prohibited from filing by these Rules, file with the Board a Declaration of Intention to Study Law, on a form promulgated by the Board."

Individuals beginning an LLM program at an ABA-approved law school in Texas are not required to file a Declaration of Intent to Study Law.  Do not file a Declaration of Intent unless you will be (or are) applying as a non-attorney graduate of an ABA-approved law school in Texas.  Do not submit a Declaration until you have actually begun law school.

Do not use the In-State Application unless you will be (or are) applying to the Texas Bar Examination for the first time and will be (or are) a non-attorney graduate of an ABA-approved law school in Texas.

General Application for Admission  

Use the General Application only if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a first-time registrant to the Texas Bar Exam applying as a non-attorney who has been (or will be) awarded a J.D. by an ABA-approved law school outside of Texas;
• You are a licensed attorney registering for the Texas Bar Examination for the first time;
• You are a licensed attorney applying for Admission without Examination;
• You are applying to take the Texas Bar Examination as a former Texas attorney seeking reinstatement.  (Such applicants should also review the Reinstatements page for former Texas attorneys who are attempting to be reinstated or relicensed..)

Use the Re-Application only if you have taken or applied for a previous Texas Bar Examination.

Foreign Legal Consultant Application

Use the Foreign Legal Consultant Application only if you applying for Certification of Registration as a Foreign Legal Consultant under Rule XIV.

Use the Foreign Legal Consultant Renewal Application only if you are currently a Foreign Legal Consultant seeking to renew your certification. 

Supplemental Investigation ("S.I.") Form

Do not submit the Supplemental Investigation form unless you have been instructed to do so by Board staff.

Application for Testing Accommodations -- For applicants seeking accommodations under Rule XII(b)

Postmarks

To meet a "postmark deadline," the Rule I(c) requirement is to have your properly completed and addressed application (or reapplication or
declaration) and fees mailed with proper postage and then legibly postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before the due date.

We see an unusual number of deadlines missed due to using private "pack & ship" stores for mailing applications. These may work some of the time, but the typical problems that come to our attention include items returned to sender for improper postage or items postmarked later than the day the store promised. If that happens, it is very bad for you because you may have a store receipt for your purchase, but not the timely U.S. Postal Service postmark specified in the rule. An overnight courier service can be similarly problematic if the shipment does not arrive on or before the deadline date during normal weekday business hours.

Therefore it is strongly recommended in the application instructions is for you to use certified mail, go to a U.S. Post Office counter and obtain a U.S. Postal Service certified mail "white slip" postmarked receipt as proof of timely mailing. Deadlines are strictly enforced.

If you are unable to download ANY of the application forms, in order to obtain a blank form from the Board office you may submit a Request for Application Materials (or a letter requesting the application) and include a $30.00 deposit fee. The $30 fee will be credited toward your application filing fee only if you file a properly completed application within one year from the date we receive your $30 deposit fee. (Remember to deduct your $30 deposit from the fees owed if you file your application within the one year allowable period.) Staple the $30 deposit fee to your request and mail to the Board of Law Examiners, P.O. Box 13486, Austin TX 78711-3486. Once your request and deposit fee is received, the application form will be mailed to you. Neither the application or reapplication form will be mailed to you without receipt of the $30 deposit fee. We do not send out any forms via email or fax.

Agreement

I understand that by downloading these forms, I am agreeing not to change or modify the forms or to use them for any other purpose than to complete them fully in accordance with the instructions given and to submit them to the Board of Law Examiners. I further agree not to change the pagination of forms.

I understand that incomplete, altered, or modified forms received by the Board's staff will be returned to me without filing and that, in that event, I may incur additional charges for re-filing. I also understand that modification or misuse of these forms may result in a character and fitness inquiry into my conduct or other appropriate action.

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since December 12, 2003

Last modified 04/29/13 12:32 PM

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Questions about the bar admission process should be directed to information@ble.state.tx.us