Texas Board of Law Examiners - Print Application Forms

Bar Exam Application for In-State Law Students

1. Personal Information

1.1 Identifying Information

If you need to update your full name, as it appears on your government-issued ID, or your place of birth, click the "Personal Info" tab at the top of this screen.

Full legal name, as it is shown on your government-issued driver’s license, passport, or comparable government-issued I.D.

John Smith

Date of birth

January 10, 1961

Driver's License/ID No/Passport No.

Issuing State

Place of birth

Michigan

Please type your name as you would like it to appear on your law license.
A law license may be issued only in the name shown on a valid, government-issued identification card, except that a given name may be omitted or represented by an initial if the Applicant so requests in writing. No license may be issued using an alias, assumed name, nickname, or abbreviation of a name. For more information, please see FAQs – Grade Release, Swearing-In, and Licensing.

First name, first initial, or blank
Enter first name, first initial, or leave the field blank.

Middle name, middle initial, or blank
Enter middle name, middle initial, or leave the field blank.

Last name

Example

Suffix
Examples of potentially acceptable suffixes are “Jr.”, “II”, “III”, “IV”, etc. Do not enter “Mr.”, “Ms.”, “Mrs.”, “Esq.”, “J.D.”, any other degree abbreviation, or your maiden last name in this field. The suffix you enter here must appear on your valid, government-issued identification.

1.2 Other Names

Have you ever been known by any other name or surname?

Full Name

Date From

Date To

	Explanation of Change

1.3 Contact Information

Address 1

3855 Lake Clearwater Place

Address 2

Apt. 222

City

Sarasota

State

Florida

Zip

90210

County

Marion

Country

United States of America

Home phone number

(812) 111-5100

Cell phone number

(812) 111-5101

Work phone number

(812) 111-5102

Email Address

sample@email.com

1.4 Emergency Contact

Provide the following information for someone who can reach you in case of emergency.

Full Name

Relationship to applicant

Phone number

1.5 Past Residences

List each city (including any in Texas), state, and/or foreign country where you have resided, worked, or attended school during the last 10 years. Do not answer N/A for this item.

Date From

Date To

City

State

Country

2. Educational Information

2.1 Law School Information

2.1.1

Indicate the Texas law school from which you will receive or have received your J.D.

Name of Law School

City

State

Zip

From

Attended

Degree

Date Awarded

Note: If you attended law school within the last 5 years, provide a signed copy of the application (including all attachments, amendments, and updates) you filed with each law school you have attended.

2.1.2

NCBE number

2.2 Previous Law School Information

2.2

Have you attended any other law school?

Name of Law School

From

Attended

Was this for a study abroad program or other temporary attendance?

	Describe reason for your attendance or reason you no longer attended this school

	Describe reason for your attendance or reason you no longer attended this school

2.3 School Discipline

Since the filing of your Declaration, have you been disciplined in any way for any matter by any college, university, law school, or other institution of higher learning, or by any professor, administrator, employee or entity representing any college, university, law school or other institution of higher learning, or have you been allowed to withdraw from such an institution to avoid such discipline, whether or not the record of such action was retained in your file?

(Discipline includes, without limitation, a letter or other written notice of reprimand or warning, suspension, expulsion, adjustment of grade, assignment of community service, any form of probation, requirement to attend additional classes or presentations, or any other adverse action).

(Entity includes, without limitation, residential facilities or other facilities owned or managed by a college, university, law school or other institution of higher learning.)

Provide name of school where discipline occurred

Date of discipline

	Description of discipline

Note: Upload copies of relevant documentation for this discipline.

2.4 LSAC Information

You must provide your Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Account Number. Your LSAC number is the letter L, followed by an 8-digit number (ex: L01010101). The link for the LSAC account number lookup is http://lsaclookup.lsac.org/lookup.aspx. If you have interacted with LSAC in any way, you have an LSAC account number. If you do not have an LSAC account number, you need to create an account by going to http://lsaclookup.lsac.org/lookup.aspx. This number is NOT the same as your NCBE Account Number.

Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Account Number:

Since the filing of your Declaration, have you been the subject of a determination of misconduct or irregularity by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)?

Provide date of determination

	Provide detailed description of the circumstances

Note: Upload copies of relevant documentation for this alleged misconduct or irregularity.

3. Bar Admissions and Applications

3.1 State Bar Admissions

Are you currently, or have you ever been, licensed or authorized to practice law in any state jurisdiction?

Name of State Jurisdiction (If N.Y., state the appellate division name)

Date Licensed

Was this license ever inactive?

	For each period of inactivity, list the date your license became inactive, the date it became active again (if applicable), and the reason it was inactive:

Note: Provide a Certificate of Standing and a Statement of Disciplinary History issued no more than 30 days before the date you submitted your application from each state or foreign jurisdiction in which you are licensed or authorized to practice. This document is required even if your license or authorization to practice is inactive.

3.2 Federal Bar Admissions

Are you currently, or have you ever been, licensed or authorized to practice law in any federal jurisdiction?

Name of Federal Jurisdiction

Date Licensed

Was this license ever inactive?

	For each period of inactivity, list the date your license became inactive, the date it became active again (if applicable), and the reason it was inactive:

3.3 Foreign Bar Admissions

Are you currently, or have you ever been, licensed or authorized to practice law in any foreign jurisdiction?

Name of Foreign Jurisdiction

Date Licensed

Was this license ever inactive?

	For each period of inactivity, list the date your license became inactive, the date it became active again (if applicable), and the reason it was inactive:

3.4 Pending Bar Application

Do you currently have an application for admission to the bar, or an application to take a bar examination, pending in another jurisdiction?

Note: If you are admitted in this jurisdiction while your application in Texas is active, amend Question 3.1 to include licensure in that jurisdiction.

Name of Jurisdiction

Date applied

Current status of application

3.5 Past Bar Application or Registration Submitted But Not Admitted

Have you ever initiated the process to become licensed to practice law, or have you ever filed an application to take a bar examination, including a law student registration form, in any jurisdiction (including Texas) and were not licensed in that jurisdiction?

Name of Jurisdiction

Date applied

	Detailed explanation

Have you ever been accused of bar exam misconduct in any jurisdiction?

Name of Jurisdiction

Final Outcome of Accusation

	Detailed explanation

3.6 Hearing or Inquiry

In connection with any application, regardless of admission status, were you required to appear for a hearing or inquiry, formal or informal, before any board, committee, or admissions authority?

Name of jurisdiction

Date of inquiry

Were you ultimately licensed in that jurisdiction?

	Detailed explanation, including the outcome of the hearing or inquiry.

Note: Provide copies of relevant documentation, including the final outcome of the hearing or inquiry.

3.7 Attorney Discipline

Note: If you have been disciplined for professional misconduct in the course of practicing law, or if you have resigned a law license in lieu of disciplinary action, read Rule 4(e) carefully. You may be prohibited from filing this application.

Have you ever been disbarred, suspended from practice, disciplined, disqualified, placed on a diversion program, or allowed to resign in lieu of disciplinary action, or has your license ever been qualified or conditioned in any way?

Name of Jurisdiction

Name of Disciplinary Authority

Date of disciplinary action

Type of disciplinary action

Current status of disciplinary action

Grievance Number / Cause Number / Complaint Number

	Detailed explanation

Note: Provide relevant documentation for this discipline.

3.8 Attorney Complaint or Grievance, Regardless of Discipline

Have there ever been any formal or informal charges, complaints, or grievances filed (regardless of the outcome) concerning your conduct as a member of any profession, licensed occupation, or as the holder of any public office?

Name of Jurisdiction

Name of Investigating Authority

Date

Current status

Grievance Number / Cause Number / Complaint Number

	Detailed explanation

Note: Provide relevant documentation for the charges/complaints/grievances filed.

4. Other Professional or Occupational Licenses

4.1 Professional Applications

Within the last 10 years, have you applied for any professional or occupational license (other than as a licensed attorney as indicated in response to the previous section)?

State

Type of License

Date that you applied

Was it granted?

	Why not?

Name of licensing authority

Name Under Which You Applied

4.2 Professional Licenses

Have you ever been licensed in any professional or occupational capacity (other than as a licensed attorney as indicated in response to the previous section)?

State or other

State

Other

Type of License

Date that you applied

Date License granted

Date license expired or will expire

Name of licensing authority

Name Under Which You Were Licensed

License Number

4.3 Professional Grievances

Name of Investigating Authority

Name Under Which You Were Licensed

License Number

	Description of complaint

	Resolution of complaint

Note: Upload copies of relevant documentation.

4.4 Pending Professional Grievances

Are there now pending any formal or informal charges, complaints, or grievances concerning your conduct as a member of any profession, licensed occupation, or as the holder of any public office?

Name of Investigating Authority

Name Under Which You Were Licensed

License Number

	Description of complaint

	Resolution of complaint

Note: Upload copies of relevant documentation.

5. Employment

5.1 Non-Law-Related Employment

Please do not list employers that you already listed on your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, unless they are your current employer.

Beginning with your current or most recent employment, list all non-law-related employment (including self-employment, externships, paid and unpaid internships, clerkships, part-time employment, and temporary employment) you have held for any period of time since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law. Do not list legal or law-related employment here—you will list legal and law-related employment in the next section.

Do you have non-legal employment to disclose?

Name of Employer

Email Address of supervisor or person who can verify your employment

Do not provide your own email address, even if you are self-employed.

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Country

Name of supervisor or person who can verify employment

Do not provide your own name, even if you are self-employed.

Date Started

Date Ended

Position

	Reason For Leaving

Were you terminated, suspended, disciplined, or permitted to resign in lieu of termination suspension or discipline, from this employment?

	Explain

5.2 Law-Related Employment

Please do not list employers that you already listed on your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, unless they are your current employer.

Beginning with your current or most recent employment, list all law-related employment (exclude all entries you entered for non-legal employment) you have held for any period of time since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law.

Do you have legal employment to disclose?

Name of Employer

Email Address of supervisor or person who can verify employment

Do not provide your own email address, even if you are self-employed.

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Country

Name of supervisor or person who can verify employment

Do not provide your own name, even if you are self-employed.

Date Started

Date Ended

Position

	Reason For Leaving

Were you terminated, suspended, disciplined, or permitted to resign in lieu of termination suspension or discipline, from this employment?

	Explain

6. Criminal History Information

6.1 Criminal History Question 1

Note: In determining the correct response to enter in the statement above, please be aware that you must enter "Yes" if you have been formally charged with any violation of the law which does not fit EXACTLY within the listed exclusions. You must enter "Yes" if you have been charged (but not yet acquitted, convicted, or dismissed) OR have been found guilty, placed on probation, or granted deferred adjudication or any other type of pretrial diversion in any state or federal office, unless such offense was a Class C misdemeanor. An offense is not a minor traffic violation if it involved alcohol or drugs, or if there was an attempt, whether successful or not, to suspend or revoke your driver's license as a result of the offense.

NOTE: If you have ever been convicted of a felony, or have been placed on probation for a felony, with or without an adjudication of guilt, read Rule 4(d) carefully. You may be prohibited from filing this form.

NOTE: Expunged and Sealed Offenses: Matters expunged pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 55.02, or pursuant to another state’s statute with the same force and effect, need not be disclosed. While expunged or sealed offenses, arrests, tickets, or citations need not be disclosed, it is your responsibility to ensure the offense, arrest, ticket, or citation has, in fact, been expunged or sealed. It is recommended that you obtain a copy of the Court Order expunging or sealing the record in question. Failure to reveal an offense, arrest, ticket, or citation that is not in fact expunged or sealed, raises questions related to truthfulness in addition to questions regarding the offense itself.

NOTE: Orders of Non-Disclosure: Pursuant to Gov't Code 552.142(b), if you have criminal matters that are the subject of an order of non-disclosure you are not required to reveal those criminal matters on this form. However, a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure may become a character and fitness issue. Pursuant to Government Code Section 411.0765*b)(5), the Texas Board of Law Examiners is entitled to access criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure. Therefore, if the Board of Law Examiners discovers a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure, even if you properly did not reveal that matter, the Board of Law Examiners may ask you to provide information about that criminal matter.

Arrest/offense reports: If any of the offenses you describe resulted from an arrest (as opposed to a citation or a ticket) that occurred within five years of the date you sign this Application, you are responsible for either providing legible copies of the arrest/offense reports for such offenses, or providing proof that you made a written request for such reports. You are not required to provide copies of citations or tickets.

Court records: If any of the offenses you describe, whether they resulted from an arrest, citation or ticket, occurred within five years of the date you sign this Application, you are responsible for either providing legible copies of all court records for all such offenses, or providing proof that you made a written request for such court records.

It is very important that you make your written requests to the correct agency or court.

Records required to be provided

6.1

Since filing my Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you been formally charged with any violation of law, excluding cases which have been dismissed for reasons other than technical defects in the charging instrument; cases in which you have been found not guilty; minor traffic violations; cases in which the record of arrest or conviction has been expunged by court order; pardoned offenses; and Class C misdemeanors?

Date of Incident

Location of Incident

Arresting/Ticketing Agency

Address

City

State

Zip

Initial Charge(s)

Initial Type

Ultimate Charges

Ultimate Type

Plea

	Disposition (If probation, deferred adjudication, or deferred prosecution, give summary.)

Style/Cause Number

Title of Court

Address of Court

City

State

Zip

Were you represented by an attorney?

Legal Counsel

Address of Counsel

City

State

ZIP Code

	Detailed description of events and circumstances leading to arrest, citation, or ticket and/or criminal charge.

Were there any allegations of Fraud?

	List specific allegations

	List outcome of allegations

6.2 Criminal History Question 2

6.2

Since the filing of your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you become the target or subject of a grand jury or other governmental agency investigation?

Name of Governmental body conducting inquiry

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Province

Country

Phone number

Email Address

	Provide complete description of the subject of the inquiry and the current status of that inquiry

7. Fitness Information

7.1 Conduct or Behavior

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you exhibited any conduct or behavior that could call into question your ability to practice law in a competent, ethical, professional, and civil manner?

Date(s)

From

	Description

7.2 Mitigation

The purpose of this inquiry is to determine the current fitness of an applicant to practice law. The mere fact of treatment, monitoring, or participation in a support group is not, in itself, a basis on which admission is denied; the Board of Law Examiners encourages applicants who may benefit from assistance to seek it.

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you asserted any condition or impairment as a defense, in mitigation, or as an explanation for your conduct in the course of any inquiry, investigation, or administrative or judicial proceeding by an educational institution, governmental agency, professional organization, or licensing authority; or in connection with an unemployment claim, employer discipline, or termination procedure?

Name of entity

Dates of the proceeding

From

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Telephone number

Email addresses

	Disposition (if any)

	Description of conduct at issue

	Defense or mitigation offered in response to the investigation or allegation

8. Civil Litigation

8.1 Civil Litigation

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you been a party to any civil suit or proceeding?

Date the civil suit or proceeding began

Role

Other role

Note: If you are a defendant in a matter that is pending, provide a copy of the docket sheet and the most recent complaint or petition.

Note: If you are a defendant in a matter that has been concluded, provide a legible copy of the docket sheet. If a judgment was rendered against you, provide a legible copy of the judgment and proof of satisfaction, if applicable. Provide an explanation if the judgment has not been satisfied. If the matter resulted in a settlement, provide a summary of the terms as they relate to you and a statement as to whether you adhered to same.

Style

Cause Number(s)

Title of Court

Address of Court

City

State

Zip

Legal Counsel

Address of Counsel, if any

City

State

Zip

Disposition

	Summary

Were there any allegations of fraud in this civil proceeding?

	Describe the allegations and the outcome if resolved.

Note: If you were accused of fraud, regardless of what party you were in a civil suit, provide a copy of the complaint or petition and documentation showing the resolution of the allegation, if not already provided.

8.2 Bankruptcy

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you filed or been the subject of a petition in bankruptcy?

Note: Provide legible copies of the bankruptcy petition, all schedules, discharge order (if applicable), and other pleadings relevant to your responses. If you filed a Chapter 7 Petition that resulted in a discharge, include a statement as to whether any of your scheduled debts were not discharged.

Date of filing

Court of filing

Was bankruptcy discharged?

	Why not?

Were there any allegations of Fraud?

Note: Provide a copy of the documentation related to the allegations of fraud.

	List specific allegations

	List outcome of allegations

Were there any adversary proceedings initiated?

	Describe adversary proceeding

	List outcome of proceeding

Note: Provide a copy of the documentation related to the adversary proceedings.

8.3 Child Support Order

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you been ordered by a court to pay child support?

Note: Provide copies of relevant documents including any pending court documents, court orders, and child support agreements incident to a divorce.

Date child support obligation began

Case number or account number

Name of payee

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Is child support paid to an agency?

Name of agency

Address 1

Address 2

Telephone number

Email Address

Telephone number

Email Address

Are you still obligated to pay child support?

	If you are no longer required to pay child support, explain why not?

8.4 Child Support - Past Due

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you been past due in any such court-ordered child support payments?

Name of payee

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Telephone number

Email Address

Date(s) of past due payments

From

Are payments now current?

	Explain why not and when expected to be current?

8.5 Child Support - Arrearage Judgment

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you had an arrearage judgment taken against you?

Date of Arrearage

Amount owed

Name of arrearage judgment

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Telephone number

Email Address

Are payments now current?

	Explain why not and when expected to be current?

8.6 Contempt of Court

Since filing your Declaration of Intention to Study Law, have you been held in contempt of court or sanctioned by a court?

Date of contempt or sanction

Name of the court

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Telephone number

Email Address

	Detailed explanation of events leading to the contempt or sanction

Note: Provide copy of court order or judgment and proof of satisfaction (if applicable).

9. Legal and Financial Responsibility

9.1 Debts

Do you have any debts that are 90 days or more past due?

	Reason for the delinquency

	Steps being taken to resolve the delinquency

Note: Provide a current credit report from EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com) When you provide a credit report, list any debts you dispute and explain why you dispute them.

9.2 Tax Return Filing Issues

Since the filing of your last application or re-application, have you failed to timely file any applicable state or federal income tax return and/or report required by law? (Timely filing pursuant to an approved extension is not considered failure to timely file a return.)

Type of tax return not timely filed (1040, 940, 941, etc.)

Date of return not timely filed

Name of taxing authority

Has return been filed?

Date return filed

	Why not?

Note: Federal taxes: order Tax Account Transcripts for the relevant year(s) from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) and upload them to your account. Ensure you request Tax Account Transcripts.
State taxes: Request a statement confirming that you have filed all required tax returns, and verifying your balance, if any, from the relevant state taxing authority and upload it to your account.

9.3 Tax Payment Issues

Within the last 10 years, have you failed to pay any taxes owed pursuant to state or federal law at the time such taxes were due?

Type of tax not timely paid (1040, 940, 941, etc.)

Date of return not timely paid

Name of taxing authority

Amount owed

Has tax been paid?

Date paid

	Why not?

9.4 Withholding Tax Issues

Within the last 10 years, have you collected federal withholding, social security, or Medicare taxes from the wages of your employees, and failed to timely report and forward such monies to the Internal Revenue Service?

Type of withholding not reported and forwarded to IRS

Date

Amount that should have been reported and forwarded

Has amount been reported and forwarded to IRS?

Date Paid

	Why not?

Note: Federal taxes: order Tax Account Transcripts for the relevant year(s) or quarter(s) from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) and upload them to your account. Ensure you request Tax Account Transcripts.
State taxes: Request a statement confirming that you have filed all required tax returns, and verifying your balance, if any, from the relevant state taxing authority and upload it to your account.

9.5 UPL

Within the last 10 years, have you been the subject of an investigation for the unauthorized practice of law in Texas or any other jurisdiction?

Date of investigation

Name of entity investigating

	Outcome of investigation

	Description of circumstances

Note: Upload copies of relevant documentation.

9.6 Oath

Are you willing to take the oath required of attorneys in Texas?

	If not, explain fully the reason you will not execute the required oath of office.

10. Requirements

MPRE

Have you taken the MPRE?

When did you take the MPRE?

Have you achieved a score of 85 or higher?

Has the NCBE officially reported your score to Texas?

If you took the MPRE before March 1999, the NCBE will no longer have record of your scaled score. In that case, contact each jurisdiction to which the score might have been reported and request that they mail a letter, on their official letterhead, to our office with the date you took the MPRE and your scaled score. If the scaled score is not available, request that they mail a letter, on their official letterhead, to our office with their minimum MPRE score at the time you were licensed. If your scaled score was not 85 or higher, or if the scaled score is not available and their minimum scaled score was not 85 or higher at the time you were licensed, you will need to retake the exam. We must receive the mailed original letter directly from the jurisdiction; photocopies are not acceptable.

Texas Law Component

You must complete the Texas Law Component before you can be licensed in Texas. See our FAQs for information on how to satisfy this licensing requirement.

I have read and understand these instructions.

11. Documentation

11.1 Exam Site

The February Bar Exam is offered in one city. For more information about exam sites, see Bar Exam / Current Exam.

The July Bar Exam is offered in 6 cities. We will assign you to your first preference, if possible, but we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to either of your preferences. We will notify you of exam site assignment when we deliver your admission ticket, approximately one month before the exam. For more information about exam sites, see Bar Exam / Current Exam.

Please indicate your first site preference:

Please indicate your second site preference:

11.2 Testing Accommodations under the ADA

Are you requesting necessary testing accommodations on the Texas Bar Exam due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

12. Verification of Application

Verification of Application

I have completed an application for submission to the Board of Law Examiners through my ATLAS account on the Board’s website, seeking licensure or certification under the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas. I hereby verify that my responses in the application are full, frank, true, and correct. All documents I provided to the Board with the application are to the best of my knowledge true and correct copies of the original documents.

While my application is pending, I am bound by the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas and Sec. 82.001 et seq. of the Texas Government Code, as well as any subsequent amendments.

While my application is pending, I am obligated to promptly amend my application as needed so that my responses remain full, frank, true, and correct, and to promptly furnish any additional information and documentation requested by the Board.

I affirm the above.