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TEXAS BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS

TEXAS BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS

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Character and Fitness

No determination of an individual's character and fitness to practice law will be made until that individual has submitted a properly filed Declaration and/or Application and the Board has completed its investigation.

Applicable Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas are below:

  • Rule 4 (Good Moral Character and Fitness Requirement)

  • Rule 8 (Determination of Declarant Character and Fitness)

  • Rule 10 (Determination of Applicant Character and Fitness)

  • Rule 15 (Hearings)

  • Rule 16 (Probationary Licenses)

Other relevant information:

  • Individuals with a felony criminal history should see Rule 4(d) for details. 

  • Individuals disciplined for professional misconduct in the course of practicing law in any jurisdiction or who resigned in lieu of disciplinary action may be prohibited from filing an application. See Rule 4(e) for details.

  • Hearing Procedures (pdf)

  • Information Presented to First-Year Texas Law Students. First-semester law students ("entrants") must file their Declarations according to the deadlines set out in Rule 4(b). Failure to do so will result in a late fee as set out in Appendix D. Late filing Declarants may file at any time prior to or concurrent with the filing of their In-State Application. 

  • General information about individuals with Probationary Licenses

  • Texas Criminal History Information: to determine if any of your criminal history is contained in the Texas DPS Criminal Conviction Database, access the database at the following website: Texas Department of Public Safety. An access fee is required.

    Note: the information that can be accessed by the public is limited. Pursuant to statute, the Board of Law Examiners has access to a broader range of data. If you have criminal history in Texas that does not appear on the Texas DPS Criminal Conviction Database, you may still be required to reveal that criminal history to the Board of Law Examiners.