Table of Contents
Overview
The State Bar of Texas is an agency of the Texas judiciary responsible for overseeing all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas.
Membership in the State Bar is mandatory for all lawyers practicing in Texas.
The State Bar is unique among occupational licensing agencies in that it combines a regulator role with activities typical of a professional association.
Programs and Functions
- Regulating the legal profession: Sets ethics rules and professional standards.
- Licensing attorneys: Administers the bar exam and verifies qualifications for licensing.
- Disciplinary actions: Investigates complaints about attorney misconduct and takes disciplinary actions, which may include sanctions, suspension, or disbarment.
- Continuing legal education (CLE): Provides and mandates ongoing education for attorneys to ensure they stay current on legal developments and maintain competence in their areas of practice.
- Providing resources and support for attorneys: Offers various services, including practice management tools, career development, and wellness programs for lawyers.
- Pro bono legal aid: Promotes access to justice through pro bono initiatives, legal aid resources, and public education on legal issues.
- Advocacy and policy: Advocates for the legal profession and justice system, including shaping state policies and legislation that affect the practice of law.
- Lawyer referral services: Operates services to help the public find appropriate legal representation for specific legal matters.
- Promoting diversity and inclusion: Works to foster diversity in the legal profession, ensuring equal opportunities for attorneys of all backgrounds.
- Public outreach and education: Provides resources and programs to educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities.
“The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all citizens equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, educate the public about the rule of law and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law.“
Mission Statement of the State Bar of Texas
Services for Attorneys
The State Bar provides the following services to its members:
- continuing legal education courses so that attorneys can keep up-to-speed on changes in the law or changes in different practice areas;
- coordinates the Texas Bar Private Insurance Exchange, which offers insurance products to attorneys and law firms;
- runs a free ethics help line operated by the Chief Disciplinary Counsel’s Office; and
- offers members access to a legal research service and law library.
The Bar also conducts disciplinary proceedings against Texas attorneys who face complaints about their professional conduct.
Services for the Public
The Bar provides a number of free services to the public, including free or low-cost legal assistance, pamphlets and other information resources, and online databases of attorneys’ disciplinary records and licensing information.
Structure and Oversight
The State Bar of Texas is governed by a volunteer board of directors with 46 voting members from across the state. The voting members include:
- 3 officers elected statewide by State Bar members (president, president-elect, and immediate past president),
- 30 attorneys elected from 17 geographical districts,
- 6 public (non-attorney) members appointed by the Supreme Court,
- 4 at-large directors appointed by the State Bar president, and
- 3 officers elected statewide by Texas Young Lawyers Association members (president, president-elect, and immediate past president).
Fourteen nonvoting, ex-officio members also serve on the State Bar board, including the immediate past board chair and liaisons representing the judiciary, State Bar sections, and out-of-state members.
On a day-to-day basis, the State Bar is run by an executive director.
Comparison to Other States
The State Bar of Texas differs from many other state bars in its structure and governance, as it operates as a unified (or mandatory) bar association. This means that all practicing attorneys in Texas must be members, whereas some states, such as New York and Illinois, have voluntary bar associations with separate regulatory bodies overseeing attorney licensing and discipline.
The Texas Supreme Court has ultimate authority over the State Bar, and its governance includes an elected Board of Directors, which helps shape policy and oversee administrative functions. In contrast, some states, like California, have undergone structural changes, with regulatory functions being separated from membership-based bar associations to ensure greater independence in attorney discipline and licensing.
In terms of function, the State Bar of Texas provides a wide range of services, including continuing legal education (CLE), ethics guidance, and client protection programs. Like Florida’s and Georgia’s bar associations, Texas emphasizes mandatory CLE requirements to maintain high professional standards. However, some states, such as Massachusetts, do not have mandatory CLE requirements, allowing attorneys more flexibility in professional development.
Additionally, the Texas Bar has a strong focus on access to justice initiatives, particularly through its Legal Access Division, which funds and supports pro bono efforts. While other states have similar initiatives, Texas’s size and diverse population require a particularly expansive approach to legal aid.
The culture of the State Bar of Texas reflects the state’s distinctive legal and political environment, which often leans toward limited government intervention and strong professional autonomy. Compared to the more centralized and regulatory-heavy bar associations of states like California and New York, Texas’s bar culture tends to emphasize self-regulation and professional responsibility among its members. Furthermore, Texas has a strong tradition of networking and professional camaraderie, supported by its numerous local bar associations and practice-specific sections.
