State-by-State Bar Exam Information: Texas
Bar Information
Key Dates
The last Tue, Wed, and Thu of February and July
Always available on the Board of Law Examiners' website
January 30th. The late filing deadline is March 30th.
Exam Details
Written:
40 short-answer questions on Texas Criminal Procedure(20), and Civil Procedure and Evidence (20)
12 Texas state essays
One performance test drawn from the Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
Multiple-choice: The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
Day One: 8 am to noon for one performance test (90 min), short break, and short-answer questions from Texas Procedure and Evidence Test (90 min)
Day Two: 8 am to 4:30 pm (lunch 11:30 to 1:00), MBE
Day Three: Three-hour block starting at 8 am for six Texas essay questions; three-hour block starting at 1:00 for six more Texas essay questions
Written questions:
Texas Civil Procedure, Texas Jurisdiction, Federal and Texas Criminal Procedure, Federal and Texas Evidence, business associations, trusts and guardianships, wills and administration, family law, UCC, consumer rights (including DTPA and insurance), real property, oil & gas, income tax, estate tax, gift tax, bankruptcy
Multiple-choice:
The MBE tests Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
Yes. Laptop sites are limited, but availability of a seat at a designated laptop site is ample if applicants timely register, pay laptop fees, and comply with other requirements.
Questions, the examiners' analyses, and selected sample answers are available here.
The portions are weighted as follows:
MBE: 40%
Texas Essays: 40%
Procedure & Evidence short-answer: 10%
Performance Test: 10%
Statistics
2011: 87%
2011: 82%
Reciprocity
No
Yes, but only if the applicant has practiced law for five of the last seven years. Please consult the jurisdiction directly for more detailed information on admission by motion.
The information for Texas comes from the Texas Board of Law Examiners' website and its response to our survey, as well as the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements and annual statistical report.
