Appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas Board of Law Examiners GENERAL APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR OF TEXAS (For all applicants other than non-attorney Texas law school graduates) Use this General Application if: You earned (or will earn) your J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school located outside Texas. You earned your initial law degree from a foreign law school. You are licensed in another state or foreign nation. You are an attorney seeking Admission Without Examination (AWOX). You are applying for reinstatement to the Bar of Texas. Abbreviations used throughout these instructions: Board -- Board of Law Examiners; TBE -- Texas Bar Examination; AWOX Admission Without Examination. You are responsible for reading the current Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas, and the applicable statutory provisions found in Texas Government Code, Sec. 82.001 et seq., all of which are contained in the Board of Law Examiners' rulebook. The rulebook is available in downloadable format on the Board's website, www.ble.state.tx.us. You must also read the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, posted at www.txethics.org/Rules.aspx. Follow these instructions carefully and complete this form, typing or printing your answers. Use blue or black ink if you choose to print. Do not print your application double-sided. Keep a copy of your application for future reference, as you may be charged for any copies you request from the Board's file. No alterations may be made to the text or wording of this application. If alterations are found, the application will be denied and your fees forfeited. Before you file your application, verify that you have fully responded to all items, questions, and statements, leaving no blanks and attaching all required Continuation Forms, Civil Litigation Forms, Criminal History Forms, and two (2) original signed and notarized Authorization and Release Forms. If the item or question is inapplicable, write "N/A." Incomplete applications will be returned and, if applicable, a late fee of $150.00 will be imposed. Your application will not be considered filed and will be returned to you if it is incomplete. Examples of incompleteness include, but are not limited to, the following: a. failure to provide any information required, including names, complete addresses, telephone numbers, and/or zip/postal codes; b. failure to answer any question or subquestion; c. failure to provide a complete Continuation Form, Civil Litigation Form and Criminal History Form for each response requiring one; d. failure to send in the required fees (including late fees, if applicable); e. failure to send in the required photograph; f. any signature notarized more than 90 days prior to the date received by the Board; g. alteration of any language of the Application, Affidavit, Authorization and Release, or other required form; or h. failure to sign any document requiring your signature and/or failure to have your signatures notarized where required. If you have not enclosed required documentation that you must obtain from third parties (e.g., court records, etc.), explain on a Continuation Form as required in Question 25. You must make a good faith effort to provide these items within 30 days of our receipt of your application. Your failure to meet this deadline may cause your application to be returned to you as not being properly filed. This 30day grace period DOES NOT APPLY to the Continuation Forms, Civil Litigation Forms, and Criminal History Forms that must be filed with your application, if applicable. NOTE: If you are applying to take the TBE as a former Texas attorney who was disbarred; or a former Texas attorney who resigned in lieu of discipline; or a former Texas attorney who resigned, but not in lieu of discipline, you must first visit the link titled Reinstatements on the Board's website. The link provides specific information regarding filing fees and other requirements for these types of Applicants. 1. Filing Deadlines: Application filing deadlines are strictly construed. All filing deadlines are postmark deadlines (i.e., if your envelope bears a postmark date on or before the deadline, it will be considered timely filed). If the Postal Service fails to postmark your envelope or the postmark is illegible, your application is deemed to have been filed on the day preceding its receipt by our office. ble-57_Genapp_(10-2014).doc i Therefore, you are strongly advised to mail your application by certified mail, return receipt requested, and have your receipt postmarked at the post office, so that you will have documentation of the date you mailed it. If you decide to file your application in person, you must do so at the Board office before 5:00 p.m. on applicable deadline date. The Board office is not open on weekends or state holidays. The following filing deadlines do not apply to those applying for AWOX admission. Texas Bar Exam Dates: The two and one-half (2 1/2) day exam begins on the Tuesday before the last Wednesday of each February and July. February TBE July TBE 2. File No Earlier Than June 30 before exam November 30 before exam Timely Deadline August 30 before exam January 30 before exam Absolute Deadline (accompanied by late fee) October 30 before exam March 30 before exam Filing Fees: Make your check, money order, or bank cashier's check payable in the full amount due to the BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS (NOT the State Bar of Texas). See the chart below to determine the amount due: Out-of-State Student--TBE Attorneys Licensed in the U.S.--TBE Attorneys Educated in a Foreign Nation--TBE Attorneys--Admission without Examination--AWOX Attorneys--Qualified Military Spouse--AWOX /TBE Total Fees Total Fees Total Fees Total Fees Total Fees $ 435.00 (Application, Exam & Investigation) $1,040.00 (Application, Exam & Investigation) $1,140.00 (Application, Exam, Investigation & Inquiry) $ 890.00 (Application & Investigation) $ 435.00 (Application & Investigation) A $150.00 late fee will be imposed for any TBE application filed after the timely deadline. In addition, if you are a TBE Applicant and you choose to use a laptop, you must include the $50 laptop fee. NOTE: You are only considered an "Out-of-State Student" if you earned (or will earn) your J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school located in another state and you have never been licensed or authorized to practice law by any other state or jurisdiction. If you have ever been licensed in any other jurisdict