(a) Each applicant to take a bar examination must file an application with the Board of Law Examiners not later than the date established by supreme court rule and pay the fee established by supreme court rule.
(b) The application must include a statement certifying that since the filing of the applicant’s original declaration of intention to study law, the applicant:
(1) has not been formally charged with any violation of law, excluding:
(A) cases that have been dismissed for reasons other than technical defects in the charging instrument;
(B) cases in which the applicant has been found not guilty;
(C) minor traffic violations;
(D) cases in which the record of arrest or conviction was expunged by court order;
(E) pardoned offenses; and
(F) Class C misdemeanors;
(2) has not been charged with fraud in any legal proceeding; and
(3) has not been involved in civil litigation or bankruptcy proceedings that reasonably bear on the applicant’s fitness to practice law.

Terms Used In Texas Government Code 82.027

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) On a showing of good cause or to prevent hardship, the board may permit an applicant to file an application with the board not later than the date established by supreme court rule on payment of applicable late fees established by supreme court rule.
(d) The filing deadlines and late fees do not apply to an applicant who failed the preceding bar examination. Any such applicant may take the next examination administered on filing an application with the board and paying the required examination fees not later than the date established by supreme court rule.