How to Become a Lawyer Certified by the Texas State Bar Association?

In order to practice as a lawyer in Texas, you must be certified by the Texas State Bar Association. This body is mandated to regulate the Texas legal profession to ensure that all lawyers offer their services according to the set standards. The certification process is not difficult provided you meet all the requirements. There are basically four steps that people who aspire to join the legal profession must follow in order to get certification in Texas. This article highlights the process of becoming an attorney in this state.

Undertaking Undergraduate Pre-Law Education

The Board of Law Examiners of Texas requires that one must graduate from an approved school approved by the American Bar Association. But to get admission in the ABA-accredited law schools, one must have attained a bachelor's degree from an undergraduate institution accredited by the regional or national agency. ABA-approved schools require prospective students to have good comprehension skills, reasoning skills, analytical abilities as well as the ability to think inductively, deductively and by analogies. Some of the coursework that can help you sharpen these skills are English, philosophy, fine arts, political science, foreign languages, human behavior and world cultures.

Sitting the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

The first step to get admitted into the ABA-approved skills is to sit and pass the LSAT. This standardized test is offered only four times a year and takes about half a day. To sit for the test, just apply online on the LSAC website. You will get the results three weeks after sitting the exam, through email. Your LSAT score would depend on the number of correct answers. This report would be submitted to the legal school where you apply for admission. The schools usually review one's LSAT score report to check for consistency. So if you take the test fewer times, you have better chances of getting admitted to the legal schools.

Joining the Law School

After passing the LSAT, the next step is to apply for admission to the law school. Various schools have different requirements, but a number of schools require prospective candidates to use the CAS (Credential Assembly Service) of the LSAC when applying. Check with a school on the list and the corresponding requirements. Some of the coursework covered in the schools includes substantive legal research, legal analysis, problem solving and oral communication among others.

Taking the Texas State Bar Exam

You can apply to take this exam if you are 18 and above, have graduated from a law school approved by the ABA with a J.D. degree, and is a U.S. citizen or even legalized resident/national alien. It takes 3 days to complete this examination and is usually offered twice every year. You will be given General Instructions for this Bar Exam which includes the date of the release of the scores as well as the time, date and venue of the swearing-in ceremony. Your results would be sent via postal mail. But remember you are still not a certified Texas Bar member until after the swearing-in ceremony.

As a vetted and practicing asset protection and business litigation attorney, Texas Lawyer Joseph B. Garza has more than 30 years of legal experience. He loves to write articles and essays that encourage and educate aspiring legal students seeking to obtain admittance by the Texas State Bar Association.