Texas Bar Exam: A Basic Guide
Becoming a Texas Lawyer is a difficult process, and passing the Texas Bar Exam is one of the most difficult elements of this process. To pass the Texas Bar Exam you will need to know a lot of the same information that other state Bar Candidates do such as federal laws and federal legal procedures. However, as a Texas Bar Candidate you will also need to prepare for Texas specific exams that will be given during the Texas Bar Exam. This article is a good tool to use for preparing to take the Texas Bar Exam because it presents a lot of important information that you will need to develop your study plan.
QUALIFICATIONS
To qualify for the Texas Bar Exam you only need to meet a few requirements. The first qualification is that the candidate meets specific educational goals. This includes earning a bachelors degree from an accredited institutions, and earning a JD from an ABA approved law school. The second qualification is that the candidate be of good moral character. To meet this requirement you will need to undergo a criminal and financial background check. The final qualification is that the candidate takes the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, and passes it with a score of at least 85 points.
REGISTERING FOR THE EXAM
To register to sit for the Texas Bar Exam you will need to download, print out, complete, and submit an application package. These can be found on the Board of Law Examiners’ website.
Board of Law Examiners
PO Box 13486
Austin, Texas 78711-3486
(512) 463-1621
http://www.ble.state.tx.us
THE EXAM’S FORMAT
The Texas Bar Exam is a three day event that is given during the last week of February and during the last week of July. On the first day of the Texas Bar Exam you will take an examination that deal specifically with procedures and evidence. You will also be given one Multistate Performance Test. On the second day of the Texas Bar Exam you will take the Multistate Bar Exam. This exam is made up of 200 multiple choice questions that deal with general legal topics. On the final day of the Texas Bar Exam you will be given twelve essay questions.
WHAT TO STUDY
To prepare for the Multistate segments of the Texas Bar Exam Essay you should review the following topics:
1. Constitutional Law
2. Evidence
3. Contracts
4. Criminal Law and Procedure
5. Real Property
6. Torts
To study for the Texas Essay segment of the Texas Bar Exam you should study the following topics:
1. Business Associations
2. Trusts and Guardianships
3. Wills and Administration
4. Family Law
5. The Uniform Commercial Code
6. Consumer Rights (including DTPA and Insurance)
7. Real Property (including Gas and Oil)
To study for the Procedure and Evidence Exam review the following topics:
1. Texas Civil Procedure
2. Texas Evidence Procedure
3. Jurisdiction
4. Federal Civil Procedure
5. Federal Evidence Procedure
For a study materials please check out the following links:
1. Texas Legal Code located at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html
2. Uniform Commercial Code located at http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/ucc.table.html
3. You can request sample MEE essay questions by writing to: National Conference of Bar Examiners, 402 West Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703-3614
4. You can also download past essay exams with answers from http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root5/board_bar_examiners/answers_feb96.html
5. If you would like a study guide for the MBE you can visit the NCBE website at http://www.ncbex.org/.
