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{{Short description|Bar Association}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Organization {{Infobox Organization
|name = State Bar of Texas |name = State Bar of Texas
|image = TexasLawCenterAustinTX.JPG |image = TexasLawCenterAustinTX.JPG
|size = |size =
|caption = Texas Law Center has the offices of the State Bar of Texas |caption = Texas Law Center has the offices of the State Bar of Texas
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|headquarters = ], ] |headquarters = ], ]
|location = United States |location = United States
|membership = 95,437<ref name=demographics>State Bar of Texas Department of Research and Analysis, .</ref>
|membership = 95,437 <ref name=demographics />
|language = |language =
|leader_title = |leader_title =
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}} }}


The '''State Bar of Texas''' (the Texas Bar) is an agency of the judiciary under the administrative control of the ].<ref name="TGC.81.011">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|11}}</ref> The Texas Bar is responsible for assisting the Texas Supreme Court in overseeing all ] licensed to practice ] in ]. It is the fifth largest organization of lawyers in the United States. The State Bar is headquartered in the Texas Law Center at 1414 Colorado Street in ].<ref>"."</ref> The '''State Bar of Texas''' (the '''Texas Bar''') is an agency of the judiciary under the administrative control of the ].<ref name="TGC.81.011">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|11}}</ref> It is responsible for assisting the Texas Supreme Court in overseeing all ] licensed to practice ] in ]. With 95,437 active members, the State Bar of Texas is one of the largest state bars in the United States. Unlike the ] (ABA), the State Bar of Texas (SBOT) is a mandatory bar. The State Bar is headquartered in the Texas Law Center at 1414 Colorado Street in ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Contact_Us&Template=/customsource/ContactUs/ContactUs.cfm |title=State Bar of Texas - Contact Us |website=texasbar.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>


==Membership== ==Membership==
The Texas Bar is composed of those persons licensed to practice law in Texas and is an "integrated" or "mandatory" ]. The State Bar Act, adopted by the Legislature in 1939, mandates that all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas be members of the State Bar.<ref name="TGC.81.051">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|51}}</ref><ref name="TGC.81.102">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|102}}</ref> As of 2014, membership in the Texas Bar stands at 95,437.<ref name=demographics>State Bar of Texas Department of Research and Analysis, .</ref> The State Bar of Texas is composed of those persons licensed to practice law in Texas and is an "integrated" or "mandatory" ]. The State Bar Act, adopted by the Legislature in 1939, mandates that all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas be members of the State Bar.<ref name="TGC.81.051">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|51}}</ref><ref name="TGC.81.102">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|102}}</ref> As of 2018, membership in the Texas Bar stood at 103,342.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Content_Folders&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=43800|title=State Bar of Texas Membership: Attorney Statistical Profile (2018-19)|last=SBOT Department of Research and Analysis|website=Texas Bar|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref>


==Purpose== ==Purpose==
The purposes of the State Bar of Texas are:<ref name="TGC.81.012">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|12}}</ref> The purposes of the State Bar of Texas, as documented in the State Bar Act legislation that created it, are:<ref name="TGC.81.012">{{TX Govt Code|State Bar Act|2|81|12}}</ref>
#to aid the courts in carrying on and improving the administration of justice; #to aid the courts in carrying on and improving the administration of justice;
#to advance the quality of legal services to the public and to foster the role of the legal profession in serving the public; #to advance the quality of legal services to the public and to foster the role of the legal profession in serving the public;
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#to publish information relating the practice of law, the science of jurisprudence and law reform, and the relationship of the state bar to the public. #to publish information relating the practice of law, the science of jurisprudence and law reform, and the relationship of the state bar to the public.


The organization provides avenues for citizens to file grievances against attorneys and provides ] (CLE) courses for attorneys. The organization provides ], courses for attorneys, and processes complaints against Texas attorneys by clients and other members of the public.

The State Bar publishes the ''Texas Bar Journal'', which serves not only as a trade publication, but also is also the official organ through which all Texas attorneys are advised of rule changes by the Texas Supreme Court and other official matters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Table_of_Contents&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=39192 |title=State Bar of Texas |website=texasbar.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>


==Mission== ==Mission==
The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all citizens equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, educate the public about the rule of law and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law. "The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all persons equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, educate the public about the rule of law, and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Our_Mission&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=48283 |title=State Bar of Texas - Our Mission |website=texasbar.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>


==Governance== ==Governance==
The Bar is run by an executive director, currently Michelle Hunter, and a ] made up of volunteers. The current president of the State Bar of Texas, Lisa Tatum of San Antonio, took office in June 2013. On a day-to-day basis, the State Bar is run by an executive director, currently E.A. "Trey" Apffel III. The operations of the Bar are overseen by an elected ] made up of volunteers. State Bar members also elect as the president, who serves a one-year term as president-elect before taking office. The current president of the State Bar of Texas (2020-2021) is Sylvia Borunda Firth, a solo practitioner from El Paso.<ref> State Bar of Texas - President https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutUs/StateBarPresident/StateBarPresident/default.htm </ref> In addition to electing their Bar leaders, Texas attorneys have voting rights on some policy matters through the instrument of ].


==Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct== ==Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct==


The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct are promulgated by the Texas Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1443642/tdrpc-effective-february-26-2019.pdf|title=Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (effective Feb. 26, 2019)|website=Texas Judicial Branch|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref> These rules "set forth principles to which attorneys should aspire and rules to which they must conform".<ref>David J. Beck, ''Legal Malpractice in Texas'' (1991), p. 115: "The new Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct set forth principles to which attorneys should aspire and rules to which they must conform. An attorney must not violate these Rules, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another, regardless of whether such violation occurred during an attorney-client relationship".</ref> Along with the court rules and Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, the most current version of the disciplinary rules is posted on the Texas Judiciary's website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/rules-standards/ |title=Texas Judicial Branch - Rules and Forms |website=txcourts.gov |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>
The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct define proper conduct for Texas attorneys.

The attorney disciplinary rules are enforced by the Commission for Lawyer Discipline (CLD),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Disciplinary_Process_Overview&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=29473 |title=Commission for Lawyer Discipline |website=texasbar.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> which prosecutes attorney misconduct in district courts and/or through 17 district grievance committees throughout the state, consisting of appointed volunteers.

The Commission is composed of 12 members: six attorneys appointed by the president of the State Bar and six public members appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Prosecutions are handled by the Commission's Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

The most severe disciplinary penalty is disbarment. Lesser sanctions are time-limited suspensions, which may be probated or probated in part. Appeals may be taken to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals (BODA) and ultimately to the Texas Supreme Court. Sanctions decisions are published in the Texas Bar Journal. Conviction of a serious crime will entail mandatory discipline.

In Fiscal Year 2018-19 the Commission for Lawyer Discipline successfully resolved 589 complaints through the imposition of 414 sanctions and collected $430,598 in attorneys’ fees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Grievance_and_Ethics_Information1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=41986|title=SBOT Commission for Lawyer Discipline Annual Report 2018-2019|last=State Bar of Texas|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>

A Texas attorney's public disciplinary history (if any) and current license status can be looked up on the SBOT website through a search by name or license number (Texas Bar Number), which must appear on all court filings by an attorney.

<br />


{{expand-section|date=June 2014}} {{expand section|date=June 2014}}


==History== ==History==
Although ]s have had statewide organizations in Texas since the 19th century, the State Bar of Texas began its formal existence on April 19, 1939, when Governor ] signed House Bill No. 74, titled the State Bar Act of 1939. From that point, membership in the State Bar of Texas became a prerequisite for the practice of law in Texas. Although ]s have had statewide organizations in Texas since the 19th century, the State Bar of Texas began its formal existence on April 19, 1939, when Governor ] signed House Bill No. 74, titled the State Bar Act of 1939. From that point onward, membership in the State Bar of Texas was a prerequisite for the practice of law in Texas.

In July 1963, Gene Cavin was hired as the first full-time Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Director, greatly expanding the course material for professional development.

In 1976 the Texas Law Center, located at Fifteenth and Colorado Streets in Austin, TX, became the permanent headquarters for the Texas State Bar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jos02|title=State Bar of Texas|last=Elliott|first=William D.|date=2010-06-15|website=tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref>


==Sections of the State Bar of Texas== ==Sections of the State Bar of Texas==
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African-American Lawyers; African-American Lawyers;
Alternative Dispute Resolution; Alternative Dispute Resolution;
⚫ American Indian Law;
Animal Law; Animal Law;
Antitrust and Business Litigation; Antitrust and Business Litigation;
Appellate; ;
Asian-Pacific Interest; Asian-Pacific Interest;
Aviation Law; Aviation Law;
Bankruptcy Law; Bankruptcy Law;
Business Law; Business Law;
Child Protection Law;
Civil Liberties & Civil Rights;
Collaborative Law; Collaborative Law;
; ;
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James C. Watson Inn of Former Officers and Directors; James C. Watson Inn of Former Officers and Directors;
Judicial; Judicial;
Justice of the Peace; Justice of the Peace Courts;
Juvenile Law; Juvenile Law;
Labor and Employment Law; Labor and Employment Law;
Law Student Division; Law Student Division;
Legislative and Campaign Law;
LGBT Law; LGBT Law;
Litigation; Litigation;
Litigation - Sustaining; Litigation - Sustaining;
Military Law; Military and Veterans Law;
Municipal Judges; Municipal Judges;
⚫ Native American Law;
Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law; Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law;
Paralegal Division; Paralegal Division;
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{{Portal|Texas}} {{Portal|Texas}}
*] *]
*]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}
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</div>


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
⚫ *
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⚫ *
* *
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{{State agencies of Texas}} {{State agencies of Texas}}
{{State bar associations navbox}} {{State bar associations navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:State Bar Of Texas}} {{DEFAULTSORT:State Bar Of Texas}}
] ]

Latest revision as of 19:48, 11 December 2024

Bar Association

State Bar of Texas
Texas Law Center has the offices of the State Bar of Texas
TypeLegal Society
HeadquartersAustin, TX
Location
  • United States
Membership95,437
Websitehttp://www.texasbar.com

The State Bar of Texas (the Texas Bar) is an agency of the judiciary under the administrative control of the Texas Supreme Court. It is responsible for assisting the Texas Supreme Court in overseeing all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas. With 95,437 active members, the State Bar of Texas is one of the largest state bars in the United States. Unlike the American Bar Association (ABA), the State Bar of Texas (SBOT) is a mandatory bar. The State Bar is headquartered in the Texas Law Center at 1414 Colorado Street in Austin.

Membership

The State Bar of Texas is composed of those persons licensed to practice law in Texas and is an "integrated" or "mandatory" bar. The State Bar Act, adopted by the Legislature in 1939, mandates that all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas be members of the State Bar. As of 2018, membership in the Texas Bar stood at 103,342.

Purpose

The purposes of the State Bar of Texas, as documented in the State Bar Act legislation that created it, are:

  1. to aid the courts in carrying on and improving the administration of justice;
  2. to advance the quality of legal services to the public and to foster the role of the legal profession in serving the public;
  3. to foster and maintain, on the part of those engaged in the practice of law, high ideals and integrity, learning, competence in public service, and high standards of conduct;
  4. to provide proper professional services to the members of the state bar;
  5. to encourage the formation of and activities of local bar associations;
  6. to provide forums for the discussion of subjects pertaining to the practice of law, the science of jurisprudence and law reform, and the relationship of the state bar to the public; and
  7. to publish information relating the practice of law, the science of jurisprudence and law reform, and the relationship of the state bar to the public.

The organization provides continuing legal education, courses for attorneys, and processes complaints against Texas attorneys by clients and other members of the public.

The State Bar publishes the Texas Bar Journal, which serves not only as a trade publication, but also is also the official organ through which all Texas attorneys are advised of rule changes by the Texas Supreme Court and other official matters.

Mission

"The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all persons equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, educate the public about the rule of law, and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law."

Governance

On a day-to-day basis, the State Bar is run by an executive director, currently E.A. "Trey" Apffel III. The operations of the Bar are overseen by an elected board of directors made up of volunteers. State Bar members also elect as the president, who serves a one-year term as president-elect before taking office. The current president of the State Bar of Texas (2020-2021) is Sylvia Borunda Firth, a solo practitioner from El Paso. In addition to electing their Bar leaders, Texas attorneys have voting rights on some policy matters through the instrument of referendum.

Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct

The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct are promulgated by the Texas Supreme Court. These rules "set forth principles to which attorneys should aspire and rules to which they must conform". Along with the court rules and Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, the most current version of the disciplinary rules is posted on the Texas Judiciary's website.

The attorney disciplinary rules are enforced by the Commission for Lawyer Discipline (CLD), which prosecutes attorney misconduct in district courts and/or through 17 district grievance committees throughout the state, consisting of appointed volunteers.

The Commission is composed of 12 members: six attorneys appointed by the president of the State Bar and six public members appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Prosecutions are handled by the Commission's Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

The most severe disciplinary penalty is disbarment. Lesser sanctions are time-limited suspensions, which may be probated or probated in part. Appeals may be taken to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals (BODA) and ultimately to the Texas Supreme Court. Sanctions decisions are published in the Texas Bar Journal. Conviction of a serious crime will entail mandatory discipline.

In Fiscal Year 2018-19 the Commission for Lawyer Discipline successfully resolved 589 complaints through the imposition of 414 sanctions and collected $430,598 in attorneys’ fees.

A Texas attorney's public disciplinary history (if any) and current license status can be looked up on the SBOT website through a search by name or license number (Texas Bar Number), which must appear on all court filings by an attorney.


This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2014)

History

Although lawyers have had statewide organizations in Texas since the 19th century, the State Bar of Texas began its formal existence on April 19, 1939, when Governor W. Lee O'Daniel signed House Bill No. 74, titled the State Bar Act of 1939. From that point onward, membership in the State Bar of Texas was a prerequisite for the practice of law in Texas.

In July 1963, Gene Cavin was hired as the first full-time Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Director, greatly expanding the course material for professional development.

In 1976 the Texas Law Center, located at Fifteenth and Colorado Streets in Austin, TX, became the permanent headquarters for the Texas State Bar.

Sections of the State Bar of Texas

Administrative & Public Law; African-American Lawyers; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Animal Law; Antitrust and Business Litigation; Appellate; Asian-Pacific Interest; Aviation Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Child Protection Law; Civil Liberties & Civil Rights; Collaborative Law; Computer & Technology; Construction Law; Consumer and Commercial Law; Corporate Counsel; Criminal Justice; Entertainment and Sports Law; Environmental and Natural Resources; Family Law; General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm; Government Law; Health Law; Hispanic Issues; Immigration and Nationality Law; Individual Rights and Responsibilities; Insurance Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; James C. Watson Inn of Former Officers and Directors; Judicial; Justice of the Peace Courts; Juvenile Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Student Division; Legislative and Campaign Law; LGBT Law; Litigation; Litigation - Sustaining; Military and Veterans Law; Municipal Judges; Native American Law; Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law; Paralegal Division; Poverty Law; Public Utility Law; Real Estate, Probate & Trust; School Law; Taxation; Women and the Law; Workers' Compensation

See also

References

  1. State Bar of Texas Department of Research and Analysis, State Bar of Texas Membership: Attorney Statistical Profile (2012-13).
  2. "State Bar Act" (Texas Government Code § 81.011)
  3. "State Bar of Texas - Contact Us". texasbar.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  4. "State Bar Act" (Texas Government Code § 81.051)
  5. "State Bar Act" (Texas Government Code § 81.102)
  6. SBOT Department of Research and Analysis. "State Bar of Texas Membership: Attorney Statistical Profile (2018-19)". Texas Bar. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  7. "State Bar Act" (Texas Government Code § 81.012)
  8. "State Bar of Texas". texasbar.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  9. "State Bar of Texas - Our Mission". texasbar.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. State Bar of Texas - President https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutUs/StateBarPresident/StateBarPresident/default.htm
  11. "Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (effective Feb. 26, 2019)" (PDF). Texas Judicial Branch. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  12. David J. Beck, Legal Malpractice in Texas (1991), p. 115: "The new Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct set forth principles to which attorneys should aspire and rules to which they must conform. An attorney must not violate these Rules, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another, regardless of whether such violation occurred during an attorney-client relationship".
  13. "Texas Judicial Branch - Rules and Forms". txcourts.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  14. "Commission for Lawyer Discipline". texasbar.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  15. State Bar of Texas. "SBOT Commission for Lawyer Discipline Annual Report 2018-2019". Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  16. Elliott, William D. (June 15, 2010). "State Bar of Texas". tshaonline.org. Retrieved December 21, 2019.

External links

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