Public Service Bar Prep Matching Initiative
Help a Classmate Access Bar Preparation
Students entering private practice often receive bar-preparation support from their employers. Students pursuing public service careers frequently do not. Some bar-prep providers allow a firm-bound student with qualifying employer coverage to sponsor another student for a course with tuition waived.
The Public Service Bar Prep Matching Program helps Texas Law students use that benefit. The program is a student-led initiative of the Justice Center Student Advisory Board, supported by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law.
The course tuition may be waived, but the sponsored student may still be responsible for provider fees, books, shipping, deposits, or taxes. Requirements and costs differ by provider.
Start Here
Firm-bound students: Become a sponsor
If your firm pays for an eligible bar-preparation course and you are willing to sponsor a public service student, please complete the firm-student registration survey.
You do not need to have a particular classmate in mind. After reviewing your registration, the Justice Center will send you a list of public service students seeking matches and instructions for selecting a recipient.
Public service students: Request a match
Students pursuing public service employment may register to seek bar-prep support.
Registering allows the Justice Center to share your information with eligible sponsors, but it does not guarantee a match.
How the Program Works
- Register: Public service students seeking bar-prep support and eligible firm students willing to sponsor a classmate register with the Justice Center.
- Review: The Justice Center sends eligible firm students a list of public service students who are still seeking matches.
- Select: The firm student selects an available recipient and submits the Justice Center’s match-claim form.
- Connect: The Justice Center introduces the matched students by email and provides instructions for completing the match.
- Enroll: Both students complete the enrollment and eligibility steps required by BARBRI or Themis.
- Confirm: After both students have completed the provider’s requirements, they reply to the Justice Center’s introduction email so the match can be confirmed and closed.
The program does not require an ongoing relationship between the matched students.
Provider Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | BARBRI | Themis |
|---|---|---|
| Firm direct billing | Qualifies | Qualifies |
| Full tuition reimbursement | Does not qualify | Qualifies |
| Stipend | Does not qualify | Does not qualify |
| Judicial clerkship recipient | Does not qualify | Qualifies |
| Sponsor deadline | September 16, 2026 | November 1, 2026 |
| Final recipient designation | September 16, 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
The terms direct billing, reimbursement, and stipend are not interchangeable. Your eligibility depends on the specific arrangement.
Direct billing: The provider bills your firm directly. This arrangement qualifies for BARBRI and Themis.
Full tuition reimbursement: You enroll at the regular Themis tuition rate and your firm reimburses the full tuition. This qualifies for Themis, but not BARBRI.
Stipend: Your firm gives you a fixed amount to use toward bar preparation. This does not qualify for BARBRI or Themis matching.
Not sure how your firm pays? Ask your firm’s recruiting, professional development, or human resources office before completing the registration survey.
Provider requirements may change. Students should confirm current requirements before enrolling.
BARBRI: What to Do
BARBRI matches are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to complete a match is the end of the day on September 16, 2026.
Who may sponsor
The sponsoring student must be a Texas Law JD enrolled in BARBRI Firm Pass or Firm Pass Plus through direct billing with the student’s firm. Students whose firms provide a stipend or reimbursement do not qualify.
Who may receive the course
The recipient must be a Texas Law JD pursuing a career in public service. The intended postgraduate position must have an annualized salary of $75,000 or less. Qualifying paths include government employment, including district attorney and public defender offices and military positions; public interest employment; and public interest fellowships.
A recipient may establish eligibility with an accepted offer for postgraduate public interest employment. A student who has not secured a position may instead provide a resume, a cover letter for a public interest job, and an explanation of their plans for a public interest career. Judicial clerkships do not qualify for BARBRI matching.
Steps for the firm student
- Select a recipient: Use the Justice Center list to choose a student marked OPEN and submit the Justice Center match claim form.
- Enroll with BARBRI: Enroll through BARBRI firm direct billing.
- Submit the BARBRI form: After enrolling, complete the BARBRI matching form with the selected public interest student’s information.
BARBRI determines the student’s place in line after the direct-billing enrollment and BARBRI matching form are completed. BARBRI will contact the public interest student to verify eligibility.
Deadline and Match Day
Final deadline: End of day September 16, 2026.
Match Day table: September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Susman-Godfrey Atrium.
Themis Cares: What to Do
For the sponsoring student
You may qualify if your firm pays Themis directly or fully reimburses you for regular Themis tuition. A bar stipend does not qualify.
Enroll through Themis firm billing. After you enroll, the Themis main office will contact you with the Themis Cares form.
For the public service student
Themis applies its public-service standard broadly. Nonprofit work, government employment, fellowships, and judicial clerkships qualify. A student who is still seeking a public service position may also qualify by demonstrating a genuine commitment through prior employment, activities, associations, or similar experience.
Themis timing
November 1, 2026: The Themis Cares promotional enrollment offer ends.
December 1, 2026: An eligible firm student who enrolls without naming a particular recipient may designate the sponsored student through this date.
Students should begin the process early enough to confirm eligibility and complete all required forms.
Questions or Updates
Contact the Justice Center at justicecenter@law.utexas.edu if you have questions or need to report that your firm provides a stipend.
Provider requirements may change. Students should confirm current requirements with BARBRI or Themis before enrolling.