Third-year law students, students enrolled in a Clinic or Advanced Clinic, and graduates who wish to serve officially under mandatory supervision of one or more licensed attorneys may be eligible to precede or circumvent the bar examination by applying for a temporary trial card issued by the State Bar of Texas or by another state.
Eligibility Requirements for Texas
- Clinical students need 43 credit hours (dual degree students need one-half combined) and to be in good standing.
- Other students need 58 credit hours (dual degree students need two-thirds combined) and to be in good standing.
- Graduates need a conferred degree and must be unlicensed.
Requirements for other states vary.
Dean’s Certification
The Dean’s Certification should be the last part of the bar card application. That is, in order for a Dean to sign your certification, the Student Affairs Office must receive a copy of the application packet that includes all other completed sections, signatures, and notarizations.
We recommend applicants make a copy of their completed application for their records and send the originals with the $15 payment to the State Bar of Texas to the Student Affairs Office. We then attach the signed Dean’s Certification and forward all originals and payment to the State Bar of Texas. Our address is:
Student Affairs Office
727 E. Dean Keeton St.
Austin, TX 78705
Otherwise, applicants can fax a copy of their completed applications and a request form to (512) 471-3711. An original Dean’s Certification will then be mailed to the applicant via USPS, and the applicant must then submit all originals and payment to the State Bar of Texas.