Legal Services Fee
In 2003, the Texas Legislature added to the State Bar Act a provision requiring
the Supreme Court to set legal services fee in the amount of $65 to
be paid annually by each non-exempt active member of the State Bar. For
the past two years, State Bar dues statements have included a voluntary
$65 contribution.
In 2001, more than $1 million was raised to support civil legal services
to the poor through this voluntary contribution. After exemptions are considered,
the new mandatory $65 fee will raise approximately $3.5 million, which will
be remitted to the Comptroller and credited 50 percent to the judicial fund
for programs approved by the Supreme Court that provide basic civil legal
services to the poor, and 50 percent to the fair defense account in the
general revenue fund that supports demonstration or pilot projects that
develop and promote best practices for the efficient delivery of quality
representation to indigent defendants in criminal cases. If not re-enacted,
this $65 fee will expire after a trial period of four years.
Through its grant application process, the Texas Equal Access to Justice
Foundation will administer the 50 percent of the funds dedicated to civil
legal services to the poor. The Task Force on Indigent Defense will administer
the other half of the funds for indigent criminal defense projects.
 Legal
Services Fee and Voluntary ATJ Contribution Frequently Asked Questions (pdf
format)
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