Legal Services Fee

With some exceptions, attorneys must pay an annual legal services fee of $65 imposed by Government Code Section 81.054.* Half of legal services fees are allocated to the Supreme Court Judicial Fund, which provides civil legal services to the poor, and the other half goes to the Fair Defense Account of the state's general revenue fund for indigent criminal defense. The legal services fees are not imposed by the State Bar and do not fund any State Bar activities.

Annual membership fees are payable to the Clerk of the Supreme Court and they are due on the first day of the State Bar fiscal year, which is June 1.

If legal services fees are received after August 31 of any fiscal year, the member is suspended and must pay the legal services fee, or claim an exemption, to reinstate their license.

Who is Exempt from the Legal Services Fee?
You may be exempt from this fee if you meet at least one of the following conditions:

70 years of age or older on or before May 31st of the current fiscal year (June 1 – May 31);
Inactive status under the rules governing the licensing of attorneys;
Out of state attorneys who are not practicing in Texas;
Judges – full or part-time;
Federal and state employees;
An employee of a city, county, or district attorney who does not have a private practice that accounts for more than 50 percent of their time;
An employee of a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation whose employees are prohibited from private practice; or
MCLE non-practicing attorney must qualify with the MCLE department

How to Claim an Exemption
To claim an exemption from the legal services fee, complete the LSF Exemption Form and email it to memmail@texasbar.com. Attorneys may also claim their exemption online through their “My Bar Page” by clicking “Pay Membership Fees”, selecting the exemption from the list, and continuing through until they receive confirmation.

Military Waiver
Are you an attorney member serving in a combat zone? You may be exempt from annual dues. Download the Military Waiver Form.

Contact Us with Questions About Your Fee
If you've read the details on this page and still have questions, please contact us.

Regular mail
State Bar of Texas
Membership Department
P.O. Box 12487
Austin, TX 78711

Express mail
State Bar of Texas
Membership Department
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701

Email
membership.memmail@texasbar.com

Phone
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1383

Fax
(512) 427-4424

Note:
* In 2003, the 78th Legislature amended Section 81.054 of the State Bar Act requiring the Supreme Court to administer and collect a legal services fee in the amount of $65 to be paid annually by each active member of the State Bar.