Legal Services Fee

Attorneys must pay the legal services fee of $65 annually. 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.

In order to avoid penalties, all dues, and fees must be received in our office by 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 your legal services fee, fill out the LSF Exemption Form and send to the Membership Department. Attorneys may also file exemptions online through their “My Bar Page” when the online payment season is open.

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.

We need your bar card number in order to help you. You will also be asked for the last four digits of your SSN and your date of birth to verify your identity and ensure your privacy.

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.

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