Open Records Requests
Requests for Records (Public Information)
The State Bar of Texas is committed to upholding the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) (“the PIA”) and ensuring public access to its records. All State Bar of Texas records are available to the public unless an exception to disclosure provided in the PIA or other law applies.
Submit Your Request Online Now
Use our Open Records Center to submit an open records request electronically and find answers to frequently asked questions. The Open Records Center is available for requesters to submit, track, and access their requests submitted online as well as responses and documents from the State Bar. All requests must be submitted through the Open Records Center or by mail, email or in person as referenced below.
Many State Bar records are publicly available on the State Bar’s website (see “Access Records Online,” below). For example, statistics and analysis information regarding the composition of the State Bar membership is also available on our website at Research & Analysis. Please note that the State Bar is not required to perform legal research, answer legal or other questions, or create new documents in response to an open records request. For customer service unrelated to open records requests, submit your inquiry on our website at Contact Us.
To obtain confidential records regarding yourself, please provide proof of identification, such as a copy of your government-issued photo ID.
To obtain confidential records regarding a person or entity you represent, please provide a signed authorization from the person or entity, proof of your legal representation, a court order authorizing the State Bar to release the records, or an explanation of your authority to obtain the confidential records.
Records regarding a person other than the requestor may be confidential by law and the State Bar may not be authorized by law to release such information without a signed authorization from that person.
Request Records by Email, Mail, or In-Person
Submit your written request by email or mail, or deliver it in person to our office in Austin, Texas during our business hours. If you submit a request electronically, be sure to encrypt any confidential data.
Mail:
SBOT Public Information Act Requests
1414 Colorado St., Ste. 300
Austin, TX 78701
Email: piarequests@texasbar.com
In person:
Check in at the front desk at the following address:
State Bar of Texas Public Information Act Requests
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701
Tips on Making a Records Request:
Be specific about the records you seek. Consider providing the
following:
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Whether you seek records regarding yourself or another person.
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The time frame of the records, e.g., records from this year, a specific event, or within a date range.
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The department or people within the State Bar that maintain the records, if known.
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Whether you seek only publicly available information or seek information that is confidential or privileged (i.e. typically excepted from disclosure under the PIA).
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A phone number and/or email address so we can contact you for clarifications or other correspondence.
The records you seek may also be available on the State Bar website. Please review the list of Frequently Requested Records below before sending your request.
To speak with someone about making a request to help refine the search, call (512) 427-1550.
What to Expect When You Submit a Request:
The State Bar’s Public
Information Act Poster (en
Español)
outlines the rights and responsibilities of requesters and governmental
bodies under the PIA and provides
additional information about the process. When you submit a request,
you can expect a response as promptly as possible. You may receive one
or more of
the following:
A response with the records requested, which may include redactions allowed by law.
A request for clarification or to narrow a voluminous request.
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A request for proof of identification if you are seeking confidential records on yourself, or proof of representation if you are representing an individual.
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A cost estimate must be provided for requests that will cost over $40 in staff or computer resources. You will have an opportunity to accept any estimate and any charges must be paid before requested records will be produced. For charges exceeding $100, submit pre-payment before work is performed for your request (see costs below).
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A request for a Texas Attorney General ruling regarding the applicability of exceptions under the PIA.
If a response requires more than 10 business days, you will receive a certification that more time is needed to compile a response along with the estimated date and time the records are anticipated to be ready.
Frequently Requested Records
Some of the most frequently requested items are listed below with links to the information on the State Bar website.
| Frequently requested | Description, purpose, and relevance |
|---|---|
The State Bar posts statistical, performance, and related information online. | |
The Archives Department is the official repository for the permanently valuable records of the State Bar. | |
The Board of Directors meets quarterly under the Texas Open Meetings Act, which includes an annual meeting each summer. | |
The Chief Disciplinary Counsel posts grievance history on lawyer’s online full profile and related documents. | |
Information about State Bar and Texas Young Lawyers Association elections and recent election results are available here. | |
The State Bar presents information regarding budget and audits including quarterly reports. | |
The State Bar posts governing information online, including laws, policies, and procedures. | |
Post or apply for jobs in the legal profession in Texas and at the State Bar. | |
Profile information for each attorney is available on the State Bar website. | |
Learn about the State Bar board of directors, meeting activities, meeting videos, and agendas. | |
The official publication of the State Bar, the Texas Bar Journal contains notices of rules, disciplinary actions, governance information, and other items. |
Access Records Online
The State Bar provides self-service access to these records:
Search the Find-a-Lawyer directory to view an attorney’s license history and public grievance history
Legal resources for the public and useful websites:
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State Bar Website – For the Public
Texas Law Help – Self-Help Information
Texas Law Help – Legal Aid, Bar Association, and Nonprofit Organizations - Useful Websites
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Texas Free Legal Answers – Virtual Legal Advice Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions about Online Information:
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Who passed the bar exam? The Texas Board of Law Examiners publishes online the names of individuals who have passed the Texas Bar Exam by exam date.
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What are the qualification requirements to practice law? The Texas Board of Law Examiners publishes the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas .
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Who is licensed as an attorney to practice law in Texas? After passing the bar exam and/or otherwise meeting the qualifications published by the Texas Board of Law Examiners, attorneys register online or by mailing a paper registration card to the State Bar. For more information, go to New Lawyer Oath and Fees.
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What contact and practice information must attorneys post online? Attorneys must create and annually update an online public profile on the State Bar website that contains their license date, primary practice location, law school of record, and out-of-state disciplinary information, if applicable. Learn more at Edit Your Profile and Contact Information.
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What grievance information is available about attorneys? See “Grievance Complaints and Investigation Files” below on this page.
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Where can I find the Texas Bar Journal online? As the publication of record for the State Bar, the Texas Bar Journal publishes significant public information of historical value about State Bar activities, performance, policies, and finances, as well as rules issued or amended by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas affecting the practice of law in Texas. To read the latest edition of the Texas Bar Journal, go to Texas Bar Journal. To search the online archive of the Texas Bar Journal from 1938 to the present, go to Recent Editions and click the red “Search the Archive” button. For help with archival searches of the online resources, email the State Bar archivist at archives@texasbar.com.
Access Records in Person
Written requests for other State Bar records may be requested and picked up in person at the State Bar office in Austin, Texas. Records may not be available the same day as requested and appointments for pickup may be necessary.
In person:
State Bar of Texas
1414 Colorado
Austin, TX 78701
Attn: Public Information Coordinator
Access Information by Phone
For other State Bar departments that may provide records to you in the course of handling a question, complaint, or other service, submit written questions or comments through the Contact Us section of our webpage.
Helpful Numbers
For the Public:
Barratry (Unauthorized Practice of Law) Hotline (to report cases) (866) 224-5999
Grievance Process Information Helpline (800) 932-1900
Grievance Status Update (866) 224-5999
Contact the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (800) 252-9690, (877) 9TEXBAR
For Attorneys:
Advertising Review (800) 566-4616
Ethics Helpline for Texas Attorneys (800) 532-3947
SBOT Job Openings (512) 427-1489
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Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program for Attorney Mental Health and Substance Abuse Help (800) 343-8527 (TLAP)
For Media, Reporters, and Researchers:
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Media and Reporter Inquiries texasbar.com/media; (512) 427-1706
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Research and Analysis of Demographics and Economic Trends (512) 427-1724
Historical Information (512) 427-1311
State Bar Main Phone (512) 427-1463
Toll-Free Phone (800) 204-2222
Cost of Copies
The State Bar uses the public information cost rules set by the Texas Attorney General in determining the charges for providing copies of public information or for making public information available for inspection under the PIA. Information may be requested in paper or electronic format. Postage charges may apply. Common charges for requests are:
Standard paper copy: $0.10 per one-sided page
Personnel time:
Programming: $28.50 per hour
Manipulation of data: $15 per hour
Other Staff Labor: $15 per hour
Overhead charge: 20% of personnel time charge
A cost estimate must be provided for requests that will cost over $40. You will have an opportunity to accept any estimate and any charges and the State Bar requires payment before the information is provided. For charges exceeding $100, submit pre-payment before work is performed for the request. If actual costs differ from estimated costs, overpayments or amounts owed will be reimbursed or billed in accordance with the PIA, as appropriate.
Nonbusiness Days
The State Bar has designated the following dates as nonbusiness days pursuant to Texas Government Code section 552.0031:
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March 29, 2024
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July 5, 2024
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November 27, 2024
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November 29, 2024
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December 23, 2024
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December 24, 2024
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December 26, 2024
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December 27, 2024
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December 30, 2024
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December 31, 2024
About State Bar Records
For a listing of records by department or program type, or by state records series, see the State Bar Records Retention Schedule (under “Bar of Texas, State”).
Some State Bar records are confidential or privileged by law and can be released only to specific people based on their role in a claim or file. Generally, you must have been directly involved in the claim or case, and in some instances, it must be closed to get a copy of a State Bar investigation record.
Examples of confidential or privileged records include:
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Personal Information on State Bar Members—Attorney home addresses; home telephone numbers; email addresses; Social Security numbers; dates of birth; state identification and passport numbers; emergency contact information; and payment information are confidential. See Section 552.1176, Texas Gov’t Code (effective September 1, 2023).
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Grievances, Complaints, and Investigation Files—The Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure contain confidentiality provisions that govern the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel’s ability to respond to media inquiries. See Rule 2.16 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. This rule outlines what information is confidential at various stages of the disciplinary process.
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Generally, disciplinary proceedings of an evidentiary panel and the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel are confidential with certain exceptions. See Section 81.0752, Texas Gov’t Code.
When disciplinary records become public—If the evidentiary panel concludes and finds that professional misconduct has occurred and imposes a public sanction, the public sanction information is available.
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The evidentiary panel's final judgment is a public record from the date the judgment is signed, even if the judgment is subject to appeal.
Once all appeals have been exhausted, the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel may provide, upon request, all statements, documents, and other information relating to the disciplinary proceeding that came to the attention of the evidentiary panel.
Public Court Documents—If a disciplinary action is before a district court, filed documents and information are public and available as in other civil trials. Copies of documents are publicly available in the district court files, many of which have online document retrieval systems.
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For more about the sanctions process, go to Punishment for Professional Misconduct.
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Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Communications—Generally, all communications with the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program, or TLAP, are confidential. See Section 467.007, Tex. Health & Safety Code. There are limited exceptions to this confidentiality, such as when an individual is a danger to himself or herself or others. You can reach TLAP at (800) 343-8527 (TLAP). For more information, go to Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program.
The State Bar complies with all laws on the release of confidential records, including who is and is not entitled to certain information and whether some information must be redacted (removed) from records before they are released. If the record you are seeking exists and you are entitled to it, then the State Bar will review and redact it to ensure its release complies with applicable laws. The review process may include removing specific personal and identifying information. However, members of law enforcement agencies and certain other entities including those with subpoena authority may obtain records without redaction for the administration or enforcement of a law.
Access Statistics for External Research or Studies
The State Bar encourages well-founded research regarding its statistics, which are located online at Research & Analysis.
Contact the Research and Analysis Department:
By Email: research@texasbar.com
By Phone: (512) 427-1724
By Mail:
State Bar of Texas
Department of Research and Analysis
P.O. Box 12487
Austin,
Texas 78711-2487
For additional information about rights of requesters, responsibilities of a governmental body, and the procedures for inspecting or obtaining a copy of public information under the PIA, go to the State Bar's Public Information Act Poster (en Español) .
