H.B. No. 1387 amends the Government Code to update the eligibility requirements for individuals seeking to take the bar examination for a license to practice law in Texas. The bill allows the Supreme Court to establish rules that include provisions for candidates to demonstrate good moral character, adequate prelegal study, and at least two years of study or practical experience in the legal field. Specifically, the bill introduces new options for fulfilling the experience requirement, which can now include a two-year apprenticeship supervised by a licensed attorney or two years of full-time employment as a paralegal, in addition to completing a prescribed course of study at an approved law school.

The bill also modifies the notification process for candidates regarding their character and fitness evaluations. It specifies that the Board of Law Examiners must notify each person who files a declaration of their acceptable character and fitness by a date established by the Supreme Court. The previous requirement for the Board to notify all declarants about their character and fitness determination has been removed. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and the Texas Supreme Court and the Board of Law Examiners are tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement these amendments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 82.022, Government Code 82.023, Government Code 82.024 (Government Code 82)