Galveston is a historic site for the legal profession in Texas. The Galveston Bar Association, the first bar association in Texas, met April 11, 1868. Then, in early 1882, 46 Texas lawyers and law firms signed a petition supporting the organization of a statewide legal organization. On July 15, 1882, 69 lawyers met at the Electric Pavilion in Galveston and the Texas Bar Association was formed. J.H. Mcleary of San Antonio was elected temporary president and "assumed the chair for a few hours." Judge Thomas J. Devine of San Antonio was elected the association's first president, along with 11 honorary vice presidents (the number of vice presidents was subsequently reduced to one). The annual dues were set at $2.50. B.H. Bassett of Brenham was then elected vice president and he and President Devine served until December 1882 when the first true Bar Convention met, also at Galveston. Devine praised fellow lawyers for their leadership and patriotism. A constitution was adopted with the requirement that a quorum of 50 members be present for official business to be conducted. Six permanent committees were established: Jurisprudence and Law Reform; Judicial Administration and Remedial Procedure; Legal Education and Admission to the Bar; Commercial Law; Publication; and Grievances and Discipline. Among the bylaws adopted was a provision that in addition to the president's annual convention address, no more than five other persons should speak or read papers to the assembly.

 A state historical marker commemorating the organization of the Texas Bar Association, forerunner of the State Bar of Texas, was dedicated at the Galveston County Courthouse in 1992.