Bar Exam Info
General Information
The requirements for admission to the bar, subjects tested on the examination, and testing methods vary from state to state. Below you will find resources to help you locate the admissions rules and bar examination information for the state(s) in which you are interested in practicing.
The Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The Guide contains some of the basic admissions rules and practices for all 50 states and is useful for comparison. Applicants should not rely solely on the information provided in the Guide, but should also review the specific rules and information provided by each state or district.
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) — a six-hour, two-hundred question multiple-choice examination covering contracts, torts, constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, and real property.
The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) — three 90-minute skills questions covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) — a fifty question, two-hour, multiple-choice examination administered three times each year. (NOTE: THE MPRE IS A STAND ALONE TEST THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO SITTING FOR THE BAR EXAM)
The Uniform Bar Examination - recently adopted in several U.S. jurisdictions.
State/District Specific Information
Below are links to bar admissions information for each state. First year law students should begin reviewing the requirements for the state(s) in which they are interested in taking the bar examination to determine the relevant deadlines and requirements.