The Bar Exam: General Information Applicable to All States
The most common format is a two-day bar examination, which consists of one day devoted to the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) and another day of substantive essay questions tailored for practice in that particular state or jurisdiction. The essay questions testing the state's particular substantive law typically cover a broader range of subject areas, and students should research each specific jurisdiction for detailed information about bar examination content. Such information can be accessed by means of the following websites, among others: www.barexam.org and www.abanet.org. In addition, the VULS library has on reserve past Tennessee Bar Examinations, which can be reviewed as examples of bar examination content.
Many jurisdictions are adding other multistate tests to the above-described basic format, such as the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Information on states that require standardized testing in addition to the MBE on their bar examinations can be accessed by reviewing Chart VI in the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions, which is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
NCBE provides the standardized legal examinations, which are discussed in more detail below. NCBE also publishes the test booklets for each of the examinations, which contain application information, general descriptions, and sample test questions. These test booklets can be easily obtained through the Conference's website at www.ncbex.org/tests/tests.htm.
Multistate Bar Examination (MBE): This six-hour standardized exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering six substantive areas of law: Constitutional, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property and Torts. Nearly all jurisdictions incorporate this component into their bar examination formats, although three do not (Louisiana, Washington, and Puerto Rico).
Multistate Essay Examination (MEE): This three-hour standardized exam consists of six essay questions covering the following areas of law: agency and partnership, commercial paper, conflict of laws, corporations and limited liability companies, decedents' estates, family law, federal civil procedure, sales, secured transactions, and trusts and future interests.
Multistate Performance Test (MPT): This 90-minute standardized exam consists of three skills questions requiring legal and fact analyses, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners also provides the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). Most jurisdictions require passage of the MPRE in order to be admitted to practice. The MPRE is a two-hour standardized exam consisting of fifty multiple-choice questions, which test the applicant's knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in the legal profession. The MPRE is administered three times each year, in March, August, and November. There are application deadlines for each administration of the MPRE. Most jurisdictions require passage of the MPRE in order to be admitted to practice. The MPRE is a two-hour standardized exam consisting of fifty multiple-choice questions, which test the applicant's knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in the legal profession. The MPRE is administered three times each year, in March, August, and November. There are application deadlines for each administration of the MPRE.
Most states allow students to take the MPRE before graduating from law school, but because there are variations in requirements here also, it is important to research the specific rules for each jurisdiction. The MPRE must be taken in the same academic year in which a student graduates, and earlier scores are not accepted. Most students take the exam sometime after their second year of law school and, in most cases, the exam scheduled during the August before a May graduation is the earliest time applicants can take the MPRE. Completing a law school course in professional responsibility is not required to successfully pass the MPRE.
Application forms for the MPRE, as well as informational brochures, are available via www.ncbex.org/tests/tests.htm.
