It is important for law students to begin planning for the bar exam as early as possible. Requirements and registration deadlines vary from state to state, so it is essential that each student create and manage their own individualized timeline.
To help you navigate this culminating and daunting experience, BC Law has compiled a document outlining the different pieces of the process. We also encourage you to utilize the resources provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the organization that administers the multi-state exams and maintains information on current requirements in each jurisdiction.
Bar Exam Resources
Quick Info
Moral character and fitness
All bar applicants are required to provide references that can attest to their good moral character and fitness, in addition to disclosing any information that may call their character or fitness into question.
MPRE
In most jurisdictions, you must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination before sitting for the bar. This multiple-choice test is designed to evaluate your knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in the legal profession.
Multistate portions
The MBE (Multistate Bar Examination) is the most widely used bar exam section; it is used in every jurisdiction except Louisiana and Puerto Rico. The MBE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and takes a day to complete. Other multistate portions include the MEE (Multistate Essay Examination) and the MPT (Multistate Performance Test), and have been adopted by a growing number of states.
State-specific portions
Most states include an essay-based section tailored for practice in that particular jurisdiction. The essay questions typically cover a broader range of subject areas than the MBE.
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