Passing the Bar Exam is the final hurdle for law students. The two-day long exam requires extensive preparation. The Academic Success and Bar Programs team is here to help.
Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves the Bar Exam & Licensure Checklist from Day 1 of law school so that there are no surprises when it comes time to take the Bar Exam. The checklist and more bar exam information can be found by clicking the button to the right.
About the Bar Exam
- California Bar Exam
- Uniform Bar Exam
- Non-UBE Jurisdictions
The bar exam given in California is considered the toughest in the country. It is offered on the last Tuesday and Wednedsay in February and July. The exam covers 14 subjects over two days and includes essay questions, multiple choice questions, and performance test assignments. The California Bar Exam consists of:
- 200 multiple-choice questions (from the Multistate Bar Exam)
- 5 essays (1 hour each to complete)
- 1 90-minute performance test
Results for the California Bar Exam are released in November.
Accommodations
Testing accommodations are available to individuals with mental or physical disabilities as defined by the Rules of the State Bar of California. Information, general instructions and forms related to filing a petition for testing accommodations are available online at the State Bar of California's Testing Accommodations webpage.
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination on the last Wednesday in February and the last Wednesday in July of each year.
All jurisdictions using the Uniform Bar Exam and some other states, including California, use the MBE for the multiple-choice section of the their exam. The MBE consists of:
- 200 multiple choice questions, 175 of which are scored with the other 25 being beta test questions. It includes 25 questions from each of the following subjects:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law (I & II)
- Contracts
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
- Think of a performance test like 1L writing; it's often a predictive memo or persuasive brief.
- No knowledge of law is needed; You’re provided a file with facts, a memo explaining the task, and a library of cases/statutes/regs.
- You'll have 90 minutes to complete the task.
- The bar exam is scaled; A passing score in California is 1390
- UBE passing scores vary by jurisdiction
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 60 question, two-hour multiple-choice examination administered three times each year. The exam is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. More information is available online at the MPRE website.
Most students take the MPRE during their 2L year.
Be sure to register as a law student with the State Bar of California, so that your MPRE score automatically transfers to your admission file.
Preparing for the Bar Exam
1L / 1P
Register as a law student with the State Bar of California in the first 90 days of school, or check requirements for other jurisdictions.
2L / 2-3P
Take Professional Responsibility and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
- https://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre
- MPRE offered 3x/year in March, August, & November
- Study ~20 hours; free courses online (BARBRI; Themis)
- Score of 86 is required to pass in CA
Take upper-division bar subjects (prioritize Constitutional Law II, Evidence, & Criminal Procedure I)
Attend the ASBP Bar Exam & Licensure Workshop (held every fall and spring)
3L / 4P
Submit Moral Character Application in the fall or earlier (including Live Scan fingerprints)
- Extensive background check; ~2-6 months process
- Be prepared to gather a lot of information: former residences, former jobs, student conduct, criminal offenses, civil court proceedings, references, etc.
Take Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing and the Multistate Bar Exam course
Purchase commercial bar prep program (BARBRI; Themis)
Register to take the bar exam (generally March 1 for CA)
- Apply for accommodations if needed; talk to LSA
Determine your financial plan for bar prep; meet with the Office of Financial Aid; apply for bar loans & scholarships
Meet with ASBP if you want to discuss your bar prep plan
Post-Grad Summer
Check your email throughout the summer for emails from USD and the State Bar
Attend ASBP's workshops and the Bar Exam Simulation
Complete your commercial bar prep course
Meet with ASBP for advice and support
Take the bar exam! (and get free lunch from ASBP)
- CA results released in November; others vary by jurisdiction