The bar exam is a comprehensive government-mandated test that every law student in the United States must pass before practicing law. The tests differ by state, are tailored to the laws of the issuing state, and usually last two to three days. A person must pass the bar exam in the state in which he or she wishes to practice law.
Though exams vary, they usually consist of a series of essay questions about state law and general legal principles. This portion of the bar could last anywhere from one to two days. In participating states, a separate day is set aside for taking the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). The common law is covered in this 200-question test. The MBE is issued on the same day throughout the United States because this portion is standardized.
The components of each test differ between states and US territories. Louisiana and Puerto Rico, for example, do not use the MBE because they are civil jurisdictions that are not bound by common law. Performance tests, in which a law student is asked to write a legal memorandum or complete other similar tasks, may be included in the exam. California has one of the toughest bar exams in the country, with the California Performance Test (CPT). Each student has three hours to digest a fictional case before writing a memo, issuing an opinion, or delivering some other conclusion. The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) &mdashl, which is generally considered to be a less taxing, 90-minute version of the CPT, is the equivalent outside of California.
In addition to the bar, some states, such as California, require the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, which is administered separately (MPRE). The MPRE is given three times a year by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is graded by them.
Most students take classes from private companies to prepare for the exam. Many people concentrate on particular aspects of the tests, such as the MBE. Some test prep companies go a step further, offering courses on torts, real estate, and criminal law, among other topics.
Students can learn about the requirements for the bar exam in a specific state by visiting the website of that state’s bar association. The lawyer becomes a member of the bar association after passing the exam.