The Bar Exam: The bar exam provides a crucial step in process of becoming a lawyer. In most states (and territories), passing a bar exam is a requirement for being admitted to practice law.
A bar exam generally has two or three types of questions on it:
While states get to design their bar exams, many are adopting tests created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). The most widely adopted of those tests is the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), which comprises the multiple choice section of the bar exam. States also have an essay portion to the exam, and many have adopted the NCBE's Multistate Essay Exam (MEE). If the state has a practical law section, it may have adopted the Multistate Practical Test (MPT). A state also has a choice to administer the Unified Bar Exam (UBE), which is adoption of the MBE, MEE, and MPT.
Check Your State: You should always check your state's specific requirements. For instance a UBE state could still administer a separate state-specific test that would be used in conjunction with the UBE to determine whether someone is qualified to practice law. You can find a breakdown of requirements by state provided by NCBE's Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. You should also check with a resource from the state you are looking to be admitted in.
MICHIGAN: Michigan started utilizing the UBE in February 2023. Michigan's Board of Law Examiners has a webpage about admission to Michigan's bar.
Professional Responsibility Exam: The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is an exam separate from the bar exam, and administered by almost all jurisdictions. It is a multiple choice exam that evaluates professional decision-making and ethics.
