Bar Exam
The Bar Exam differs from state to state. Study programs are customized based on the individual student's strengths and weaknesses and intended state of practice. The information in this section outlines details of the New York State Bar, and is offered as a general guideline for those students who plan to take the Bar in other states. Please contact our office for information about preparing for the Bar Exam in your state.
Multi-State Bar Examination (MBE):
New York State Bar
Multi-State Bar Examination (MBE):
Students extensively review the seven substantive law subjects that are tested on the Multi-State Bar Examination:
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
New York State Bar
Students intending to take the New York State Bar also study the subjects that appear on the in-state portion of the NY Bar Examination:
- Conflict of Laws
- Business Relationships (including Agency, Business Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Joint Ventures)
- NY and Federal Constitutional Law
- Contracts and Contract Remedies
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Evidence
- Matrimonial and Family Law
- New York and Federal Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure
- Professional Responsibility
- Real Property
- Torts and Tort Damages
- Trusts, Wills and Estates
- UCC Articles 2, 3 and 9
What Kind of Exam Is It?
- The Bar Exam is a critical professional exam law school graduates must pass to be admitted to practice law.
- Bar exams are administered by individual states.
- In most states, the exam occurs over two days and includes the Multi-State Bar Examination.
When Is It Taken?
- The New York State Bar Exam is administered twice a year, on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.
| Section | Content | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Bar Examination |
200 mulitple choice questions | 6 hours |
Questions cover Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Real Property. |
| NY State Examination: Morning Session |
50 mulitple choice questions and 3 essays |
3 hours |
The New York portion of the bar exam may cover the material tested on the Multi-State portion as well as Business Relationships, Conflict of Laws, New York
Constitutional Law, Family Law, Remedies, New
York and Federal Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure, Professional
Responsibility, Trusts, Wills and Estates , and UCC Articles 2, 3,
and 9. Each essay question tests more than one subject. |
| NY State Examination: Afternoon Session |
2 essays and the Multi-State Performance Test |
3 hours |
The Multi-State Performance test is a written skills question to assess the candidate's aptitude for legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of lawyering task, and communication. |
How Is It Scored?
- Weighted final scores on the New York State Bar Examination range from 0 to 1,000. Candidates must score at least 665 to pass the examination.
- The final score is calculated by scaling the raw scores attained by the applicant on each portion of the exam. The Multi-State Bar Examination accounts for 40% of the final score, the New York multiple choice section for 10%, and the written portion for 50%.
Anything Else?
For additional information about preparing and registering for the New York State Bar Exam, follow the link below to the NY State Board of Law Examiners' official website:
External Link: http://www.nybarexam.org/TheBar/TheBar.htm (link will open in a new window)