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What is the bar exam?
The bar exam is an extensive government-issued exam that all law students in the United States must pass before proceeding to practice law. The tests vary by state, geared towards the laws of the issuing state, and generally last two to three days. Before someone can practice law in a particular place, they must pass that state’s bar exam.
Although the exams differ, in general, the exam consists of a series of essay questions on state law and general legal principles. This portion of the bar can last a day or two. A separate day is reserved for taking the Multi-State Bar Exam (MBE) in participating states. This 200-question test covers common law. Because this part is standardized, the MBE is issued the same day throughout the United States.
The parts that make up each test differ between states and US territories Louisiana and Puerto Rico do not use the MBE, for example, as they are civil jurisdictions that are not subject to common law. Achievement tests, which ask a law student to write a legal memorandum or other similar assignments, could also be part of the exam. California boasts one of the most difficult bar exams in the nation and includes the California Performance Test (CPT). Each student has three hours to digest a fictional case and then write a memo, express an opinion, or submit some other finding. Outside of California, the equivalent is the Multi-State Performance Test (MPT).
In addition to the bar, although it is issued separately, some states, such as California, require an ethics test called the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is administered and rated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is administered three times a year.
How to prepare?
To prepare for the exam, most students take classes from private companies. Many focus on specific aspects of tests such as MBE, seeking MBE tips, hiring tutors for preparation. Some test prep companies dig deeper and offer courses on liability, real estate, and criminal law, among other topics.
Students can determine a specific state’s requirements for the bar exam by visiting that state’s bar association website. Once the exam is passed, the lawyer becomes a member of the bar association.
Why “Bar”?
In the United States, the Courts are divided into two parts by a railing or barrier called in English “the bar”. Only attorneys, their clients, and witnesses who are called to testify can cross it. The term “bar”, which he uses to refer colloquially to the legal profession as a whole, derives from the tradition of restricting the presence of those who do not participate in the process in the area of the trial.
In the United States, lawyers must be admitted to the bar or professional college to practice in a particular state. Among other admission requirements, attorneys must take a bar exam administered by a state bar examining board.
Bar examinations are held twice a year, at the end of February and July. Typically, this exam is comprised of the Multistate Bar Examination (“MBE”), a multiple-choice exam that covers US law on six topics: contracts, crimes, criminal law and procedure, constitutional law, evidence, and property. The MBE lasts for one day and is administered in all the states that use it. In the United States, the Courts are divided into two parts by a railing or barrier called in English “the bar”. Only attorneys, their clients, and witnesses who are called to testify can cross it. The term “bar”, which he uses to refer colloquially to the legal profession as a whole, derives from the tradition of restricting the presence of those who do not participate in the process in the area of the trial.
