Bar Exam Information
General Information
The requirements for admission to the bar, subjects tested on the examination, and testing methods vary from state to state. Below you will find resources to help you locate the admissions rules and bar examination information for the state(s) in which you are interested in practicing.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the .
The is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and the American Bar Association Council of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The Guide contains some of the basic admissions rules and practices for all 50 states and is useful for comparison. Applicants should not rely solely on the information provided in the Guide, but should also review the specific rules and information provided by each state or district.
Bar Exam:
— a six-hour, two-hundred question multiple-choice examination covering contracts, torts, constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, and real property
— three 90-minute skills questions covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem-solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication
— a fifty question, two-hour, multiple-choice examination administered three times each year (NOTE: THE MPRE IS A STAND-ALONE TEST THAT SHOULD USUALLY BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO SITTING FOR THE BAR EXAM)
- adopted in many U.S. jurisdictions
(offered in some jurisdictions beginning in July 2026)
State/District Specific Information
Law students should review and understand the bar admission rules for any state in which they plan to practice. The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides a for each state. First-year law students should begin reviewing the requirements for the state(s) in which they are interested in taking the bar examination to determine the relevant deadlines and requirements.