Bar Exam FAQ
The bar exam is administered in February and July. Most law graduates take the July bar exam after they graduate in May. The bar exam usually is two or three days depending on the state. For most states, one day consists of a portion covering state law and the second day is for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)(see below).
Bar admission requirements differ from state to state, and requirements may change over time. Most significantly, each state has its own application deadline. As a result, students are advised to visit the Web site of their state bar office for the most authoritative information on what their states require for bar admission.
For information on various exams that may be required for bar admission, and links to most state bar authorities (including information for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Republic of Palau), visit the Web site of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Taking the Illinois Bar for 3Ls - January 18, 2007
Information Session Video (high bandwith) 
Updated 01/30/2007
Information Session Video (low bandwith) Updated 01/30/2007
You will need Windows Media Player to watch the video.
Taking the New York Bar for 3Ls - March 6, 2007
Information Session Video (high bandwith) Updated 05/01/2007
Information Session Video (low bandwith) Updated 05/01/2007
You will need Windows Media Player to watch the video.
Taking the California Bar for 3Ls - March 7, 2007
Information Session Video (high bandwith) Updated 05/01/2007
Information Session Video (low bandwith) Updated 05/01/2007
You will need Windows Media Player to watch the video.
General Bar Exam Information
Illinois Bar site (IBABY)
MLER (Minority Legal Education Resources)
Request an application via e-mail.
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination registration
National Conference of Bar Examiners
State Bar Admission Offices
Bar Review Courses
NOTE: The bar review course links below are provided to students as a convenience only. These sites contain a summary of Bar information from all jurisdictions; providing this information does not constitute an endorsement of any programs or products by Northwestern University or Northwestern University School of Law.
BARBRI
BarPlus
PMBR Multistate review
MyBarPrep
Micromash
Minority Legal Education Resources (MLER)
Patent Bar Review
The Study Group Personal Bar Review
If I have questions about the bar application, where do I go?
First, check the state bar's Web site, then call the state bar if you have questions about information on the site. If you have questions about character and fitness section, please contact the Dean of Students.
What do I need to know about the bar as a 1L?
In Illinois you can save $350 if you register for the bar by March 1. You may also receive discounts for registering early for bar review courses.
What is a Dean's Certificate and how do I get one?
Most states require a certificate from your law school dean attesting to the fact that you have graduated from law school. These forms can be found online at the various state bar Web sites. You should download the form and turn it to the Registrar's Office.
For Illinois only, the Registrar also has demographic cards that must be submitted with the bar application and a card you can submit to get a written acknowledgement of your application.
New York requires a handwriting sample, which the Registrar's Office can certify if done in the presence of a member of the Registrar's Office staff.
What is the MBE and how does it work?
The Multistate Bar Examination - Annotated Preview, or MBE-AP, is designed to be delivered online. It consists of 100 questions drawn from recent actual MBEs, representing the same content distribution as is seen on a full-length MBE. In addition to the questions, both the correct and incorrect options have been annotated to provide guidance to examinees who are preparing to take the MBE. Finally, the test includes a scoring component that will, to a limited degree, allow examinees to gauge their overall performance and their relative performance in each of the six MBE content areas.
The MBE-AP is available through NCBE's website; the specific link is http://www.ncbex.org/mbe-ap. The charge for a subscription is $26, with each subscription lasting through the MBE test administration that follows purchase; that is, someone purchasing the subscription today would have the use of the MBE-AP until the morning that the MBE is administered in late February. Subscriptions purchased following that test administration will remain active until the next test administration in late July. While the subscription is active, examinees may take the MBE-AP as often as they wish.
The test may be taken in a timed three-hour sitting, simulating an actual MBE administration, or on a question-by-question basis so that the examinee may consider the annotated answers in close proximity to reading the test question. After the exam is taken once, an examinee may choose to take the entire exam again or to retake only the questions that were answered incorrectly. We expect that in addition to using the MBE-AP to gain experience and familiarity with the MBE multiple-choice format, many examinees will also use it as a learning tool for substantive content.
Do I take both the state bar exam and the MBE, or does the MBE serve as a substitute for the state exam?
In most states, you must take both the MBE and the state bar exam. The MBE does not substitute for the state exam, though some states may not require the MBE. Please check your local bar exam's Web site for details.
Where should I take the bar if I am unsure of where I will be practicing?
Talk to your career advisor or someone else in the Career Strategy Center. This question requires an individualized response; the answer will depend on many factors.
What bar subjects, if any, are especially good to take in law school?
Northwestern does not require students to take specific courses in preparation for the bar exam. Required first-year courses, however, do cover some subject matter covered on the MBE. Examples of other courses whose content appears on the bar exam include evidence, trusts and estates, and corporations, but these can and will vary from state to state.
Most Northwestern students take a commercial bar review course after graduation to review subject matter and take practice tests.
What is the MPRE?
The purpose of the NCBE Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is to measure the examinee's knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer's professional conduct. The MPRE consists of 50 multiple-choice test items. These test items are followed by 10 Test Center Review items that request the examinee's reactions to the testing conditions. The examination is two hours and five minutes in length. Test items covering judicial ethics measure applications of the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct (CJC). Other items will deal with discipline of lawyers by state disciplinary authorities; in these items, the correct answer will be governed by the current ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC). The remaining items, outside the disciplinary context, are designed to measure an understanding of the generally accepted rules, principles, and common law regulating the legal profession in the United States; in these items, the correct answer will be governed by the view reflected in a majority of cases, statutes, or regulations on the subject.
When should I take the MPRE?
This is a personal choice. However, the test needs to be taken before you can be accepted to your state’s bar. The test is given in March, August, and November. Most students take the test in November of third year. If you are taking an ITP in your third year, then you should plan to take the MPRE in November because the March test date may conflict with travel.
Do I need to take Legal Ethics before taking the MPRE?
Taking Legal Ethics is not required before taking the MPRE. However, taking Legal Ethics can help your test preparation
When should I register and pay for a bar review course?
Registration and payment for bar review courses varies by state and course. 1Ls who apply in their first year may pay a reduced fee.
What are the various bar review companies that students use, and where can I find information on each of them?
For a list of links to popular companies, see the "Bar Review Courses" section of the Bar Information Links. You can learn about specific information about each company by visiting its Web site.
The right bar review course depends on your study habits. If you need structure, Barbri may be best. If you prefer self-study, Micromash or some other self-study program might work for you.
Are there package deals for MPRE and regular bar review prep?
Each bar-review company has different offerings. To find out what package deals (if any) a company offers, visit the "Bar Review Courses" section of the Bar Information Links for links to these companies’ Web sites.
Can I take the bar exam review course from any state, and can I sit for a state’s bar in any state? Or do I have to be in the state for which I am taking the bar?
For the most definitive rules on sitting for a state bar exam, check the bar-admission rules of your state(s) of interest. Learn about state information via the Bar Information Links or via the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Barbri will sometimes offer students the option of studying for a bar in a different state if there is enough student interest.
How soon after graduation do students begin studying for the bar? Is there time to travel?
Generally, bar review classes begin shortly after graduation so most students save their traveling until after the bar exam. Time to travel depends on each candidate’s schedule for exam preparation and employment.
Schedules for bar review courses are company specific. Students are therefore advised to visit companies’ websites for more information. For a list of links to popular companies, visit the "Bar Review Courses" section of the Bar Information Links.
Consult each state’s website of interest for official bar-exam dates. You can access states’ bar-exam websites via the National Conference of Bar Examiners. You can also access this information via the Bar Information Links.
What is the PMBR?
PMBR is a multistate prep course that specializes in preparing students specifically for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). PMBR focuses on test strategy and practice questions. BAR/BRI prepares students for both the state (usually essay) section, as well as the MBE.
PAYING FOR THE BAR AND BAR REVIEW
Do firms usually pay for bar exams?
Some larger firms pay bar expenses, but not all firms do. For more information, visit the NALP Directory.
What about public employers, such as judges, government agencies and non-profits?
Generally these employers do not pay for the bar or bar review.
If I work as a judicial clerk, am I responsible for my own bar costs, or do firms pay for the costs?
Larger firms usually pay for these costs so long as the student is committed to work for the firm when the clerkship is over.
Are loans available for bar study?
Yes, for information, please contact the Admissions Office.
TAKING THE BAR FOR MORE THAN ONE STATE
For additional information, visit the BAR/BRI, PMBR, or NCBEX Web sites.
How does taking the bar in multiple states work?
Most states will accept an MBE score from a concurrent exam (check your state). You can often then take two state bar exams depending on the dates of the state exam you are taking. This will be three days of testing (one day for each state’s exam and one day for the multi-state).
Is there reciprocity among state bars?
In many states, an attorney licensed and practicing for a period of time in one jurisdiction is admitted to the bar of another jurisdiction without having to write and pass the bar examination of the second jurisdiction. A number of states share reciprocal admission; others do not. Requirements regarding duration of licensure and nature, extent, duration, and location of prior practice vary widely from state to state.
If you take the bar to work for a firm in one state, then transfer to another office of the same firm in another state, do you need to retake the bar for that state? What if you move to another state and work for an unrelated employer?
Yes, you need a state’s bar exam to practice law in that state, unless your practice is completely federal.
What if I have to re-take the bar?
If you need to re-take the bar (and please keep in mind that many successful attorneys did not pass the bar on the first try), many students have found it helpful to take the MLER course (this is also available for first-time takers). You can contact them at (312) 409-7852. For questions about re-taking the bar and your career, please contact the Career Strategy Center.
