Bar Success Skills Sessions are offered each Fall and Spring semester. 

Goals:

Bar Success Skills Sessions builds on analytical, writing, and organizational skills that students use during their law school years with the goal of enhancing students' ability to prepare for the bar exam. Although most intensive preparation for the bar will occur in the eight to ten weeks before the bar exam, this class will give students a foundational jump-start by introducting them to:

• The format and components of the bar exam
• The scope of preparing for the 3 tests on the Bar Exam
• Test-specific strategies for the MPT, Essay Writing, and MBE
• Bar Success specific study and organiztional skills 

This class is not intended to replace commercial bar preparation courses. They complement such courses well and will enhance critical reading, thinking, and writing skills to maximize the chances of success on the bar exam.

Scope of the Sessions:

This class focuses on 3 aspects of the bar exams: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), Essay Exam (the MEE/ State essay), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Focus will be devoted to components of each test so that students know what to expect and strategies to adopt for successful performance on each test. Students will:

• Learn review methods for tested areas of law;
• Complete practice essay, multiple-choice and performance test questions;
• Engage in small-group learning during class, and 
• Receive individual feedback on written answers.

What you should know about Bar Success Skills Sessions:

1. It is free
2. It is not graded
3. It is not for credit

Why should you take the class?

• To get a head-start on preparing for the Bar Exam by becoming familiar with the expectations and scope of the exam.
• To learn HOW (skills) to answer questions on each of the 3 tests.

Is this different from the commercial prep courses like BarBri, Themis, Kaplan, etc.?

Yes, the commercial courses focus a lot more on the "what" (contents) of the subjects tested on the bar exam. The skills class emphasizes the "how".

It is well established that test-takers need to master both the how and the what to do well on the Bar Exam. Please respond here to indicate your interest in taking any of these classes and/or if you have questions.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)

The Uniform Bar Exam is composed of 3 tests and the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) develops and adminsters them:

• Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)
• Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and
• Multistate Performance Test (MPT).

Visit the NCBE for the most updated information.

See below for more information about the MBE, MEE, and MPT. Note that not all States use the MEE for essay-testing--- use the links below to view state-specific essay questions for states not using the MEE.

Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)

The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a 200-question multiple choice exam administered over two 3-hour sessions. The goal of the MBE is to assess the extent to which the test taker can apply fundemantal legal principles and legal reasoning to analyze given fact patterns.

More information about the MBE.

Multistate Essay Examiniation (MEE):

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) consists of six 30-minute essay questions. The purpose of the MEE is to test the test takers ability to:

1. Identify legal issues
2. Identify relevant material
3. Present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundemental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.

More information about the MEE.

Past Essay Exams Questions by State

Many state bar examiners release essay and performance test questions used on prior Bar Exams. In addition, some states release sample answers to these exam questions. If you intent to take a certain state's bar exam, review the past questions and answers as part of your Bar Exam preparation. Links to many state's released questions are listed below.

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California 
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
  • Under "Content" and then under each section of the exam
  • Multiple Choice Question and Answers
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• South Dakota (under Representative Passing Answer)
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
  • Questions Only
  • Answer Guides

Multistate Performance Test

The Multistate Performance Test is a 90-minute test designed to test the ability of the test-taker to complete assigned routine tasks that a new attorney is expected to perform in the practice of law. It is intended to test a test-taker’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. 

More information about the MPT.

Study Resources for Bar Exams:

• National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Study Aids 
• Visit or contact the Bar Success office.

Description of the Test:

• According to the NCBE, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a two-hour, 60 multiple-choice examination that is administered three times per year.
• It is required for admission to the bars of all but two US jurisdictions (Wisconsin and Puerto Rico).
  • Note: Connecticut and New Jersey accept successful completion of a law school course on professional responsibility in lieu of a passing score on the MPRE.
• Becasue MPRE requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another, candidates are advised to check with the bar admission agency in the jurisdiction to which they seek admission before registering for the MPRE.
• Passing scores are established by each jurisdiction. 

Please visit the NCBE website for the most updated information. 

Study Aids for MPRE:

• NCBE Study Aids
• Visir or contact the Bar Success office.