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Bar Exam Information

Preparing for the Bar Exam

It is our belief that each graduate from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University can pass the Bar exam the first time. The key to passing the Bar exam is preparation. It is never too early to start preparing for this milestone in your legal career. The Office of Academic Success, and the Faculty and Administration of the Law School are all here to assist you.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Danielle Bifulci Kocal
Director of Academic Success

Bar Exam Resources

  • Read the New York Lawyer Assistance Trust brochure regarding the character and fitness requirements (PDF) for admission to the practice of law in New York State.

  • List of requirements to be certified for admissions to the New York State Bar

    1. Achieve a passing score on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE);
    2. Complete an online course in New York-specific law, known as the New York Law Course (NYLC);
    3. Take and pass an online examination, known as the New York Law Exam (NYLE);
    4. Take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE);
    5. Comply with the 50-hour pro bono service requirement; and
    6. Satisfy the Skills Competency Requirement

    Before taking the UBE

    Make sure there are no Holds on your Account on Pace Portal

    • If there is a hold on your account, it may prevent you from graduating and being certified to take the bar exam

    Comply with the ABA Requirements for Juris Doctorate Graduates Applying to Take the Bar Exam

    Complete and Submit the Application Provided by The New York State Board of Law Examiners

    Request Testing Accomodations Before the Application Period Closes

    • Applications for test accommodations must be received in the Board’s office no later than November 30 for the February exam and April 30 for the July exam

    Turn Law School Certificate of Attendance Form and Handwriting Specimen Form into Registrar

    • Both of these forms will be emailed to applicants after the period to apply to sit for the exam has closed
    • The handwriting sample must be done in person in front of the appropriate personnel
    • The deadline for these portions of the application to be turned into the Board is February 1 for the February exam and June 15 for the July exam. Make sure the materials are brought to registrar with enough time to complete

    The New York Law Course

    • The NYLC is an online, on demand course which reviews unique aspects of New York law
    • The NYLC consists of approximately 15 hours of recorded lectures
    • You must complete the NYLC prior to applying for the NYLE
    • You must complete the NYLC up to one year prior to or three years after passing the UBE

    The New York Law Exam

    • The NYLE is offered four times a year typically in March, June, September, and December and you must apply at least 30 days before the exam
    • You must complete the NYLE up to one year prior to or three years after passing the UBE

    The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination

    • Take MPRE is offered in March, August, and November
    • Not all states require you to pass the MPRE in order to be admitted to the state bar
      • Maryland, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico do not require it
      • Connecticut and New Jersey do not require it, if you successfully complete a course in Professional Responsibility
    • The exam can be taken either before or after the bar exam. The score is valid for 3 years in New York.
    • Learn more about the MPRE

    The 50 hour pro bono requirement

    • Hours may be completed in another state or country
    • Qualifying pro bono work must be completed before you submit your Application for Admission to the appropriate Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court

    The skills competency requirement

    Added by the Court of Appeals in December 2015

    • This requires applicants to establish that they have acquired the necessary skills and professional values needed to competently practice law

    This can be fulfilled by satisfying one of five options:

    1. Law school certification of competence in skills and professional values
    2. Law school certification of credit acquisition
    3. Pro Bono Scholars Program
    4. Apprenticeship
    5. Practice in another jurisdiction

    Rules of the Court / BOLE

    Breakdown of the required exams

    Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination

    • Two hour and five minute multiple choice exam
    • Comprise of 60 multiple choice questions with 10 sample/test questions
    • Passing score is 32 out of 50 (85%)

    New York State Law Exam

    • Two hour, open book, multiple choice exam
    • Online
    • Two hours to complete 50 multiple choice questions
    • Tests New York law that is unique and different from the general law of the UBE
    • Passing score is 30 out of 50
    • If you fail, you must repeat the NYLC and NYLE

    Uniform Bar Exam (266 out of 400 for a passing score in NY)

    • Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
      • Six essays which are 30 minutes each
      • Tested on: Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and Uniform Commercial Code (Secured Transactions)
      • Counting for 30% of UBE score
    • Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
      • 200 multiple choice questions
      • Tested on: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property and Torts. Beginning with the February 2015 bar examination, Civil Procedure will also be tested
      • Counting for 50% of UBE score
    • Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
      • Two 90 minute writing exercises
      • Counting for 20% of UBE score

Student Guide to the Bar Exam

I. Advanced Analytical Skills and MBE Strategies For-Credit Supplemental Bar Preparation Courses
II. Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam
III. The UBE
IV. Taking a Concurrent Bar Exam
V. Commercial Bar Preparation Courses
VI. Recommendations
VII. Financial Resources
VIII. Important Web Sites

I. Advanced Analytical Skills and MBE Strategies

Advanced Analytical Skills builds on the analytical, writing and organizational skills necessary to enhance a student’s ability to prepare for the Bar exam. Students will become thoroughly familiar with the format and components of the Bar exam. Students will review and outline substantive topics, learn methods by which to review the tested areas of law, write outlines, and complete practice essays, Multistate Performance Test questions and multiple-choice exam questions; students will receive feedback on all written answers.

In MBE Strategies, students will review the most heavily-tested areas of law on the MBE portion of the bar exam. They will complete numerous practice questions and develop the skills necessary to answer the most difficult multiple choice questions.

II. Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

In addition to the Bar Exam, New York Bar Exam candidates must pass the MPRE before they are admitted to practice.

The MPRE is a two hour and five minute exam consisting of 60 multiple choice questions designed to test your knowledge and understanding of ethical standards of the legal profession. The exam is offered every March, August and November and should be taken before you take the Bar Exam. New York requires a score of 85 on the MPRE. Scores are scaled and range from 50 to 150, with an average of approximately 100. A raw score of approximately 32 correct out of 50 converts to a scaled score of 85.

Section 520.12 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York requires applicants to file the materials required for admission to the Bar within three years from the date of the initial letter sent by the Board of Law Examiners notifying the applicant of having passed the Bar examination. Thus, any applicant who has not taken and passed the MPRE at the time of receipt of notification of having passed the Bar examination must pass the MPRE and be certified by the Board to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division within three years.

Students should take the MPRE well in advance of the Bar exam. They should plan to devote approximately 25 hours to preparing for the MPRE. Additional information about the MPRE is available at www.ncbex.org.

III. The UBE

Beginning with the July 2016 administration, NY will be using the Uniform Bar Exam as the bar exam for the state.

The Exam is administered each February and July.

A content outline and a description of the exam and its components can be found at www.ncbex.org.

New York Scoring:

6 Essays | 30% | 120 points
2 MPT's | 20% | 80 points
200 MBE | 50% | 200 points
Total: 400 points

A minimum passing score is 266

The MPT is a 90 minute assignment designed to test the Bar candidates' ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. A Case File and a Library are provided along with an assignment such as write a memo, a brief, a statement of fact or a will. Sample MPT Questions can be downloaded at www.ncbex.org.

IV. Taking a Concurrent Bar Exam

Now that many states have adopted the UBE and the scores are portable, most of our students only take a single bar exam. Most of our students are interested in admission in New York, and New Jersey and/or Connecticut. Both of these additional states have now adopted the UBE. If you are interested in practicing law in another state, check the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ website to see if that state is a UBE state. See information on UBE jurisdictions and score portability.

V. Commercial Bar Preparation Courses

A commercial Bar course, which runs for approximately eight weeks prior to the Bar exam, is necessary for you to review what you have already learned in law school and to learn Bar tested subjects that you have not yet studied. The commercial Bar courses are familiar with what is tested and how it is tested. Your commercial course will provide you with materials and a study plan to help you prepare for the exam.

There are at least four commercial Bar courses in the New York area that offer full-time study programs. It is best for you to research each of them and determine which is best for you and your learning style. BarBri Bar Review, Pieper Bar Review, Kaplan/PMBR, and Themis Bar Review student representatives are often in our law school cafeteria during the school year. Research all programs to learn about each course and how the various courses differ.

Many students opt to hire individual tutors in addition to studying with a commercial bar review course. The following tutors have had success with Pace Students:

Individual Tutoring

VI. Recommendations

  • Completely clear your schedule for the eight weeks prior to the Bar exam
  • Enroll in Advanced Analytical Skills to jump start your Bar preparation, demystify the Bar exam and receive feedback on actual Bar exam essays and MBE strategies and MPT questions
  • Enroll in our free Supplemental Bar Skills Program to get additional skills support and detailed feedback on your practice essay and MBE answers.
  • Take as many Bar tested courses as possible
  • Plan on studying at least 8-10 hours per day
  • Take a comprehensive commercial Bar preparation course and attend every lecture
  • Consider taking a supplement to your comprehensive commercial Bar preparation course
  • Take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam well in advance of the Bar exam

VII. Financial Resources

Taking time off to prepare for the Bar exam can create financial hardships. The cost of the array of Bar preparation courses can also add up quickly. Loans specifically for this purpose are available from many lending sources. The following is a list of several Bar Loan providers. The Bursar can provide you with much information about financial aid.

Lenders

VIII. Important Web Sites