Passing the Multistate Bar Exam: Tips and Strategies

MBE Basics: The MBE stands for Multistate Bar Examination. It's a standardized, multiple-choice test that is used to assess the knowledge and understanding of fundamental legal principles in the United States. The exam is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is a component of the bar examination in most U.S. states. It's a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination administered on the last Wednesday in February and the last Wednesday in July of each year. The MBE covers seven major areas of law: civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, and torts.

The MBE is designed to test a candidate's ability to apply legal principles and concepts to hypothetical fact scenarios, rather than merely testing their memorization of legal rules. It is a rigorous exam that requires extensive preparation. Success on the MBE is an important factor in determining whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.

Here are some tips on how to prepare for the MBE:

Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to prepare. Many people start studying for the MBE several months in advance. This will give you enough time to cover all the material and practice enough questions. The Natonal Jurist suggests, "Generally, students who are studying full time (e.g., 40-50 hours a week) should start studying, at a minimum, nine weeks ahead of the bar exam. You should spend the first seven weeks learning the subjects and completing practice questions. You should spend the last two weeks reviewing the law and taking timed exams. If you have other major obligations such as a job or family to care for, aim to study about 20 hours per week and start studying earlier than the traditional bar prep period. Many part-time students will start studying about 15-20 weeks prior to the bar exam."

Get organized: Create a study schedule and stick to it. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus your studying accordingly.

Use study materials: There are many study materials available, such as practice exams, flashcards, and study guides. These materials can help you identify areas that you need to work on and give you a sense of the types of questions that you can expect to see on the exam. Take a look at our selection of MBE study aids here.

Take practice exams: Practice exams are a great way to get a sense of how well you are doing and identify areas that need improvement. You can find many practice exams online or through study materials. Strategies & Tactics for the MBE 2 has over 465 questions--of which 445 were asked on actual past Multistate Bar Exams--and detailed explanations of the right and wrong answers. A Short and Happy Guide to Conquering the MBE is a small volume but will show you how to use practice multiple-choice questions to greatest advantage.

Analyze your mistakes: When you take practice exams, make sure to analyze your mistakes. Understand why you got a question wrong and learn from it. This will help you avoid making the same mistakes on the actual exam.

Stay focused: Studying for the bar exam can be stressful, but it’s important to stay focused. Try to avoid distractions and stay committed to your study schedule.

Get support: Reach out to friends, family, or other individuals who have taken the bar exam before. They can provide support and helpful tips based on their own experiences.

Remember that the MBE is just one part of the bar admission process. You will also need to pass other components, such as the essay portion of the exam, to be admitted to practice law in your state.