Bar Examination Subjects
Most states use as part of their bar exam multiple choice questions that are part of the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). Current MBE subject areas are:
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Criminal Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Real Property
- Evidence
- Torts
In addition to the MBE, the Pennsylvania Bar Examination includes essay questions and a lawyering-skills performance test. Current subject areas examined in this portion of the Pennsylvania Bar are:
- Business Organizations (including corporations, partnerships, LLC's, and professional
corporations) - Civil Procedure (Pennsylvania and federal)
- Criminal Law (including related Pennsylvania and federal constitutional issues)
- Conflict of Laws
- Contracts
- Employment Discrimination (Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and
- Americans with Disabilities Act only)
- Evidence (Pennsylvania and federal)
- Family Law
- Federal Constitutional Law
- Federal Income Taxes (personal only)
- Professional Responsibility
- Real Property
- Torts
- Trusts and Decedents' Estates
- U.C.C. Article II (Sales)
Other states examine their bar applicants in different subject areas. To determine what subjects areas are being examined currently in state(s) where you might have an interest in taking the bar exam, you might look at http://www.ncbex.org/bar-admissions/offices/, www.abanet.org/legaled/baradmissions/bar.html or www.barbri.com.
****If you are taking the bar in a state other than Pennsylvania, you should also check with that state about early application deadlines. In some states, you pay a much lower fee (and have fewer hassles) if you apply far in advance.****