State-by-State Bar Exam Information: New Jersey
Bar Information
Key Dates
The last Wed and Thu of February and July
Early February
April 1st. (With a late fee, May 15th)
Exam Details
Written: Seven essay questions drafted by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners
Multiple-choice: The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
New Jersey does not administer a performance test.
Day One - MBE
8:30 Instructions Begin
9:00 - 12:00 Testing (100 MBE Questions)
12:15 - 1:00 Lunch
1:10 - Instructions
1:30 - 4:30 Testing (100 MBE Questions
Day Two - Essays
8:30 Instructions
9:00 - 12:00 Testing (4 Essay Questions)
12:15 - 1:00 Lunch
1:10 Instructions
1:30 - 3:45 Testing (3 Essay Questions)
The MBE tests Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
The New Jersey state essays test contracts, criminal law, real property, torts, constitutional law, evidence, and civil procedure. According to the Board of Bar Examiners' website, "[a]n essay question may cut across two or more of the basic subject areas. In addition, these questions may be framed in the context of fact situations involving, and interrelated with, the following subjects: agency; conflicts of law; corporations; equity; family law; partnership; Uniform Commercial Code Articles 2 (Sales), 3 (Commercial Paper), and 9 (Secured Transactions); wills, trusts, and estates; zoning and planning; and disciplinary rules. Accordingly, familiarity with the basic principles and concepts of those subjects may help the candidate in answering the questions."
Yes
Yes--at https://www.njbarexams.org/bar-exam-questions-and-sample-answers
The MBE and the essays each count for 50 percent of the overall score.
Statistics
2011: 86%
2011: 81%
Reciprocity
Yes, but concurrent examination only
Only under limited circumstances that do not apply to practicing attorneys
Advice
New Jersey is one of the Wed, Thu states that accepts MBE scores on the concurrent exam from other jurisdictions. Therefore, it is possible to take both New Jersey's exam and that of any Tue, Wed state during the same administration. The logistical complication is travel on Wednesday evening to New Jersey from the other state.
The information for New Jersey comes from the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners' website and response to our survey, as well as the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements and annual statistical report.
