Kansas Bar Exam

Kansas Bar Exam Format

The Kansas bar exam is the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) and takes two days and consists of the Multistate Performance Tests (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”).

MPT (Performance Test)
Kansas tests two (2) MPT performance tests.

MEE (Essays)
Kansas tests six (6) essays. Subjects include:

  • Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and LLCs)
  • Civil Procedure (Federal)
  • Conflict of Laws
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
  • Criminal Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Family Law
  • Negotiable Instruments/Commercial Paper (UCC Art. 3)
  • Real Property
  • Secured Transactions (UCC Art. 9)
  • Torts
  • Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates, Trusts, Future Interests)

MBE (Multiple Choice)
Kansas uses the standard MBE. Subjects include:

  • Civil Procedure
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
  • Criminal Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Real Property
  • Torts

MBE and UBE Score Transfer
Kansas accepts MBE scaled scores of 120 or greater for concurrent bar exams or prior exams taken within 13 months (2 exams) of the current Kansas bar exam. Applicants must have passed the entire prior bar exam in one sitting in the transferring jurisdiction.

Applicants may seek admission via UBE score. Kansas accepts UBE scaled scores of 266 or greater.

Day 1
2 MPTs and 6 Essays

Day 2
Morning – MBE Part I (100 questions; 3 hours)
Afternoon – MBE Part II (100 questions; 3 hours)

Kansas Bar Exam Dates and Application

The Kansas bar exam is held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Applications can be found at the Kansas Board of Law Examiners’ Website.

Exam Date Application Deadline Late Deadline
February 21-22, 2017 October 1 November 1
July 25-26, 2017 March 1 April 15

Grading

Kansas Bar Exam Weight

MPT 20%
MEE 30%
MBE 50%

Grading Procedure
The Kansas essays are scaled to the MBE.

Passing Score
The minimum passing score is 266.

Pass Rates
Not currently available.

Review and Appeal for Applicants Failing the Kansas Bar Exam
If requested in writing within 90 days after the mailing by the Clerk of the notice of denial of admission, applicants who fail the Kansas bar exam have the right to receive a copy of his or her essay exam papers. Applicants cannot review or inspect questions asked or answered on the MBE.

The applicable rules do not provide for an appeal.

Retaking the Kansas Bar Exam

Applicants who are unsuccessful on the February bar exam are given 30 days from the date of the letter announcing the exam results to reapply for the following July exam without a late penalty fee. Re-applications for the following July exam are not accepted after that 30 day period. MBE scores achieved on the Kansas bar exam cannot be used for any succeeding Kansas bar exam.

Applicants who fail the exam four times are no longer eligible for admission.