New York Bar Exam

New York Bar Exam Format

New York has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) for the New York bar exam. The New York bar exam consists of the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”).

MPT (Performance Test)
New York tests two (2) MPT performance tests.

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

  • Business Associations (Agency, Partnership, Corporations, 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)
New York 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

Score Transfer
New York accepts UBE scores of 266 or greater.

New York Bar Exam Testing Schedule

Day 1 (Tuesday)
2 MPTs and 6 MEEs

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

New York Bar Exam Dates and Application

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

Exam Date Application Filing Period
February 21-22, 2017 Nov. 1 – Nov. 30
July 25-26, 2017 April 1 – April 30

Grading

New York Bar Exam Weight

NY Essays N/A
MPT 20%
MEE 30%
MBE 50%

Grading Procedure

The New York bar exam is grades using scaled scores.

Passing Score

A minimum scaled score of 266.

Pass Rates

Bar exam statistics can be found here.

Review and Appeal for Applicants Failing the New York Bar Exam

Not currently available.

Retaking the New York Bar Exam

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for the next bar exam. The reapplication deadline is the one normal deadline or 14 days from the date of the release of the bar exam results, whichever is later. Reapplicants who do not take the bar exam must apply by the normal deadlines.