Alabama Bar Exam
Alabama Bar Exam Format
The Alabama bar exam takes two days and consists of the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”). The UBE tests the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), the Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”).
MPT (Performance Test)
Alabama tests two (2) MPT performance tests.
MEE (Essays)
Alabama 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)
Alabama 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 Score Transfer
Alabama accepts UBE and MBE scores transferred from other jurisdictions. MBE scores are accepted for scaled scores of 140 or greater. The MBE score is valid for up to 25 months (four exams) from the date of the test. Applicants transferring their MBE score for purposes of the Alabama bar exam do not earn a transferable UBE score. Applicants may elect to take all portions of the Alabama bar exam in order to earn a transferable UBE score.
UBE Score Transfer
UBE scores are accepted for scaled scores of 260 or greater. The applicant must have passed the bar exam in another jurisdiction, been admitted in that jurisdiction, and achieved the UBE within 25 months (4 exams) of the current Alabama bar exam.
Alabama Bar Exam Testing Schedule
Day 1
Morning – 2 MPTs (3 hours)
Afternoon – 6 Essays (3 hours)
Day 2
Morning – MBE Part I (100 questions; 3 hours)
Afternoon – MBE Part II (100 questions; 3 hours)
Alabama Bar Exam Dates and Application
The Alabama bar exam is held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Applications can be found the Alabama State Bar Website.
| February 21-24, 2017 | October 1 |
| July 25-26, 2017 | February 1 |
Grading
Alabama Bar Exam Weight
| MPT | 20% |
| MEE | 30% |
| MBE | 50% |
Passing Score
According to the Alabama Rules Governing Admission, the minimum passing score for the Alabama bar exam is a combined score of 260.
Pass Rates
Alabama pass rates can be found here.
Review and Appeal for Applicants Failing the Alabama Bar Exam
Within 60 days of announcing the bar exam results, a failing applicant is entitled to examine his or her papers at the Alabama State Bar Headquarters for purposes of determining whether the grades were transcribed correctly and to examine the three top papers on that particular exam. Applicants may obtain a copy of the questions and answers as well as the model answers for a fee.
Retaking the Alabama Bar Exam
Applicants that have taken and failed the Alabama bar exam may carry over their MBE score or written test score. Applicants must elect to transfer or carry over a previous score at the time the application to take the bar exam is filed.
The MBE scaled score must be 140 or greater. The written test score must be equal to or greater than an MBE scaled score of 140. The MBE scaled score may be carried over to any future Alabama bar exam where the applicant is eligible so long as the exam is administered within 25 months of the earlier failed bar exam. The carried over score (either MBE or written) will be combined with the new bar exam score (either MBE or written) using the normal grading procedures.
Applicants still have the option to take all sections of the Alabama bar exam.