***North Dakota allows admission based on a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) scaled score of 260 or greater or an MBE scaled score of 150 or greater that was achieved within the past two years of a completed application. Applicants must be admitted to the transferring jurisdiction, have graduated from an ABA approved law school, and achieved an MPRE score of 80 or greater. Please see the North Dakota Bar Reciprocity page for more information.
North Dakota Bar Exam Format
The North Dakota bar exam is the UBE. The bar exam takes two days and consists of the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”). North Dakota law is not tested on the North Dakota bar exam.
MPT (Performance Test)
North Dakota tests two (2) MPT performance tests.
MEE (Essays)
North Dakota tests six (6) MEE essays. Subjects may 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)
North Dakota 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
UBE and MBE Score Transfer
North Dakota allows admission based on a UBE scaled score of 260 or greater.
North Dakota allows admission based on a scaled score of 150 or greater that was achieved within the past two years of a completed application. Applicants must be admitted to the transferring jurisdiction, have graduated from an ABA approved law school, and achieved an MPRE score of 80 or greater. Please see the North Dakota Bar Reciprocity page for more information.
North Dakota 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)
North Dakota Bar Exam Dates and Application
The North Dakota bar exam in administered twice each year on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February (if offered) and July in Bismarck, North Dakota. There must be at least 10 applicants for the February exam to be administered. Applications can be found on the North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners’ Website.
| Exam Date | Application Deadline | Late Deadline |
Late, Late Deadline |
| February 21-22, 2017 | Dec. 1 | Dec. 15 | Jan. 1 |
| July 25-26, 2017 | March 15 | May 1 | June 1 |
Grading
North Dakota Bar Exam Weight
| MPT | 20% |
| MEE | 30% |
| MBE | 50% |
Grading Procedure
The MPT tests are weighted more than each individual essay.
Passing Score
The minimum passing score is a total score of 260 or greater. The bar exam results are generally released six weeks after the bar exam.
Pass Rates
Not currently available.
Review and Appeal for Applicants Failing the North Dakota Bar Exam
The applicable rules do not contain standards of review or instructions for appeals.
Retaking the North Dakota Bar Exam
Re-applicants must complete the supplemental bar application, which may be obtained from the University of North Dakota Law School or the North Dakota Board of Law Examiners.