How To Prepare For The New York Bar Exam

New York State Law Exam Format

• The New York Law Exam is a two hour, open book, multiple choice examination.
• Online examination which will allow you to enter the site five minutes prior to the 12:00 noon starting time. Once you type begin, the examination will start and you will have two hours to complete it. No backward navigation will be allowed. So, be careful to answer all questions.
• Tests New York law that is unique and different from the general law of the MBE and MEE .
• Subject areas tested: Administrative Law, Business Relationships, Civil Practice and Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Matrimonial and Family Law, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Torts and Tort Damages, and Trusts, Wills and Estates.
• A content outline will be posted on the BOLE web site.
• Passing score is 30 out of 50 questions correct.
• If you fail the NYLE, you must repeat the NYLC and the NYLE.

Structure & Layout Of The Bar Exam

The bar exam is a grueling, two-day examination: 6-hours each day. Stamina and endurance under timed pressure will be crucial elements to passing the exams. There are three different components to the Uniform Bar Exam :

• Multistate Essay Exam topics include:Business Association Agency & Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Companies, Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trust & Estates Wills & Trusts, Future Interests, Uniform Commercial Code. These are tested on day one only .

• Multistate Performance Test Tests the practical element of being a lawyer. All information needed to complete the question is supplied in the question.

• Multistate Bar Exam Topics Include:Federal Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts/ Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property & Torts. These are tested on day one and two. 200 multiple choice questions across 8 subjects. They are mixed. No labels for the question. Your mind will need to be racing through all the laws to issue-spot which area the examiners are testing.

Overview Of Bar Admission

Admission to the bar is conducted through the Board of Bar Examiners of the state in which you are applying. While the admission process may vary significantly from state to state, the process usually involves:

• Applying to sit for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination and taking the MPRE
• Applying to sit for the bar exam and taking the bar exam and
• Completing your states character and fitness process and any additional admission prerequisites.

LL.M. students should make sure that they are eligible to take that states bar exam and file the requisite evaluation request and designated official documents sufficiently in advance of the applicable bar exam date. Students seeking information about eligibility based on foreign legal education may want to consult Chart 4 of .

Because procedures vary by state, you will not receive emails from HLS about upcoming deadlines, but there are a number of resources available to help you navigate the process. The following chart will give you a quick overview of relevant resources and offices at HLS.

Begin your search by visiting the NCBE site, which contains information about deadlines and requirements for different jurisdictions. It is important that you routinely check your states bar admission page, as deadlines and requirements may change throughout the year and state committees are not flexible about waiving requirements.

Recommended Reading: How To Win The New York Lottery

What Is The New York Bar Exam Schedule Breakdown

Day One: MPT and MEE

The morning session of the first day of the New York bar exam occurs from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., and the afternoon session occurs from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. The New York bar exam format for the first day consists of the Multistate Performance Test and the Multistate Essay Exam . The National Conference of Bar Examiners provide the MPT and the MEE.

During the morning session, the New York bar examiners administer two MPT questions. You have three hours to answer both questions. Although you can use this time as you choose, the New York bar examiners estimate using 90 minutes for each MPT item.

During the afternoon session, the New York bar exam format consists of six MEE essay questions. You have three hours to answer all six questions. Although you can use this time as you choose, the New York bar examiners estimate using 30 minutes per essay question

Day Two: MBE

The morning session of the second day of the New York bar exam occurs from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., and the afternoon session occurs from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. During each of the 3-hour sessions, you must answer 100 mixed-subject multiple-choice questions on the Multistate Bar Exam , which is drafted by the NCBEX.

Do Anything Other Than Study During Test Days

I know that this will be a tough piece of advice to follow, but it is worth giving yourself a break from studying before your 12-hour exam. A light review of the material I would agree is fine, but it may not be the best use of your time and energy trying to cram for one point of law.

Regardless of the location you are taking the exam, use this day to relax. You have done more than enough to get yourself over the curve and will pass the exam. Catch up on your favorite TV shows that have been put on the back burner for the past couple months. Watch a movie or two. Go to the gym and get a little exercise in. Treat yourself to a good meal. Set out the clothes that you will wear for the next day and ensure that you have only permitted items in your clear plastic bag. Definitely dont sacrifice a good nights rest. Remember that you can only push yourself so far.

Read Also: How Much Is A Flight To Italy From New York

Bar Exam Prep Course Guide

Most importantly, get my guide on how to choose your best bar exam prep course. Its a five-step roadmap .

This one-page guide leads all the way to the course that helped me efficiently pass the New York bar exam on the first try.

Now, be sure to discover my how-to guide followed by exam tips right here:

How To Prepare For The Health Information Technology Exam

Preparing for and taking the bar exam can be a difficult, time-consuming and stressful process. Each year, many law graduates decide to take both the New York and New Jersey bar exams concurrently. Choosing to take more than one bar exam increases the difficulty, stress and time needed to prepare for the exam. However, with careful planning and preparation, bar examinees can establish a plan for taking and passing both the New York State and New Jersey exams.

Research what days the New York State and New Jersey bar exams will be given. Historically, taking the New York and New Jersey bar exam is a three-day process. On the first day, the New York State essay portion is taken. On the second day, the Multi-state Bar Exam is taken, and on the third day, the New Jersey essay portion is taken.

Register early for both state exams. Most students will want to take the exam in New York City, to minimize travel time to New Jersey. Early registration helps ensure that you get the testing center of your choice.

Sign up for a bar review course or obtain bar review study materials at least eight weeks in advance. Consider signing up for a New York bar review course, as the New Jersey essay portion tests multi-state topics, as well as civil procedure. The New York essay portion is much more inclusive it tests many different areas of law. By studying for the New York exam, you will be studying for the New Jersey exam as well.

Recommended Reading: Watch Kourtney And Kim Take New York

If An Official Transcript Is Required For Me To Take The Bar Will One Be Sent Automatically

No. If you need to have a transcript sent to any Board of Bar Examiners, you must request one online or at the Registrars Office. Recent graduates of Harvard Law School are eligible to receive up to ten free transcripts per month when they order online, so having a transcript sent will not cost you anything. Please visit the Registrars Office Transcript Request Page to order transcripts.

Complete Application For Admission/character And Fitness Investigation

Bar admission involves not only, e.g., passing the UBE, MPRE, and NYLE, and meeting the required LLM coursework and pro bono requirements, but also meeting the New York character and fitness requirement. New York States Board of Law Examiners must be satisfied that your background meets certain standards of conduct. To assess these qualities, you will be required to provide detailed information about your background. If the bar examiners believe that the information you provide reflects poorly on your character or fitness, they will require additional investigation.

Shortly after sitting for the UBE, you will receive admission application forms from the Supreme Court, Appellate Division. These application forms serve as the basis for inquiry by the Committees on Character and Fitness into your character and fitness to be a member of the Bar. The Application for Admission Questionnaire seeks information on the following topics: education and employment history bar admissions U.S. military record criminal record civil matters child support financial defaults licenses prior oaths or codes of professional responsibility. In addition, you will be required to submit: two good moral character affidavits from persons who have been known to you for not less than two years a form affidavit for each law-related employment or period of solo practice completed by your employer and a form law school certificate complete by YLS.

Don’t Miss: Where Is The Wax Museum In New York

Whats The Format Of The Ube

The Uniform Bar Exam is administered twice each year in New York . The examination is administered over two days, in four, three-hour sessions. The UBE has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam , the Multistate Essay Exam , and the Multistate Performance Test .

MBE

The MBE is a six hour test and consists of 200 multiple choice questions that test your understanding across seven subjects. Your MBE score comprises 50% of your overall UBE score.

Watch Crushendos free MBE tips video.

MEE

The MEE consists of six 30-minute legal essays. The MEE makes up 30% of your score.Essay topics may include the following: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Property, Secured Transactions, Torts, Trusts, Unincorporated Business Entities, Wills and Estates, etc.

Crushendo offers the most recent MEE questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendos free MEE tips video.

MPT

The MPT consists of two 90-minute tasks where you analyze and apply laws to specific scenarios. The MPT makes up 20% of your score. Crushendo offers the most recent MPT questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendos free MPT tips video.

Uniform Bar Exam Format

Day 1 morning – 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 2 Multistate Performance Test questions suggested 90 minutes each

Day 1 afternoon – 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6 Multistate Essay exam essays suggested 30 minutes each

Passing score is 266 for New York.

The grading breakdown is 50% for the MBE, 30% for the MEE, and 20% for the MPT.

Don’t Miss: Submit To The New York Times

Nylc & nyle Course Materials & Sample Questions

The NYLC/NYLE Course Materials are locked in a non-searchable format in accordance with the Boards misconduct rule prohibiting candidates from electronically searching the Course Materials when taking the NYLE. If a candidate, because of a disability, uses a screen reader to access written material, please contact the Board office by phone , mail, or fax.

I Cant Pass The New York Bar Exam What Should I Do

I Cant Pass The New York Bar Exam! What Should I Do?: Have you sat for the New York Bar exam already only to find out you did not pass the exam? Do you feel that you cant pass the New York bar exam? This is an incredibly stressful and frustrating feeling, but know that you are not the only one who is feeling this way. Below we provide you with some advice on studying for the bar exam again.

I Cant Pass The New York Bar Exam! What Should I Do?

1. Review your score report.

New York is a Uniform Bar Exam jurisdiction. In order to pass, examinees need a minimum scaled score of 266. The MBE is worth 50%, the MEE is worth 30% and the MPTs are worth 20%. If you were to perform equally on all sections of the exam, this would mean obtaining a scaled score of 133 on the MBE and a 133 on the written portion of the exam . See how far away you were on each section from a scaled score of 133. When reviewing your score report, see whether you did better on the multiple choice, essays or MPT. This will help you decide how to develop your study strategy. To learn more about your score, take a look at our post on how to review your UBE score report.

2. Write to the New York State Board of Law Examiners to order your answers to the essays and MPT.

With respect to the MPT, add up your scaled scores for the MPTs and divide by two this will give you your average scaled score for all of your MPTs. If its 50 or more, you passed this section.

Also Check: How To Pay A Ticket Online New York

A Foreign Lawyer’s Guide To Taking The New York Bar Exam #1

Attorney-at-law | Trainee Solicitor at Baker McKenzie | MCL , LLB

One of the most popular legal dramas of our time – ‘Suits’ – depicts the lives of top-paid New York lawyers with luxurious lifestyles, and it sparks many people’s interest in a career in commercial law. While the show may not be a true reflection of the legal profession as a whole, the good news is that every one of you can become a New York-qualified lawyer irrespective of where you are from or currently reside.

1. Are You Eligible?

I get asked this question almost every day! In general, you are eligible to take the bar exam if you have a qualifying law degree that is durationally and substantively equivalent to a JD degree in the US. A full-time, three-year LLB degree in common law countries should usually suffice. But if you completed your law degree in a civil law country, you may need to do a LLM in the US to be eligible.

In any event, you should first submit an online evaluation form to the New York State Board of Examiners for them to evaluate: . To complete this process, you need to ask your law school to send a signed letter directly to the New York authority, certifying that you already graduated from that law school and completed certain hours of classes, and you have successfully completed the academic stage of legal training in your home country.

2. How Many Exams Do You Have To Take In Total?

2.1. Uniform Bar Examination

3. Cost?

What Is The Difference Between The Ny Bar Exam And The New Ny Uniform Bar Exam

The New York Bar Exam includes questions about New York State Law while the New York Uniform Bar Exam covers general, “multistate” legal principles.

The New York Bar Exam was the standard bar exam used in New York state prior to the July 2016 administration of the bar exam. The New York Uniform Bar Exam is now standard.

The New York Bar Exam included a five-essay state essay section, 200-question multistate multiple choice section, a 50-question state multiple choice section, and the “multistate performance test”.

The New York Uniform Bar Exam includes a six-essay multistate essay section, two multistate “performance tests”, and a 200-question multistate multiple choice section .

Note that, in order to be admitted to the bar in New York, applicants must also take and pass the New York Law Exam , which is a separate multiple choice test covering only New York state law.

Don’t Miss: Where Is The Wax Museum In New York

Sign Up For A Bar Review Course

Most students who sit for the bar take a review course in the summer prior to the exam. Because the bar examination is very rigorous, LLM students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a review course to help them prepare. A list of review courses is available on the FindLaw for Legal Professionals website. BAR/BRI and Themis Bar Review are popular courses at YLS. Some programs offer review courses specifically for foreign attorneys. Although these services are expensive, some employers will pay for their recruits to take a bar review course. These review programs can also assist you in preparing for the MPRE exam.

Set Yourself Up For Test Day Success

Dont rely on your phone. Take advantage of the hotels wake-up calls . You definitely dont want to wake up only to realize that you overslept because your phone died or turned itself off throughout the night.

Take a shower. This tip speaks for itself be fresh, not only for yourself but also as a courtesy for others sitting around you.

Eat breakfast. Balance is key. Provide your body with enough nutrients to last until lunch. Also pack a light snack in case you get hungry during testing.

Follow the rules. Because the policy changes constantly from one test to another, you will want to double check New Yorks security policy regarding permitted and non-permitted items .

Arrive early . Leave your backpack, phone, notes, and other prohibited items in your hotel room so that you arent pushing and shoving for space in the personal belongings room as if it were New Years Eve in Times Square.

Make sure ExamSoft is working. Ideally, you will have already tested your software prior to test day by downloading and uploading the mock exam. Dont risk dealing with delays or potentially having to handwrite your exam for 6 hours like some of the February 2018 testers experienced.

Let these tips be a resource for you. Good Luck!

Note for bar-preppers: Visit the ABAs Bar Prep Program page for exclusive offers discounts exclusive content bar review providers.

Also Check: New York Times Paywall Smasher For Google Chrome