Massachusetts Bar Examination (UBE)

Bar Exam Information

NOTE: Bar exam information is subject to change without notice. Please verify with Massachusetts bar examiner’s office.

BAR EXAM DATES AND FORMAT

2024: February 27-28, July 30-31

The Massachusetts Bar Exam is a 2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).

Day 1:

Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions in the AM.
Six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions in the PM.

Day 2:
Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM).

Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners

Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street, 1st Floor
Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 482-4466

Fax: (617) 542-5943

Email: info@bbe.state.ma.us

Web: www.mass.gov/bbe

Subjects Tested

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

Constitutional Law
Contracts/Sales
Criminal Law/Procedure
Evidence
Federal Civil Procedure
Real Property
Torts

Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)

Business Associations (Agency, Partnerships, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies)
Conflicts of Law
Family Law
Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests)
Secured Transactions (Article 9 of Uniform Commercial Code)
Plus, all MBE Subjects

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

Multistate Performance Test “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

A scaled score of 85 on the MPRE is required for admission and must be achieved prior to the bar application.

Scoring

The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE.

MBE weighted 50%
MEE weighted 30%
MPT weighted 20%

A total scaled score of 270 or higher is required to pass the Massachusetts Bar Exam.

Additional Requirements

Massachusetts Law Component (MLC)

Every person filing a Petition for Admission to the Massachusetts Bar Exam is required to pass the Massachusetts Law Component (MLC) as a condition for admission.

The MLC is a 50-question multiple-choice exam on key distinctions and essential highlights of Massachusetts law and procedure. The exam questions are based on substantive outlines provided by the Board of Bar Examiners covering ten topic areas.

Reciprocity

Acceptance of MBE Score

Massachusetts does not accept an MBE score from an exam taken in another jurisdiction.

Admission on Motion

A member in good standing of another U.S. state or territory may be admitted on motion in Massachusetts if the applicant has engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years preceding application. Additional requirements apply.

Admission by UBE Score Transfer

Applicants who have obtained a scaled score of at least 270 on a Uniform Bar Exam taken in another jurisdiction within the preceding three years may apply for admission based on that score. Additional requirements apply.

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