Arkansas Bar Examination (UBE)
Bar Exam Information
NOTE: Bar exam information is subject to change without notice.
Please verify with bar examiner’s office.
BAR EXAM DATES AND FORMAT
2021: February 23 – 24, July 27 – 28
The Arkansas Bar Exam is a 2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
Day 1: Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions in the AM, and 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).
Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners
Arkansas Bar Admissions
2100 Riverfront Dr., Suite 110
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 374-1855
Website: https://www.arcourts.gov/administration/professional-programs/bar-exam
Statehouse Convention Center
101 E. Markham St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
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 is required for admission to the bar. Applicants may take the MPRE up to three years prior to the bar exam but must take it within one year after passing the bar exam.
Filing Deadlines and Fees
Applications must be filed by November 15 for the February exam and April 1 for the July exam. There will be no exceptions to the deadlines.
Bar Exam Application Fee: $1,000
On-Motion Application Fee: $1,500
UBE Transfer Fee: $1,500
Scoring
The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE with the MBE weighted 50%, the MEE weighted 30% and the MPT weighted 20%. A total scaled score of 270 is required to pass.
Reciprocity
Arkansas permits admission on motion, without examination, for applicants who have practiced for five of the preceding seven years, are admitted to practice and are a member in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, have received a J.D. or L.L.B. from an ABA-approved law school, have had their principal place of business for the two-year period immediately preceding application in a state permitting reciprocity, and have not taken and failed the Arkansas bar within the 5 years prior to their application. The candidate must have also received a minimum score of 85 on the MPRE. A list of reciprocal and non-reciprocal jurisdictions can be found here.
Admission on Motion
An applicant may be admitted on motion if applicant has been primarily engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the date of application, is a member in good standing and is a graduate of an ABA accredited law school. For complete details contact the Arkansas Board of Law Examiners.
Admission by UBE
UBE scores will be accepted for any UBE exam taken within 36 months of the date the Arkansas bar exam application is received. The Arkansas Board of Law Examiners started accepting applications in October 2019.
Acceptance of MBE Score
Arkansas does not accept an MBE score from an exam taken in another jurisdiction.
Need extra help passing the Uniform Bar Exam?
Individual private tutoring for the UBE
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Supreme Bar Review Director
Experienced Bar Exam Tutor
