Pennsylvania Bar Examination
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 Pennsylvania Bar Exam is a 2-day exam.
Day 1: Two 45-minute Pennsylvania Essay Exam questions, plus one 90-minute Performance Test (PT) question in the AM, four 45-minute Pennsylvania Essay Exam 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).
Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 3600
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0901
Phone: (717) 231-3350
Fax: (717) 231-3351
Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Pittsburgh
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Harrisburg – July Exam Only
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
2300 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Subjects Tested
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
- Business Organizations (including Corporations, Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and Professional Corporations)
- PA Civil Procedure
- Conflict of Laws
- PA DUI Law
- Employment Discrimination (Title VII, ADA and ADEA)
- Family Law
- Federal Income Taxation
- PA Evidence
- PA Rules of Professional Responsibility
- Trusts and Decedents’ Estates
- U.C.C. Article II Sales
- Wills
- Plus all MBE subjects
“Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.
A scaled score of 75 on the MPRE is required for admission.
Filing Deadlines and Fees
For the February exam, applications should be submitted by October 30, but can be postmarked as late as December 15 by paying higher application fees. For the July exam, applications should be submitted by April 15, but can be submitted as late as May 30 by paying higher application fees.
Exam Fees: Timely fee (October 30 for February, April 15 for July) is $650.
First late Fee: (November 15 for February, April 30 for July) is $800.
Second late Fee: (November 30 for February, May 15 for July) is $1,100.
Final late Fee: (December 15 for February, May 30 for July) is $1,500.
Scoring
Applicants need a combined minimum scaled score of 272 to pass the exam. The combined essay and PT scaled score count as 55% of the total score and the scaled MBE is 45% of the total.
Additional Requirements
BRIDGE THE GAP PROGRAM
Newly admitted lawyers must complete the four-hour Bridge the Gap program prior to their first CLE compliance deadline.
Reciprocity
Acceptance of MBE Score
Pennsylvania does not accept an MBE score from an exam taken in another jurisdiction.
Admission on Motion
May be admitted without exam from states admitting attorneys from Pennsylvania without exam. After admission in reciprocal state, must have practiced (including teaching in any accredited U.S. law school) for at least five of seven years immediately preceding application. Must also be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school. Visit pabarexam.org for listing of states and jurisdictions that have reciprocity with Pennsylvania. Applicants must meet the requirements of Rule 204 to qualify.
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