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South Dakota Bar Examination
Bar Exam Information
NOTE: Bar exam information is subject to change without notice. Please verify with South Dakota bar examiner’s office.
BAR EXAM DATES AND FORMAT
2024: February 27-28, July 30-31
The South Dakota Bar Exam is a 2-day exam.
Day 1:
- Five 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam questions
- One 30-minute Indian Law Essay Exam question (MEE/ILEE in the AM)
- Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test questions (MPT 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).
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners
State Capitol
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4898
Fax: (605) 773-8479
Web: https://ujs.sd.gov/
Subjects Tested
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
- 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
- Basic principles of Federal Indian Law, including but not limited to Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction
- Indian Civil Rights Act
- Indian Child Welfare Act
- Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
- Tribal laws or customary laws are not tested
Multistate Performance Test “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.
A scaled score of 85 is required for admission to the bar. Accepts previous MPRE score if within 28 months prior to next scheduled exam.
Scoring
Applicants must pass each portion of the examination. An average of 75% or higher on the combined MPT, MEE, and Indian Law portion is required; and a scaled score of at least 133 on the MBE portion is required.
An applicant may receive additional points on their MBE score, not to exceed three additional points, based on their score on the combined MPT, MEE and Indian Law portion of the examination as follows:
- 80 to 84 percent – one point
- 85 to 89 percent – two points
- 90 percent or more – three points
These additional points may not be transferred to a future exam.
An applicant who has failed only one portion of the exam may reapply to sit for only the failed portion. However, a passing score on one portion of the exam is only valid for two years.
Reciprocity
Acceptance of MBE Score
May accept an MBE score from another jurisdiction if taken within two years prior to the next scheduled exam, if applicant achieved a scaled score of at least 135 and passed the entire bar examination in the other jurisdiction.
Admission on Motion
A member in good standing of a reciprocating jurisdiction may be admitted on motion in South Dakota if the applicant has engaged in the active practice of law for three of the five years preceding application. Additional requirements apply.
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