Washington 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 Washington Bar Exam is a 2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
Day 1: Six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam questions (MEE in the AM) and 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).
Washington State Bar Association
1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101-2539
Phone: (206) 727-8209
Fax: (206) 727-8313
Email: admissions@wsba.org
Web: www.wsba.org
Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center
1516 Commerce St.
Tacoma, WA 98402
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
Multistate Performance Test “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.
Washington’s MPRE minimum pass score is 85. A passing score on the MPRE must be acquired no earlier than three years prior to, and no later than 40 months after, the date of the administration of the UBE in which the applicant achieves a passing score.
Filing Deadlines and Fees
The timely filing deadline for applications is October 5th for the February exam, and March 5th for the July exam. Applicants who register any time after the timely filing deadline must pay an additional late filing fee penalty. Late applications must be received, along with the late filing fee, by November 5th for the February exam, and April 5th for the July exam.
Exam Fee: $585
Attorney Applicants: $620 plus NCBE investigation fee
Late Filing Fee: additional $300
Scoring
The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE, with the MBE weighted 50%, the MEE 30% and the MPT 20%. The scores are combined to determine if the applicant has achieved a passing score of 270. The WLC minimum pass score is 80% correct. You may take the WLC through the online admissions site after filing the application and paying the application fee. Applicants must pass the WLC within 1 year of passing the UBE in Washington.
Reciprocity
Admission on Motion
Lawyers admitted to the practice of law in other states or territories of the United States or the District of Columbia are not required to sit for the bar examination if they present satisfactory proof of admission and current good standing, together with proof of active legal experience for at least three of the past five years immediately preceding the filing of the application.
Application for admission by motion under APR 3(c) may be filed online at anytime. Note that APR 5(b) requires that Admission by Motion applicants must complete the preadmission requirements within one year from the date of filing the application. After one year, applicants must submit a new application and fee. Applicants may withdraw the application at any time subject to a $300 non-refundable administrative fee. Fees paid to the National Conference of Bar Examiners are also non-refundable.
Admission by UBE
If you have a UBE score of 270 or higher from another state, and meet the qualification for the lawyer bar examination under APR 3(b), you can transfer your score to Washington for up to 40 months after the date of the administration of the UBE for which the score was earned. The MPRE score must be acquired three years before, or no later than 40 months after, the applicant achieves a passing score on the UBE. You must have sat for the full UBE. Washington only accepts official UBE score transcripts in their entirety. They do not accept score transfers for the individual test components, nor do they allow applicants to register for select parts of the exam.
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