Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Bar Exam is a 2-day exam.

Mandatory Registration: On the Monday before the examination, applicants are required to attend a mandatory registration.

Day 1: The exam may include parts of the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and may also include questions prepared by the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners.

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

Supreme Court of Wisconsin

Board of Bar Examiners
110 E. Main Street, Suite 715
Madison, WI 53701

Phone: (608) 266-9760

Fax: (608) 266-1196

Email: bbe@wicourts.gov

Web: https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/offices/bbe.htm

Bar Exam Location

Madison Marriott West
1313 John Q Hammons Dr.
Middleton, WI 53562

Subjects Tested

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

Not required for admission to Wisconsin bar.

Filing Deadlines and Fees

Deadlines vary slightly and are confirmed prior to publication of each bar exam application but, generally, the timely filing deadlines are early December for the February exam and early May for the July exam. Late application deadlines, with an additional fee, are early January for the February exam and early June for the July exam.

Bar Exam Application Fee: $450

On-Motion Application Fee: $850

Late Fee: $200

Scoring

The written portion is scaled to the MBE with the MBE weighted 50%. The written component of the exam may include performance on the MPT, the MEE, and/or locally developed essay questions. The composition and weight of these subcomponents may vary by exam administration. A total scaled score of 258 is required to pass.

Additional Information

Applicants may take exam prior to graduation if degree received within 60 days after exam.

Reciprocity

Acceptance of MBE Score

Applicant may transfer scaled MBE score of at least 135 if within 37 months and from a successful exam taken no more than 60 days before the J.D. was conferred.

Admission on Motion

May be admitted on motion if applicant has engaged in active practice of law for three of five years preceding application. For complete details contact the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

Admission by Diploma Privilege

Under diploma privilege, graduates of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School are admitted to the practice of law by complying with the terms of SCR 40.03—their school certifies their legal competence and the Board of Bar Examiners certifies their character and fitness for the practice of law.

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