Bar Exam
Bar Admissions
The Center for Professional Development has prepared the following summary for law students planning to take the bar exam. Requirements in different jurisdictions vary and the following is focused on bar admission in North Carolina.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides a comprehensive guide to bar admission requirements to bar admission offices throughout the United States.
Note: Requirements are subject to change. Please check state requirements regularly.
The Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina provides a guide to requirements for bar admission in North Carolina.
MPRE
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is required for bar admission in 47 of the 50 states, including North Carolina. Bar exam candidates must pass the MPRE before being admitted to practice law in North Carolina.
The MPRE is administered three times per year (March, August, and November) in test centers across the country. The MPRE is based on law governing the professional conduct of lawyers.
Elon Law students will take a two credit Professional Responsibility Course in the Spring of their second year to aide in preparation for taking the MPRE.
Visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners web page about the MPRE for more information on passing scores, rules and policies for taking the MPRE in North Carolina.
Bar Application
The North Carolina Bar Exam is given twice a year, in February and July, on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the month, at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina. Law students graduating in May will typically sit for the July Bar Exam. The filing period for the July North Carolina Bar Exam is typically January-March. The filing period for the February North Carolina Bar Exam is typically October-November. Exact dates of the filing periods are set by the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners and vary by year.
Taking the Bar in More than One State
Most states, including North Carolina will accept a concurrent score on the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). Applicants may be able to take two state bar exams during one summer or winter administration depending on the dates of the state exams they are taking. Please contact the bar admissions offices of the jurisdictions involved if planning to take the bar in more than one state. Additional information can be found here.
Reciprocity with Other State Bars
In many states, including North Carolina, an attorney licensed and practicing law for a period of time in one jurisdiction may be admitted to the bar in another jurisdiction without having to take another bar exam. Effective December 1, 2009, North Carolina has reciprocity with the following jurisdictions*:
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ALASKA ARKANSAS COLORADO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GEORGIA IDAHO IOWA KANSAS MASSACHUSETTS MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI |
NEBRASKA |
*The above-listed jurisdictions are subject to change. Please check with the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners and the specific jurisdiction for the most current information on jurisdictions having reciprocity with North Carolina.
Bar Review Courses
The following includes a sample of bar review programs designed to prepare students for the bar exam:
