new york bar exam essays

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New York Bar Exam

Written by: Nik Ventouris

Last updated: February 5, 2024

Passing the  New York bar exam  is an essential part of being admitted into the state’s bar and beginning a successful career practicing law.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to get started, including:

• The bar exam’s eligibility criteria, content, and structure
• The steps you can take in order to give yourself the best chance of passing on your first attempt
• The additional requirements you’ll need to satisfy in order to become admitted into the state’s bar

We’ll also briefly look at the process of getting admitted without a completed law degree.

Recommended:  Interested in getting started? We recommend Kaplan’s bar exam preparation materials, which come with a free retake guarantee, interactive and flexible learning, and lawyer-led tutoring.

New York Bar Exam Overview

The bar examination in the state of New York is administered via the New York State Board of Law Examiners, which has been in existence since 1894 – over 125 years ago.

The State Board’s operations are overseen by a five-member Board of Attorneys, which is appointed by the New York Court of Appeals.

If you are interested in sitting the bar exam in NY, you should know that exams are administered twice per annum, on the last consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday of each February and July.

Registrations need to be carried out between October 1 and October 31 for the February exam cycle and between March 1 and March 31 for the July exam cycle.

Keep in mind that in order to be eligible for the NY bar exam, you will need to satisfy one of the following criteria according to Section 520 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals:

• ABA Approved Law School Study (JD Graduates) : Attend and graduate from a law school in the US, which at all times during your attendance is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Law Office Study:  Complete a combination of ABA-approved law school study and law office study.
• Unapproved Law School Study:  Graduate from an unapproved law school in the US with a JD degree and practice in a jurisdiction where you are admitted for 5 out of the seven years preceding your NY bar exam application.
• Foreign Law School Study:  Complete a program of study at a law school outside the US that is durationally and substantially commensurate to an ABA-approved law school.
• Pro Bono Scholars Program : If you are currently in your last year of JD at an ABA-approved law school, you may be able to qualify to sit for the February bar exam in return for devoting your last semester of study to performing pro bono legal services through an approved program.

Note: First-time applicants who have graduated with a JD degree from a New York State law school will be given first priority to select their desired location when registering for the bar exam.

New York Exam Structure

Since 2016, the state of New York has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which adheres to the following structure:

• Multistate Performance Test (MPT): Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test Questions (20%)
• Multistate Essay Examination (MEE): Six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam questions (30%)

Day 2: 

• Multistate Bar Examination (MBE): 200-question multiple-choice exam (50%)

The UBE exam is scored out of 400 points, 266 of which need to be answered correctly in order for a candidate to receive a passing mark.

Moreover, candidates will be required to pass the following supplementary exams and complete the following course in order to be eligible for the New York bar:

Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)

• New York Law Course (NYLC)
• New York Law Exam (NYLE)

Below, we’ve broken down the content and structure of each exam-related requirement in more detail.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The MPT is made up of two 90-minute parts, and the materials for each part contain a “File” and a “Library.”

The File consists of source documents that contain all of the facts of a specific case.

As the examinee, the assignment that you will need to complete will be described in a memorandum from a supervising attorney.

The File can also include things like transcripts of interviews, depositions, pleadings, trials, client documents, newspaper articles, police reports, and any other similar documents.

Keep in mind that irrelevant information is generally included, and facts are sometimes incomplete, ambiguous, or even conflicting.

This is meant to mirror legal practice, in which a client’s or supervising attorney’s version of events may be unreliable or entirely incomplete. In such a scenario, you will be expected to recognize when facts are inconsistent or missing in the exam and identify sources of additional facts.

The Library part contains things like cases, statutes, and regulations, some of which may also not be relevant to the task that you will be assigned. You will need to be able to extract the legal principles required to analyze the legal problem you’ll be presented with and perform the requested task.

For more information, you can have a look at the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Instructions for Taking the MPT document.

Free summaries of MPTs from recent examinations are also offered (e.g., MPT Summaries of 2023 ).

Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)

The MEE consists of six 30-minute sections that can cover a variety of legal areas, including:

• Civil Procedure
• Business Associations (e.g., Agency and Partnership, LLCs, Corporations, etc.)
• Conflict of Laws
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Trust and Estates

Keep in mind that questions can often include issues in more than one area of law. This means that it’ll be important to ensure that you have a “wide” range of understanding rather than a deep focus on one or two subjects.

Note: For more information, have a look at the NCBE’s official Instructions for Taking the MEE document or check out a few official MEE questions .

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

The MBE is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions, which are broken down into 175 scored questions and 25 unscored questions.

The exam is broken down into two three-hour sections, with one administered in the morning and one in the afternoon, both of which contain 100 questions each.

Keep in mind that there are no scheduled breaks during either one of the sections.

All 175 scored questions on the exam are distributed evenly, with 25 questions being attributed to each of the following seven topics:

• Real Property
• Criminal Law and Procedure

Each question on the MBE exam will have four potential answers. You should choose what you believe is the best answer — keep in mind that scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly, and points are not subtracted for answering incorrectly.

If you want to have a look at the exact format, you can have a look at the NCBE’s official MBE Sample Test Questions document.

Recommended Course

Interested in getting started? We recommend Kaplan’s bar exam preparation materials, which come with a free retake guarantee, interactive and flexible learning, and lawyer-led tutoring.

The MPRE is made up of 60 multiple-choice questions (50 scored questions and 10 unscored questions) and is administered via Pearson VUE.

Like the MBE exam, each question offers four possible answers, one of which is correct.

The exam’s content is based on law that relates to the conduct and discipline of attorneys and judges and includes the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as important constitutional common law and generally accepted principles.

In relation to questions of professional responsibility in the context of evidentiary issues (e.g., litigation sanctions, attorney-client evidentiary privilege, etc.), the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence will apply  unless otherwise stated .

Note:  You will have two hours to complete the MPRE exam in its entirety.

For more information, we recommend having a look at the NCBE’s Official  Sample Test Questions  document. A holistic  Subject Matter Outline  is also offered.

NYLC and NYLE

Following a statement from the Court of Appeals, the New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) created the New York Law Course (NYLC), as well as the New York Law Exam (NYLE) — both of which relate to NY-specific law.

Below, we’ve broken down everything you need to know for each one.

The NYLC is an online course that covers important aspects of the New York legal system, including:

• Administrative Law
• Business Relationships
• Matrimonial and Family Law
• Professional Responsibility
• Trusts, Wills, and Estates

The course entails around 15 hours of videotaped lectures that contain embedded questions. Keep in mind that each lecture’s questions will need to be answered correctly in order to begin the next one.

The NYLE is a 50-question, multiple-choice, open-book exam that is offered four times per annum.

Keep in mind that failing the NYLE will result in you having to retake both the NYLC and the NYLE.

BOLE notes that the NYLE exam is rigorous even though it’s administered in an open-book format. This means that, in addition to the NYLC, it is recommended that you have a look and take some time going over the revised  Course Materials  that are offered.

Note:  The New York State Board of Law Examiners additionally offers a  Sample Questions  document with 20 questions.

How to Pass the NY Bar Exam

In order to give yourself the best chance of passing the New York UBE exam on your first attempt, it’s important to take enough time to make sure that you are adequately prepared.

New York Bar Exam Tips

Despite the infamous difficulty of NY’s bar exam, passing it on your first attempt is definitely possible with the right tools and preparation techniques.

Below, we’ve broken down a few key tips that should aid you in your licensing journey:

• Start Strong in Your First Year:  This is important due to the fundamental areas of law practice that the first year of law school generally covers, such as Contract Law, Tort, and Constitutional Law
• Leverage Academic Support : If your law school offers additional support services that are aimed at improving your preparation, we recommend utilizing these as much as possible. This can involve one-on-one tutoring, academic counseling, and mock exam programs
• Obtain Practical Legal Experience : If possible, we recommend gaining as much practical experience as you can during law school (i.e., through summer internships, mock trials, etc.). This is because this can go a long way in cementing your legal knowledge
• Adopt a Broad Study Approach:  When studying for the bar, you should aim for a wide-ranging understanding of various subjects rather than an in-depth study of a few. This is important due to the huge amount of content that you will need to learn and/or will be tested on

Most importantly, make sure you remain consistent so that you do not have to resort to last-minute cramming.

Research has shown that we are able to retain a higher degree of information – and more easily – when revisiting old content in comparison to when learning it for the first time. This is known as Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve.

Other New York Bar Requirements

Apart from qualifying for and passing the New York bar exam, there are several other requirements you will need to meet in order to become a licensed attorney in the state, including:

• Completing the Mandatory 50-Hour Pro Bono Requirement
• Satisfying the Skills Competency Requirement
• Providing Proof of Moral Character

1. 50-Hour Pro Bono Requirement

In accordance with Rule 520.16 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals, every applicant admitted to the New York State Bar on or after January 1, 2015, shall need to have completed at least 50 hours of “qualifying” pro bono work. This can be done within one of the US’s jurisdictions or in a foreign country.

Qualifying pro bono work is defined in section 520.16 (b), which includes:

Assisting in the provision of legal services without charge:

• Persons of limited means
• Nonprofit organizations
• Individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or promote access to justice (e.g., civil rights, civil liberties, etc.)

Assisting in the provision of legal assistance in public service for a judicial, executive, or legislative government entity (i.e., judge, prosecutor, etc.).

Keep in mind that supervision is required, and as such, all qualifying pro bono work will need to be performed under the supervision of:

• A member of a law school faculty
• An attorney admitted to practice and in good standing in a US jurisdiction
• A judge or attorney employed by the court system (e.g., in the case of a clerkship)

Note:  Work that relates to partisan political activities does not qualify for New York’s 50-hour pro bono requirement.

2. Skills Competency Requirement

In accordance with Section 520.18 of the Rules for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law, all candidates are required to establish that they have acquired the skills and professional values that are necessary to competently practice law.

This requirement can be satisfied via a variety of different methods, such as by:

• Submitting a certificate from an ABA-approved law school that confirms that it has incorporated into its curriculum the skills and professional values that are required for graduates’ “basic competence and ethical participation” in legal practice
• Submitting a certificate from an ABA-approved law school that confirms you enrolled in and successfully completed 15 credit hours of practice-based experiential courses that were designed to foster the development of professional and ethical competencies
• Completing the Pro Bono Scholars Program of section 520.17, which is a voluntary component of legal education that allows students in their final semester of study to become involved in work that relates to amplifying individuals’ access to justice
• Completing a qualifying apprenticeship. This is a six-month full-time apprenticeship in a law office in the US under the supervision of one or more attorneys who have been licensed for a minimum of two years. Keep in mind that the apprenticeship does not have to be paid
• Having practiced in another US jurisdiction or in a foreign jurisdiction outside of the US. Keep in mind that you will need to submit proof that you have been operating for at least one year and are in good standing with your jurisdiction in order to qualify

Since the state’s skill competency requirement can be satisfied via any of the methods mentioned above, most candidates end up picking the route that organically makes sense for them, depending on their existing credentials and short-term plans.

3. Proof of Moral Character

Every applicant for the New York bar will need to provide proof of good moral character.

This is done by submitting affirmations from reputable sources to a special committee appointed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court that confirm that you have the moral character and fitness needed to operate ethically as an attorney in accordance with section 90 of the Judiciary Law.

Keep in mind that the Appellate Division decides how many affirmations are needed, as well as who qualifies to provide them (e.g., who can be a “reputable source”).

Note:  Affirmations alone aren’t a guarantee that you will pass this requirement, and the Appellate Division can choose to conduct further investigations if necessary before making a final decision.

Admission on Motion (Reciprocity)

Section 520.10 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law allows admission “on motion” or reciprocity without examination under specific circumstances.

This means that if you are currently licensed and in good practice in another US jurisdiction or a foreign country, you may be able to become admitted into the NY bar without having to retake an exam (a $400 fee is levied for this).

Let’s take a look at a few of the scenarios in which the Appellate Court can decide to admit applicants in motion/without an exam:

• Applicants that have been admitted to practice in the highest law court in any other state or territory of the US. This is generally each state’s supreme court
• Applicants that have been admitted to practice in another country whose judicial system is based upon the principles of English common law (e.g., the UK, Cyprus, Singapore, etc.), are currently admitted to the bar in such jurisdiction and have practiced for at least five of the seven years immediately preceding your application
• Applicants that have been employed in any state or US territory as a full-time member of the law faculty teaching in an ABA-approved law school and have attained the rank of professor or associate professor for at least five of the seven years preceding the application

Note:  There are certain jurisdictions that have entered into specific formation reciprocity agreements with New York and have established specific standards for admission on motion. These can be more lenient than the general rules for admission discussed above (e.g., New Jersey and New York, etc.).

A full list of reciprocity states for New York can be found below:

For more information, you can have a look at the New York State Board of Law Examiners’  Admission on Motion/Reciprocity  page.

New York Bar Exam FAQ

Can you take the bar without going to law school in new york.

Yes and no. You can be admitted into the New York bar without sitting an examination as a candidate “in motion,” but that would assume that you have practiced and/or studied in another jurisdiction. If this is not the case, you can choose to complete one year of law school in combination with three years of law office study (Section 520.4), but you will not be able to omit law school entirely.

How long is the New York bar exam?

New York administers the UBE exam, which spans over two separate days. Having said that, you will also need to complete additional exam requirements, including the MPRE, the NYLC, and the NYLE. For more New York bar exam information, see our  overview  above.

How hard is it to pass the New York State bar examination?

Passing the New York  bar exam  is undoubtedly very challenging, but it is definitely doable with the right preparation. As of the latest data issued by the New York State Board of Law Examiners, first-time takers from NY ABA law schools had an 81% pass rate. This was 85% for out-of-state ABA law schools and 52% for foreign-educated takers.

How much does the NY bar exam cost?

This will depend on where you studied law. If you studied in the US, your application fee will be $250; this is $750 for applicants who studied outside the US. You will also need to pay $27 for taking the NYLE.

Bar Exam Resources: New York

• Practice Exams and Books
• Multistate Exams and Other States
• Uniform Bar Exam
• Commercial Bar Exam Courses

Free MBE Questions

• Bar Prep Hero Provides a review and preparation program that deals with the MBE part of the test, which covers all testing administered on day one of the bar examination.

NY Law Exam

Among other requirements , candidates for admission to the New York bar must take the New York Law Course (NYLC) and the New York Law Exam (NYLE).

The NYLC is a prerequisite to the NYLE.   More information is available on the BOLE website .

The NYLE will be offered four times per year. The dates and times of administration of the NYLE in 2019 are:

• March 21, 2019, 12:00 pm EST
• June 13, 2019, 12:00 pm EST
• Sept. 26, 2019, 12:00 pm EST
• Dec. 19, 2019, 12:00 pm EST
• Information about Course Materials for NYLC and NYLE
• Course Materials for the NYLC/NYLE
• Sample Questions for the NYLE
• Introduction to New York Law Course "[NYLC] is an online, on demand course on important and unique principles of New York law in the following subjects: Administrative Law, Business Relationships, Civil Practice and Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Matrimonial and Family Law, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Torts and Tort Damages, and Trusts, Wills and Estates. Completion of the NYLC is required in order to obtain a license to practice law in the State of New York."

General Information

• New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) Information about applying for the bar, bar exam results, old bar exam questions and answers.
• Advisory Committee on the Uniform Bar Examination "The Advisory Committee on the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) was created by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to comprehensively examine a proposal to adopt the UBE as part of the New York bar examination. A study committee chaired by the Honorable Jenny Rivera, Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, and comprised of representatives of law schools, the bar, the judiciary and the State Board of Law Examiners, is considering this proposal."
• Preparing for the Bar Exam Advice from the Academic Support Program at Pace Law School.
• Reports and Press Releases from NY BOLE Press releases, bar passage rate statistics, and reports from the BOLE.
• Bar Exam Results (BOLE) Alphabetical list of candidates who passed the bar.
• Which Bar Prep Course is the Best? Brian Dalton provides information about the major bar prep providers for Above the Law. He analyzes variables including cost, format, guarantees, discounts, and pass rate. Keep in mind that you can sometimes negotiate a better price than what is listed.
• Developing Legal Careers and Delivering Justice in the 21st Century Report by the NYC Bar Association Task Force on New Lawyers in a Changing Profession, issued Fall 2013. Discusses changes to the NY bar exam to reflect the needs of the profession, including dropping UCC article 3 (negotiable instruments) in July 2014 and adding administrative law in February 2015.

New Book on Reserve

This guide was created by Cynthia Pittson and is currently maintained by Pace Law Library Reference Librarians.

Description of UBE Administered in NY

From the BOLE website :

The UBE is administered on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.

During the morning session on Tuesday , applicants are given three hours to complete two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) items. Applicants may work on the MPTs in any order and they are free to decide how to allocate their time between the two MPT items although NCBE develops each MPT as a 90 minute test item.

During the afternoon session on Tuesday , applicants are given three hours to answer six Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions. Again, applicants are free to answer the questions in any order and they may decide how to allocate their time among the MEE questions.

On Wednesday , applicants will take the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which is a six-hour, 200 question multiple-choice exam divided into two three-hour sessions.

The schedule for the UBE in New York is as follows:

• Tuesday: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

The July 2019 bar exam is scheduled for the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the month, July 30-31, 2019.

• MEE (essays) = 30% of score

Passing score for NY on the UBE is 266.

MBE, MEE, and MPT Multistate Exams

• MBE Information about the Multistate Bar Examination, a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination covering contracts, torts, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, evidence, and real property.
• MBE Preparation Includes sample test questions.
• MBE Subject Matter Outline Updated for 2020
• MEE Multistate Essay Exam, part of the UBE.
• MEE Preparation Includes sample test questions.
• MEE Subject Matter Outline Updated for 2019.
• MPT The Multistate Performance Test consists of two 90-minute skills questions covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.
• MPT Summaries 2012-2018 Provides a description of the MPT, an outline of the skills tested, and summaries of previously administered tests.
• Questions & Sample Answers 2004-2018, NY Bar Examiners
• Sample MPT & MEE Questions with Answers From NJ Board of Bar Examiners
• Sample MPT & MEE Questions with Answers (July 2019) From NJ Board of Bar Examiners
• MPT Feb. 1998
• MPT July 1998

Nuts and Bolts of the NY Bar Exam

• Next: Practice Exams and Books >>
• Last Updated: Jul 28, 2023 1:28 PM
• URL: https://libraryguides.law.pace.edu/barexam

NEW YORK BAR EXAM TUTOR

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Uniform Bar Exam Tutoring

Professor Monica Kipiniak has been preparing law students to pass the bar exam for more than 20 years. She has appeared at law schools throughout New York State to discuss bar exam preparation, has lectured and developed exam preparation materials for various leading bar review courses, and currently teaches at New York Law School.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners

The New York Board of Law Examiners

nybarexam.org

MONICA E. KIPINIAK

Buffalo (February & July)

Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center 153 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

New York City (February & July)

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Exhibition Hall 3E 11th Avenue at West 35th Street, Manhattan

Saratoga Springs (July)

Saratoga City Center 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

White Plains (February & July)

Pace Law School/New York State Judicial Institute 78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603

*Learn more about NY bar exam test sites .

New York Bar Exam Application

Are you interested in taking the New York bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the New York bar exam.

Other Requirements

The New York bar exam application fee for most takers is $250 . Foreign applicants have to pay $750. The application cost for UBE score transfer applicants is $250 . The NCBE charges $25 for each UBE score transcript .

For those who desire to use a laptop to write their essays there is an additional fee of $100.

*See the New York State Bar Exam Information Guide for more information.

If you desire to take the bar exam in February , you should submit your bar exam application in November . If you want to take the July bar exam, you should submit your application in April .

*There’s no limit on how many times you can take the New York bar exam.

In addition to passing the New York bar exam with a score of at least 266, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in New York, including:

• Score 85 or higher on the MPRE within the accepted time frame.
• Complete an online course called the New York Law Course (NYLC).
• Pass an online test  called the New York Law Exam (NYLE).
• Complete 50 hours of qualifying pro bono service ( learn more).
• Satisfy the Skills Competency Requirement ( learn more ).
• Satisfy the character and fitness requirements.

New York State Board of Law Examiners

Physical address:

New York State Board of Law Examiners Corporate Plaza Building 3 254 Washington Avenue Extension Albany, New York 12203-5195

Phone number: (518) 453-5990

Mailing address:

New York Bar Exam: What to Bring

What to bring

• Your official government issued photo ID (U.S. driver’s license or passport) .
• Your seat ticket (print it online before the exam). The seat number on your seat ticket is your only form of identification used for the grading process.

Important notes

• You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions.
• You must carry all permitted items into the testing center in one clear, re-sealable plastic food bag (photo ID, seat ticket, etc.).

Permitted items

• No. 2 pencils and erasers
• Blue or black ink pens (on the essay day only)
• Foam earplugs
• Feminine hygiene products
• Medications
• 1-liter drink in a clear, disposable, label-free, resealable plastic container

Prohibited items

All other items are prohibited, including:

• Cell phones
• Electronic devices
• Mechanical pencils
• Highlighters

*More information on what you can and cannot bring to the testing center .

New York Bar Exam Scores and Grading

A passing score for the UBE in New York is 266/400 . Scores of the three tests comprising the UBE are weighted as follows:

• MBE = 50% of your total UBE score

*A passing score for the MPRE in New York is 85/150 .

New York Bar Review Course

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• MBE, MEE, and MPT Prep
• 250+ Proprietary Mnemonics
• 1,750+ Licensed NCBE Questions
• Audio Attack Outlines
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New York Bar Exam Results

View lists of those who passed the New York State Bar Exam, posted on the New York State Bar Association’s website:

• February 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

When are my New York Bar Exam results released?

February bar exam results are usually posted late April. July bar exam results are usually posted late October.

Can I see my New York Bar Exam score?

Yes. Candidates will be notified by email when results are published. The day results are released you will be able look up your score.

Can I appeal to have my New York Bar Exam re-graded?

No. If your initial score was 262 to 265 your test will be re-graded by additional graders. Your two scores will be used to compute your final UBE score, which is the score you will be able to see. You will not be able to see the initial score you received prior to re-grading.

How many times can I take the New York Bar Exam?

There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in New York.

New York Bar Exam Reciprocity

Applicants seeking to be admitted as attorneys in New York without taking the bar exam, must comply with Rule 520.10 of Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law .

Reciprocity Requirements Overview

In order to be eligible for admission on motion in New York, you must:

• Hold a Juris Doctor degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Have practiced law for five of the seven years prior to your application.
• Be admitted to practice law in a reciprocal jurisdiction.
• Be at least 27 years old.
• Have a certificate of good standing from each territory you’ve been admitted to practice law in.
• Pass any test of character and fitness deemed necessary by the Appellate Division.
• Comply with all requirements set forth in Rule 520.10 and pay the necessary fees.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

*See Rule 520.10 for more information.

Law Schools in New York

Here’s a list of ABA Accredited law schools in New York.

Albany Law School of Union University

• Founded: 1851
• Located: Albany, NY
• Enrollment: About 460 students
• Tuition Cost: ~$47,450
• Bar Passage Rate: 71.3% (July 2017 first-time takers)
• Website: albanylaw.edu

Brooklyn Law School

• Founded: 1901
• Located: Brooklyn, NY
• Enrollment: About 1,100 students (2014)
• Tuition Cost: ~$55,000
• Bar Passage Rate: 78.6% (2017 first-time takers)
• Website: brooklaw.edu

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University)

• Founded: 1976
• Located: New York City, NY
• Enrollment: About 930 students (2017)
• Tuition Cost: ~$58,000 (2017)
• Bar Passage Rate: 85% (2017)
• Website: cardozo.yu.edu

City University of New York School of Law

• Founded: 1983
• Located: Long Island City, NY
• Enrollment: About 410 students (2010)
• Tuition Cost: ~$25,600
• Bar Passage Rate: 86.8% (July 2017 first-time takers)
• Website: law.cuny.edu

Columbia University School of Law

• Founded: 1858
• Enrollment: About 1,300 students (2013)
• Tuition Cost: ~$70,000
• Bar Passage Rate: 95.6% (2009)
• Website: law.columbia.edu

Cornell Law School

• Founded: 1887
• Located: Ithaca, NY
• Enrollment: About 610 students (2018)
• Tuition Cost: ~$67,750
• Bar Passage Rate: 94.1% (July 2018)
• Website: lawschool.cornell.edu

Fordham University School of Law

• Founded: 1905
• Enrollment: About 1,480 students (2010)
• Tuition Cost: ~$61,700
• Bar Passage Rate: 91% (2013 first-time takers)
• Website: fordham.edu..school_of_law

Maurice A. Deane School of Law (Hofstra University)

• Founded: 1970
• Located: Hempstead, NY
• Enrollment: About 1,100 students (2010)
• Tuition Cost: ~$58,500
• Bar Passage Rate: 62% (July 2018 first-time takers)
• Website: law.hofstra.edu

New York Law School

• Founded: 1891
• Enrollment: About 930 students (2012)
• Tuition Cost: ~$52,500
• Bar Passage Rate: 83% (2013)
• Website: nyls.edu

New York University School of Law

• Founded: 1835
• Enrollment: About 1,400 students (2015)
• Tuition Cost: ~$66,000
• Bar Passage Rate: 97.5% (2017)
• Website: law.nyu.edu

Pace University School of Law

• Located: White Plains, NY
• Enrollment: About 780 students (2011)
• Tuition Cost: ~$49,000
• Bar Passage Rate: 87%
• Website: law.pace.edu

St. John’s University School of Law

• Founded: 1925
• Located: Jamaica, NY
• Enrollment: 233 students (Fall 2018 class)
• Tuition Cost: ~$61,150
• Bar Passage Rate: 87% (July 2014)
• Website: stjohns.edu/law

University at Buffalo Law School

• Located: Amherst, NY
• Enrollment: About 700 students (2010)
• Tuition Cost: ~$29,500
• Bar Passage Rate: 75.69% (2017)
• Website: law.buffalo.edu

Syracuse University College of Law

• Founded: 1895
• Located: Syracuse, NY
• Enrollment: About 660 students (2010)
• Tuition Cost: ~$51,500
• Bar Passage Rate: 83% (July 2018 first-time takers)
• Website: law.syr.edu

Touro Law Center

• Founded: 1980
• Located: Central Islip, NY
• Enrollment: About 800 students (2011)
• Tuition Cost: ~$50,860
• Bar Passage Rate: 48.6% (July 2018 first time takers)
• Website: tourolaw.edu

Helpful Groups

Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:

• Lawyer Moms of America – New York (1,421 members)
• New York City Bar Association – Lawyers Connect (1,195 members)
• Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) (987 members)
• International Lawyers in NYC (457 members)
• New York Democratic Lawyers Council (456 members)
• New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) – Young Lawyers Section (388 members)
• Brazilian Lawyers in New York (334 members)
• Greater New York Lawyers Network (281 members)
• Ask a Lawyer – NY (75 members)

Albany Law School

• Albany Law School Alumni (824 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2021 (278 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2020 (234 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2019 (219 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2022 (194 members)
• Albany Law School–entering class 2019 (161 members)
• Albany Law School Pro Bono Society (78 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2019 (483 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2018 (449 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2017 (412 members)
• Black Law Students Association – Brooklyn Law School (189 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (152 members)
• Intellectual Property Law Association, Brooklyn Law School (90 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Art Law Association (89 members)
• Italian-American Law Students Association, Brooklyn Law School (43 members)

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University

• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2017 Entering Class (437 members)
• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2018 Entering Class (410 members)
• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2019 Entering Class (284 members)
• Cardozo School of Law May 2018 Entering Class (137 members)
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law 2017 OCI (133 members)
• CUNY Law Alumni Group (253 members)
• Columbia Law School (2.3K members)
• Columbia Law School — Class of 2018 (708 members)
• Columbia Law School — Class of 2019 (661 members)
• Columbia Law School – Class of 2020 (610 members)
• Columbia Law School Class of 2021 (505 members)
• Columbia Law School LLM – Class 2018 (467 members)
• Columbia Law School – LLM Class of 2019 (434 members)
• Columbia Law School Class of 2022 (325 members)
• Columbia Law School – LL.M. Class of 2020 (313 members)
• Columbia Law School – Visiting Scholars (258 members)
• Columbia Law School — Korean Students (141 members)
• Columbia Law School – Foodies and Theatre Lovers (116 members)
• Columbia Law School – LLM Class of 2020 (108 members)
• Columbia Law School NALSA (85 members)
• Cornell Law School Housing (360 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2018 (291 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2017 (256 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2021 (244 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2020 (239 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2019 (239 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2022 (197 members)
• Cornell Law School LL.M. Class of 2017 (132 members)
• Fordham Law Class of 2022/2023 Admitted Students (390 members)
• Fordham Law School LALSA (152 members)
• Fordham Law School Alumni from Korea (103 members)
• Fordham University School of Law LL.M. Alumni (74 members)
• Hofstra Law Class of 2022 (279 members)
• Hofstra Law School Immigration Law Society (131 members)
• International Law Society at Hofstra Law School (117 members)
• New York Law School: Italian Law Student Association (ILSA) (145 members)
• New York Law School Moot Court Alumni Organization (114 members)
• NYU LL.M. 2019 – 2020 (559 members)
• NYU Law Class of 2022 (254 members)
• NYU Women of Color Collective (WOCC) (242 members)
• NYU School of Law Korean JD (115 members)
• NYU Japanese Law Society (JLS) (85 members)
• Pace Law School Student Bar Association (343 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2020 (305 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2019 (294 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2018 (273 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2021 (272 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2017 (257 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2022 (240 members)
• Black Law Students Association at Pace University School of Law (BLSA) (101 members)

St. John’s University School of Law

• St. John’s Law: Class of 2020 (Day) / 2021 (Eve) (279 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2019 (Day) / 2020 (Eve) (278 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2018 (Day) / 2019 (Eve) (265 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2021 (full time) / 2022 (part time) (250 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2017 (Day) / 2018 (Eve) (216 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2022 (full time) / 2023 (part time) (182 members)
• St. John’s University School of Law APALSA (135 members)
• Class of 2018 – University at Buffalo School of Law (290 members)
• Class of 2017 – University at Buffalo School of Law (289 members)
• Class of 2019 – University at Buffalo School of Law (258 members)
• Class of 2020 – University at Buffalo School of Law (231 members)
• Class of 2021 – University at Buffalo School of Law (201 members)
• Class of 2022 – University at Buffalo School of Law (124 members)
• OUTLaw-University at Buffalo School of Law (98 members)
• LL.M. Students – University at Buffalo School of Law (61 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2022 (212 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2021 (208 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2018 (195 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2019 (192 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2020 (149 members)
• Syracuse University College of Law Class of 2017 (136 members)
• Syracuse Law Review Alumni (57 members)
• Student Bar Association Touro Law School (447 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2018 (89 members)
• Touro Law 2017 (81 members)
• Touro Law School: Class of 2020 (47 members)
• Touro Law Alumni Network (46 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2021 (32 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2022 (13 members)

Other Resources

More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the New York State Bar Exam:

• New York Jurisdiction Information
• New York State Board Of Law Examiners
• New York Supreme Court
• National Conference of Bar Examiners
• American Bar Association
• Bar Prep Tips & Tricks YouTube Videos
• Awesome Law School “Lectures”
• Best Law School Audio Outlines
• Shop Crushendo

• University Library Home
• Washington and Lee University Research Guides
• The Library at Washington and Lee University School of Law

Bar Exam Resources Guide

• New York Bar Exam
• Introduction & First Steps
• Courses at W&L
• Books & Study Aids
• Alabama Bar Exam
• California Bar Exam
• Delaware Bar Exam
• DC Bar Exam
• Georgia Bar Exam
• Illinois Bar Exam
• Maryland Bar Exam
• New Jersey Bar Exam
• North Carolina Bar Exam
• Pennsylvania Bar Exam
• South Carolina Bar Exam
• Tennessee Bar Exam
• Texas Bar Exam
• Virginia Bar Exam
• West Virginia Bar Exam
• Links to State/Territory Examiners Sites
• Patent Bar Exam
• State & Topical Practice Materials

Helpful Information

Contact us!

For additional information on print and electronic resources available to you and the information on this Guide, please contact a librarian at [email protected] . 

For additional information on W&L bar courses, the bar exam components, studying assistance and tips, creating a bar exam study schedule, etc., please contact Prof. Leila Lawlor at [email protected] . 

For questions regarding the bar exam application process or materials, please contact Dean Maria Saez Tatman at [email protected] . 

Looking for a Notary?

In the Law School:

Sue Coffey, Lewis Hall 233A (540-458-8981 or [email protected] )

Brittany Fix, Lewis Hall 348 (540-458-8550 or [email protected] )

Victoria Johnston, Lewis Hall 348 (540-458-8544 or [email protected] )

Brianne Kleinert, Lewis Hall 245 (540-458-8567 or [email protected] )

Emma Martone, Lewis Hall 324 (540-458-8541 or [email protected] )

Sheryl Salm, Lewis Hall 105 (540-458-8482 or [email protected] )

Milea Webb, Lewis Hall 322 (540-458-8584 or [email protected] )

Other Notaries on W&L's campus are listed online . 

New York Bar Exam Details

New York utilizes the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE).

The UBE is composed of the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) which are prepared by, given, and graded in accordance with the standards established by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Additional information regarding the content of the UBE is available at  http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube .

The UBE will be given in New York twice a year on the last consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. 

A scaled score of 266 on the UBE is required for  admission in New York . 

UBE Schedule:

Tuesday AM: MEE (6 essays, 3 hours) 

Tuesday PM: MPT (2 items, 3 hours)

Wednesday AM: MBE (100 questions, 3 hours) 

Wednesday PM: MBE (100 questions, 3 hours)

In addition to the UBE, New York exam takers must also take the NY Law Course (NYLC) and NY Law Exam (NYLE). Details regarding these exams are available from the NYBOLE  website .

Study Resources for the New York Bar Exam

There are multiple resources that provide sample questions and answers for the UBE:

• Past exam essay questions with sample candidate answers  from the NYBOLE.
• Recent MEE questions and model answers .
• Recent MPT questions, model answers, and point sheets . 
• Sample MBE questions . ( These are also found in the Law Library's Main Reading Room in the Bar Success Collection.)
• << Previous: New Jersey Bar Exam
• Next: North Carolina Bar Exam >>
• Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 3:45 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wlu.edu/barexam

Law Library

Study Aids for Law Students

• Aspen Learning Library - Formerly the Wolters Kluwer Online Study Aids Library
• AudioCaseFiles
• LexisNexis Digital Library
• Themis Law School Essentials
• Bar Exam Sample Essays
• Sample Exams
• Black Letter Outlines
• Emanuel CrunchTime
• Emanuel Law Outlines
• Examples and Explanations
• Gilbert Law Summaries
• Glannon Guides

Many state bar associations post former bar exam essay questions and sample answers on their websites. These model answers are useful for studying for the bar and final exams.

Search online for state bar exam questions and answers, or use the list provided at the bottom of this page. Access is free.

• Try writing a response to a practice question, then comparing your response to the model answer.
• Some bar exam questions require the application of state law (e.g., California civil procedure), and may not be helpful if you are studying federal law. Read the question carefully. 
• Subject coverage will vary by exam and by state.

1L Subjects:

• Civil Procedure (federal and state questions)
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law

2L/3L Subjects:

• Business Organizations
• Conflict of Laws
• Criminal Procedure
• Family Law/Community Property
• Professional Responsibility/Ethics
• Secured Transactions (Uniform Commercial Code 2)
• Wills & Trusts

Sample Exam Questions & Answers By State

• Mississippi
• Pennsylvania
• UBE  (Many of the states on this list administer the UBE, but the states offer more recent model essay answers than the UBE)
• << Previous: Themis Law School Essentials
• Next: Sample Exams >>
• Last Updated: Jan 27, 2022 9:12 AM
• URL: https://guides.law.byu.edu/studyaids

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PLEASE NOTE : These series contain multiple choice questions designed for law school exams . They are not intended for bar exam study, although they may still prove useful.

SERIES:   Questions & Answers: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions and Answers

Questions & Answers: Civil Procedure

Questions & Answers: Constitutional Law

Questions & Answers: Contracts

Questions & Answers: Criminal Law

Questions & Answers: Evidence

Questions & Answers: Family Law

Questions & Answers: Torts

SIEGEL'S SERIES: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

Siegel's Civil Procedure: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

Siegel's Constitutional Law: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

Siegel's Contracts: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

Siegel's Property: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

Siegel's Torts: Essay and Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

• << Previous: Bar Examination Review Materials & Questions
• Next: MPRE >>
• Last Updated: Jan 5, 2024 5:58 PM
• URL: https://libguides.nyls.edu/barexam

Washington plans to stop requiring bar exam, but alternatives not in place | Fact check

The claim: The state of Washington no longer requires passing the bar exam to get a law license

A March 19 Facebook post ( direct link , archive link ) makes a claim about legal education in the Pacific Northwest.

"You no longer need to pass the bar exam to be a lawyer in Washington," the post reads.

A similar version of the post was shared hundreds of times before being deleted.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: Partly false

The Washington Supreme Court approved the concept of alternative pathways for law school graduates, law students and law clerks to get law licenses. However, the details of the pathways are still being developed and the timeline to implement those paths is uncertain. Until then, lawyers must pass the bar exam.

New pathways to license

Bar exams , tests to primarily establish that prospective lawyers have a minimum knowledge of the law, have been a gateway to practicing law since the late 18th century in the U.S. However, in recent years advocates have questioned if the exams are good tools for measuring someone's ability to be a competent lawyer.

On March 15, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order that approved "in concept" creating three new pathways to get a law license in that state without passing the bar exam.

However, the court did not spell out a timeline for implementing the new pathways, which are still under development. Jacob Rooksby, dean of the Gonzaga School of Law, told The Spokesman-Review that he did not think it could happen before 2025 at the earliest.

The Washington State Bar Association also says on its website that the court directed it to work on a path to implementation but emphasized the new pathways are not yet in effect.

And the decision doesn't mean, as many social media commenters took it, that anyone can become a lawyer. It still requires extensive training and direct experience in law.

The pathways , developed by task force , emphasize experiential learning. For law school graduates, the alternative pathways would involve an apprenticeship and some additional coursework. Law students could graduate with a license if they complete an internship, earn credits for specific skills and complete a portfolio review. Law clerks will also need to complete an internship and “standardized educational materials and benchmarks to be completed under the guidance of their tutors that dovetail with the requirements of the law school graduate apprenticeship,” according to the announcement of the pathways .

The task force was formed in November 2020 and found that the traditional bar exam “disproportionately and unnecessarily blocks marginalized groups” from becoming lawyers, the statement said . It said the traditional exam is “at best minimally effective for ensuring competent lawyers."

Fact check : No, public hanging is not listed as punishment for treason in US Code

Washington is not the first state to approve alternatives to bar exams. Oregon has begun putting its own universally accessible alternative licensing pathway in place, while Wisconsin and New Hampshire have pathways for graduates of certain law schools. California , Utah , South Dakota , Nevada and Minnesota are among a growing list of states studying or piloting other paths to licensure.

Our fact-check sources:

• The Washington State Bar Association, accessed March 29, Latest News
• Spokesman-Review, March 15, Supreme Court: Bar exam will no longer be required to become attorney in Washington State
• Washington Supreme Court, March 15, Order 25700B711
• Washington State Bar Licensure Task Force, Feb. 28, A Proposal for the Future of WA State Bar Admissions Updated Following Public Comment  
• Washington State Courts, March 15, Supreme Court Approves Alternative Pathways to Lawyer Licensure in Washington State

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .