The University of Alabama School of Law
The University of Alabama School of Law
The MBE is a 6-hour, 200 question multiple choice exam that was developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and makes up 50% of the score. Only 175 of the questions are scored, with the remaining 25 being unscored pretest questions, however, there is no way to distinguish which is which, so you must treat every question as if it will be graded. These 175 scored questions are split evenly between the 7 subjects, with 25 questions for each subject. It covers several topics: Constitutional Law; Contracts/Sales; Criminal Law/Procedure; Evidence; Federal Civil Procedure; Real Property; and Torts.
The NCBE has a page with useful information about the MBE, as well as a Subject Matter Outline and Sample Test Questions.
Check out West Academic Study Aids for study guides that cover the MBE.
The MEE consists of six 30-minute essay questions that make up 30% of the exam score, covering: Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies); Conflict of Laws; Family Law; Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests); Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code; and All MBE Subjects.
The NCBE has a page with useful information about the MEE, as well as a Subject Matter Outline, Sample Questions, and links to additional MEE questions and analysis from older exams.
Check out West Academic Study Aids for study guides that cover the MEE.
The MPT is made up of 2 90-minute closed universe practical questions and is worth 20% of the exam grade. Each questions comes with a File and a Library that test takers will use to complete the prompt.
The File consists of source documents which contain all of the facts of the case. These source documents include: transcripts of interviews; depositions; hearings or trials; pleadings; correspondence; client documents; contracts; newspaper articles; medical records; police reports; or lawyer's notes. Some of the materials that the test takers are provided with will be relevant, others won't be. It is up to the taker to determine which is which.
The Library may contain cases, statutes, regulations, or rules. This is not a substantive law test so make sure you don't bring in any outside knowledge and only rely on the information that has been provided. Some examples of what you may be asked to write include: a memorandum to a supervising attorney; a letter to a client; a persuasive memorandum or brief; a statement of facts; a contract provision; a will; a counseling plan; a proposal for settlement or agreement; a discovery plan; a witness examination plan; or a closing argument.
The NCBE has a page with useful information about the MPT, including free summaries of MPTs and free MPT questions and point sheets from previous administrations.
Check out West Academic Study Aids for study guides that cover the MPT.
The MPRE is a two hour, 60-question multiple choice exam that is administered three times a year. Of the 60 questions, only 50 are scored, though test takers will not know which questions they are, so make sure to answer every question as if it will scored. The exam is based on the law governing the conduct and discipline of lawyers and judges and includes the Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the current ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, and any controlling constitutional decisions and accepted principles that have been established through case law and in procedural and evidentiary rules.
The NCBE has a page with useful information about the MPRE, including a Subject Matter Outline, a list of Key Words and Phrases that are common to the MPRE, and Sample Test Questions.
Users can check out Aspen and West Academic Study Aids for study guides that cover the MPRE.
The NCBE has a page that users can access that will help them find their jurisdiction's character and fitness information.
Users can also go to the Alabama State Bar Admissions Office, where they will find a page that allows that to browse through the Character & Fitness Questionnaire that they will need to fill out.