District of Columbia Bar Exam Information
D.C. Court of Appeals
430 E Street, NW, Room 123
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 879-2710
Subjects and Topics Tested
D.C. is a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdiction. The UBE consists of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). The D.C. bar exam may test the following subjects:
Scoring and Grading
A passing score on the D.C. bar exam is 266 on a 400-point scale. The MBE is weighted 50%. The MEE is weighted 30%, and the MPT is weighted 20%.
Bar Exam Dates
The D.C. bar exam is administered twice per year – once in February and once in July.
Upcoming Exams
2017: July 25-26
2018: February 27-28 and July 24-25
Bar Exam Results
D.C. bar exam results are typically released 9-10 weeks after the exam is administered. The names of those applicants who passed is posted on the D.C. Bar Examining Committee website.
Bar Exam Format
The Uniform Bar Exam (adopted by D.C.), has the written components on Tuesday and the multiple choice component (MBE) on Wednesday
Tuesday
During the 3-hour morning session, 2 MPT questions are administered. This allows an average of 1.5 hours to complete each. During the three-hour afternoon session, 6 MEE questions are administered, allowing an average of 1.5 hours to answer each essay question.
Wednesday
100 MBE questions are administered in the 3-hour morning session, and 100 MBE questions are administered in the 3-hour afternoon session.
Reciprocity
There are several ways to be admitted into the D.C. Bar without taking the D.C. bar exam.
Admission on Motion by 5 Year Provision: A member of good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States for a period of at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of application.
Motion by MBE Score Transfer:
(1) Applicant received a scaled MBE score of 133 or higher on an exam upon which applicant was admitted in another jurisdiction;
(2) received a scaled MPRE score of 75 or better;
(3) is member of good standing in each jurisdiction admitted; and
(4) graduated from an ABA accredited law school OR has successfully completed 26 credit hours at an ABA approved law school each of which is substantially concentrated on a single subject tested on the UBE.
Motion by UBE Score Transfer:
(1) An applicant received a qualifying UBE score of 266 or higher;
(2) received a qualifying UBE score of 75 or higher;
(3) is member of good standing in each jurisdiction admitted; and
(4) graduated from an ABA accredited law school OR has successfully completed 26 credit hours at an ABA approved law school each of which is substantially concentrated on a single subject tested on the UBE.
Bar exam information is subject to change without notice; please verify with bar examiners’ office.
