New York Bar Exam Information
New York State Board of Law Examiners
Corporate Plaza, Building #3
254 Washington Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 453-5990
Subjects and Topics Tested
New York 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 New York bar exam may test the following subjects:
Scoring and Grading
A passing score on the New York 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 New York 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
New York bar exam Results are typically released in mid-May for the February exam and mid-November for the July exam.
Bar Exam Format
The Uniform Bar Exam (adopted by New York), 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
New York allows for admission on motion to the New York State Bar so long as the applicant:
1) has practiced law for 5 of past 7 years;
2) is admitted to practice law in a reciprocal jurisdiction; and
3) graduated from an ABA approved law school.
Admission also permitted if applicant received UBE score of 266 within 3 years of receiving the score.
