Washington State Bar Exam Preparation

Washington State administers the National Conference of Bar Associations' (NCBE) Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). The UBE consists of three separate components: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). In addition to the UBE, Washington State requires applicants to take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) and the Washington Law Component (WLC) Test. The following sections provide resources available to help you prepare for each of these components. For information on the admission requirements of other states, please review the NCBE's Bar Admission Guide.

The MBE is a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination. A current listing of every jurisdiction that administers the MBE is available on the NCBE's website. The questions on the MBE cover seven subject areas:

• Civil Procedure
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Evidence
• Real Property
• Torts

Additional information about the MBE, including a detailed subject matter outline, is available on the NCBE's Preparing for the MBE page.

Resources and study aids for the MBE:

The MEE consists of six 30-minute questions. A current listing of every jurisdiction that administers the MEE is available on the NCBE's website. The questions on the MEE cover the following subject areas:

• Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies)
• Civil Procedure
• Conflict of Laws
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the Uniform Commercial Code)
• Criminal Law and Procedures
• Evidence
• Family Law
• Real Property
• Torts
• Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests)
• Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code

Additional information about the MEE, including a detailed subject matter outline, is available on the NCBE's Preparing for the MEE page.

Resources and study aids for the MEE:

The MPT consists of two 90-minute items. A current listing of every jurisdiction that administers the MPT is available on the NCBE's website. The MPT is "designed to test an examinee's ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation and complete a task that a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish."

Additional information about the MPT, including a detailed outline of MPT skills tested, is available on the NCBE's Preparing for the MPT page. This page also provides summaries and point sheets from recent MPT administrations.

Resources and study aids for the MPT:

The MPRE is a two hour, 60 question multiple choice exam. A current listing of every jurisdiction that administers the MPRE is available on the NCBE's website. The MPRE is designed to "measure examinees' knowledge and understanding of established standards related to professional conduct of lawyers."

Additional information about the MPRE, including a detailed subject matter outline, is available on the NCBE's Preparing for the MPT page.

Resources and study aids for the MPRE:

The Washington Law Component (WLC) Test is a 60-question multiple-choice test which must be completed in four hours. The purpose of the WLC is to "educate new lawyers in Washington about areas of law that are unique to Washington law or that are substantially different from the law tested on the Uniform Bar Exam." Additional information about the WLC is available on the Washington State Bar Association's website.

Resources and study aids for the WLC: