The bar exam is a test required to practice law in the US and other countries. It tests knowledge of state laws, reasoning, and legal ideas. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a standardized test covering common law principles, but not used in some states and countries. Bar exams differ in subject matter, format, and difficulty from state to state. Some argue for abolishing the bar exam, while others support its use. Other countries have their own versions of the bar exam, with varying requirements. Contacting the bar association is the best way to find out the requirements for a particular jurisdiction.
A bar exam is a test that must be passed before a person can practice law in the United States (USA) and many other countries. The test is a detailed and complicated exam that tests knowledge of specific state laws, reasoning, and general legal ideas. Most US states offer a specific state exam, while others allow and sometimes use the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).
The MBE is a long standardized test covering the principles of the common law. Because the MBE is a standardized test, it is administered the same day in the United States. States that do not have a common law government do not use the MBE. Louisiana is one such state, as it is run under Napoleonic law. Other states and countries that do not adhere to common law often adhere to civil law and would not use the MBE.
Bar exams in the United States differ in subject matter, format, and difficulty from state to state. Each state will offer the bar exam on specified dates in approved locations. After earning their law degree, students typically prepare to take the bar exam before being admitted to practice as an attorney and member of the state bar association. Many students prepare by taking preparation courses and purchasing study materials from private companies with no direct association with the state bar association.
How some laws governing the entry into the practice of law are written has sparked great debate and even lawsuits. In the United States, many believe the bar exam requirement should be abolished. Others support and encourage its continued use to weed out potential bar candidates who may not be able to effectively represent and advise customers. Some people take an alternative to the bar exam, such as is available in other nations such as England and Finland.
Other nations also have the equivalent of a bar exam, although the requirements for taking the exams vary widely. Some nations do not require a person to pass the bar exam to practice law, only to hold the official title of barrister, barrister, advocate, or other national title for anyone practicing law. In the United States, some states allow a candidate to take the bar exam without attending law school, although few enroll in or pass the bar exam this way. To find out what the requirements are to take the bar exam in a particular jurisdiction, a person should typically contact the bar association for that area.
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