Bar examination - Definition and Overview

A bar examination is an series of tests conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.

The American examination usually consists of the following:

• complicated essay questions concerning that jurisdiction's law;
• the Multistate Bar Examination, a standardized, nationwide examination containing generalized questions about common law; and
• some sort of test demonstrating the applicant's knowledge of the ethical rules governing lawyers, usually the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.

Some jurisdictions, like California, also require a performance test as a more realistic measure of actual lawyering skill; the candidate is presented with a stack of documents representing a fictional case and is asked to draft a memorandum, motion, or opinion document. Many jurisdictions that include such a test use the Multistate Performance Test.

See also

• Bar association
• LSAT
• IRAC for essay tips and strategies.
• State Judicial Exam