Ultimate Guide to Tennessee State Bar Exam

Your complete guide to Tennessee bar exam prep.

Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Location · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources

*Updated February 2024

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Tennessee State Bar Exam | Basic Information

The Tennessee Bar Association was formed in 1881. It is a voluntary association open to all licensed attorneys and current law students.

Tennessee is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Tennessee first administered the UBE in February 2019.

Tennessee State Bar Exam Pass Rates

July 2023 (713 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 67%
First-Time Pass Rate: 76%
Repeat Pass Rate: 29%

February 2023 (292 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 36%
First-Time Pass Rate: 54%
Repeat Pass Rate: 26%

February 2022 (273 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 41%
First-Time Pass Rate: 54%
Repeat Pass Rate: 32%

July 2021 (720 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 63%
First-Time Pass Rate: 71%
Repeat Pass Rate: 20%

Tennessee Bar Review Courses

Compare top Tennessee bar exam prep courses from Crushendo, Barbri, Themis, Kaplan, AmeriBar, and BarMax.

Crushendo Barbri Themis Kaplan AmeriBar BarMax
*Cost $970 $1,999-4,199 $2,695 $2,199-3,999 $1,299-2,599 $1,895
Facebook Rating 5.0 Disabled 4.8 Disabled Disabled 4.3
Google Rating 5.0 N/A 2.8 3.2 N/A N/A
MBE
MEE
MPT
NCBE Questions 1,750+ 100+ 1,350+ 1,200+ 1,400+ 1,700+
Audio Flashcards
250+ Mnemonics
Access Period Lifetime 8-10 weeks 4 months 4 months Up to 3 years Lifetime
Financing 3 payments $250 registration
Founded 2017 1974 2008 1938 1999 2010
Phone (385) 482-1776 (888) 322-7274 (888) 843-6476 (626) 390-7170 (877) 942-2763 (800) 529-2651

Last updated: 1/7/23

*Cost ignores promotions and live tutoring.

Tennessee Bar Exam Format

What’s the format of the UBE?

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Tennessee (in February, and July). The examination is administered over two days, in four, three-hour sessions. The UBE has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).

MBE

The MBE is a six hour test and consists of 200 multiple choice questions that test your understanding across seven subjects. Your MBE score comprises 50% of your overall UBE score.

Watch Crushendo’s free MBE tips video.

MEE

The MEE consists of six 30-minute legal essays. The MEE makes up 30% of your score.

Essay topics may include the following: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Property, Secured Transactions, Torts, Trusts, Unincorporated Business Entities, Wills and Estates, etc.

Crushendo offers the most recent MEE questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendo’s free MEE tips video.

MPT

The MPT consists of two 90-minute tasks where you analyze and apply laws to specific scenarios. The MPT makes up 20% of your score. Crushendo offers the most recent MPT questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendo’s free MPT tips video.

What’s the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination?

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests your understanding of established standards of conduct for lawyers. The MPRE is administered three times each year (in March, August, and November). The test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and is two hours long. Check out this MPRE Tips video!

Upcoming Bar Exam Schedule, Dates, Location

Schedule

Morning Afternoon
Day 1 MPT (3 hours) MEE (3 hours)
Day 2 MBE (3 hours) MBE (3 hours)

Dates

  • July 30–31, 2024
  • February 25–26, 2025

Location

Tennessee Bar Exam Application

Are you interested in taking the Tennessee State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Tennessee bar exam.

Tennessee State Bar Admissions Office

Physical address:

Tennessee Board of Law Examiners
511 Union St Suite 525
Nashville, TN 37219

Phone number:  (615) 741-3234

Tennessee Bar Exam: What to Bring

What to bring

  • Your current driver’s license.
  • Your Bar Examination Identification & Certification Card that has your photo, NCBE number, and examinee number.

Important notes

  • You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions.
  • Laptop testers should not bring their laptop in a case or bag.

Prohibited items

  • Any item that can connect to the internet
  • Any item that can record audio or video
  • Backpacks
  • Books
  • Briefcases
  • Calculators
  • Cameras
  • Notes
  • Phones
  • Food or drink
  • Purses
  • Radios
  • Rulers
  • Scratch papers
  • Study materials

Tennessee Bar Exam Scores and Grading

A passing score for the UBE in the Tennessee is 270/400. Scores of the three tests comprising the UBE are weighted as follows:

  • MBE = 50% of your total UBE score
  • MEE = 30%
  • MPT = 20%

*A passing score for the MPRE in Tennessee is 82/150.

Tennessee Bar Review Course

Crushendo’s comprehensive UBE Suite comes with everything you need to crush the Tennessee bar exam.

  • MBE, MEE, and MPT Prep
  • 250+ Proprietary Mnemonics
  • 1,750+ Licensed NCBE Questions
  • Audio Attack Outlines
  • Audio Flashcards
  • Lifetime Access

Tennessee Bar Exam Results

View lists of those who passed the Tennessee State Bar Exam, posted on the Tennessee State Bar Association’s website:

Frequently Asked Questions

When are my Tennessee bar exam results released?

Tennessee bar exam results are usually posted 6-9 weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are normally posted in April. July bar exam results are normally posted in October.

Can I see my Tennessee bar exam score?

If you passed the Tennessee bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the exam, you will receive MPT items, MEE questions, and a copy of the scored written essays in the mail.

Can I appeal to have my Tennessee bar exam re-graded?

No.

How many times can I take the bar exam in Tennessee?

You can retake the UBE without any limit in Tennessee.

Tennessee Bar Exam Reciprocity

Applicants seeking admission to the Tennessee State Bar without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.

If you are part of a bar in any of the states, territories, or jurisdictions in the United States, you are able to have reciprocity with the State of Tennessee if approved by the Board. In order to be eligible for admittance to the Tennessee State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:

  • Certificate of Good Standing form last state.
  • Proof of active legal standing in at least 5 of the last 7 years

Law Schools in Tennessee

Here’s a list of law schools in Tennessee.

Belmont University College of Law

Duncan School of Law (Lincoln Memorial University)

Nashville School of Law

  • Founded: 1911
  • Located: Nashville, TN
  • Enrollment: about 250
  • Tuition Cost: $7,420 View tuition breakdown
  • Bar Passage Rate: 68.5%
  • ABA Accredited: No
  • Website: nsl.law

University of Memphis School of Law

University of Tennessee College of Law

  • Founded: 1890
  • Located: Knoxville, TN
  • Enrollment: about 360
  • Tuition Cost: $38,842 View tuition breakdown
  • Bar Passage Rate: 85%
  • ABA Accredited: Yes
  • Website: law.utk.edu

Vanderbilt University Law School

Helpful Groups

Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:

Belmont University College of Law

Duncan School of Law (Lincoln Memorial University)

Nashville School of Law

University of Memphis School of Law

University of Tennessee College of Law

Vanderbilt University Law School