Ultimate Guide to Arkansas State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Arkansas 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 January 2024
Arkansas State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Arkansas Bar Association was formed in 1898. There are about 5,000 attorneys that are a part of the Arkansas State Bar Association.
Arkansas is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Arkansas first administered the UBE in February 2020.
July 2023 (239)
February 2023 (99)
February 2022 (unknown takers)
July 2021 (unknown takers)
| 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 |
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Last updated: 1/7/23
*Cost ignores promotions and live tutoring.
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Crushendo’s written and audio outlines utilize 250+ proprietary mnemonics to help you memorize everything you need to know to pass the bar exam on your first try.
Crushendo’s complete bar prep course, the UBE Suite, costs $970 and includes 1,750+ official practice questions from the NCBE.
Crushendo offers lifetime access for all of its bar exam prep products.
Adam Balinski founded Crushendo Bar Review in 2017 (read the founding story here).
The Harcourt publishing company founded Barbri in 1974 when it acquired two bar review programs. Since its founding, Barbri has been owned by large firms including Thomson Reuters and Leeds Equity Partners.
Barbri products have been used by more than a million law school students. In the last 20 years Barbri has settled multiple antitrust lawsuits.
Barbri’s traditional bar prep programs cost $1,999-4,199 and some include 100+ official NCBE questions from past bar exams.
Barbri offers access to its traditional, full-time bar prep course for 8-10 weeks, but early access can be purchased.
Themis Bar Review is based in Chicago and was founded in 2008.
Themis’s bar prep program costs $2,695 and includes 1,350+ NCBE questions.
Themis offers access to its online products for four months.
Stanley Kaplan founded Kaplan, Inc. in 1938.
Kaplan jumped into the bar review space in 2006 when it acquired PMBR, a company that provides test prep for the MBE. In 2008 Kaplan expanded its bar review offerings.
Kaplan’s bar prep programs cost $2,199-3,999 and include 1,200+ NCBE questions.
Kaplan offers access to its online products for four months.
Alexander Nakis founded AmeriBar in 1999. It’s headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.
AmeriBar’s bar exam prep programs cost $1,299-2,599 and include 1,400+ NCBE questions.
AmeriBar offers access to its online products for up to three years.
Michael Ghaffary and Mehran Ebadolahi founded BarMax in 2010.
BarMax’s bar prep course costs $1,895 and includes 1,700+ NCBE questions.
BarMax offers lifetime access to its online products.
What’s the format of the UBE?
The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Arkansas (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.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects (in addition to MEE and MPRE subjects).
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
Are you interested in taking the Arkansas State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Arkansas bar exam.
The Arkansas Bar application fee for most takers is $1,000.
*Visit the Arkansas State Bar’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application deadline is November 1. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application deadline is April 1.
In addition to passing the Arkansas bar exam with a score of at least 270, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Arkansas, including:
- Score 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Character and Fitness Review
Arkansas State Bar Admissions Office
Mailing address:
Justice Building
625 Marshall Street
Suite 1100
Little Rock, AR 72201
Telephone: 501-682-9400
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.
- Pens and pencils are provided to examinees.
- 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
View past Arkansas Bar Exam pass lists:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Arkansas bar exam results released?
February bar exam results are usually posted in April. July bar exam results are usually posted in September.
Can I see my Arkansas bar exam score?
If you passed the Arkansas bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.
Can I appeal to have my Arkansas bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Arkansas?
You can retake the UBE in Arkansas without any limit.
Applicants seeking admission to the Arkansas State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements. If you are admitted to the bar in any state, territory, or district, you can be admitted to the Arkansas State Bar if you comply with the following requirements:
- Have proof of good standing in the bar in another state.
- Have proof of active legal standing in at least five of the last seven years.
- Have a degree from an ABA-approved law school.
Here’s a list of law schools in Arkansas.
University of Arkansas School of Law
- Founded: 1924
- Located: Fayetteville, AR
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $18,619 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 69%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.uark.edu
William H. Bowen School of Law
- Founded: 1975
- Located: Little Rock, AR
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: about 24,000 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 63%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: ualr.edu/law
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
University of Arkansas School of Law
- University of Arkansas School of Law: Environmental Law Society (22 members)
- International Law Society at the University of Arkansas School of Law (34 members)
- Delta Theta Phi – University of Arkansas School of Law (8 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Labor & Employment Law Society (5 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Bar Success Program (53 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Christian Legal Society (20 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Property Law Society (4 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Labor & Employment Law Society (5 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law (523 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Alumni (262 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2022 (105 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2021 (162 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2020 (145 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2019 (116 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2018 (109 members)
- University of Arkansas School of Law Class of 2017 (108 members)
William H. Bowen School of Law
- Christian Legal Society (CLS) UALR Bown School of Law (60 members)
- Criminal Law Association – Bowen School of Law (47 members)
- Federalist Society — UALR Bowen School of Law Chapter (78 members)
- UALR Bowen School of Law Friends (8 members)
- Black Law Students Association – William H. Bowen School of Law (4 members)
- Outlaw Legal Society – William H. Bowen School of Law (49 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Arkansas State Bar Exam: