Ultimate Guide to District of Columbia Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Washington, DC 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
District of Columbia State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The District of Columbia State Bar was formed in 1972. There are over 100,000 members who are located throughout the United States and around the world.
The District of Columbia is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). The District of Columbia first administered the UBE in July 2016.
July 2023 (2,190 takers)
February 2023 (606 takers)
February 2022 (384 takers)
July 2021 (2,200 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 Washington, DC (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 Washington, DC bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the DC bar exam.
The District of Columbia Bar application fee for most takers is $224, which includes a $110 application fee and a $114 UBE examination fee. The application cost for UBE score transfer applicants and out-of-state lawyers applying for admission into the DC Bar is $400.
There are credit card processing fees and a $200 late fee. There are also fees to use your laptop during the test. You can pay to take just one portion of the test.
An additional fee of $250 may be required of any applicant who has not already registered as a law school student with the District of Columbia State Bar.
*Visit the DC Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application opens in November. The filing deadline is on December 15. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application opens in April. The filing deadline is on May 3. You must go to the Committee on Admissions website and make an account to complete the application.
In addition to passing the District of Columbia bar exam with a score of at least 260, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Washington DC, including:
- Score 75 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Committee on Character & Fitness certification.
District of Columbia State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
DC Bar
901 4th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone number: (202) 737-4700
Allowed Items
- Admission ticket
- Ink pens on Tuesday
- Pencils and sharpener on Wednesday
- Valid ID
- Wallet
- Keys
- Car key fob
- Hygiene and medical products
- Tissues
Prohibited items
- Any item that can connect to the internet
- Any item that can record audio or video
- Backpacks
- Books
- Briefcases
- Calculators
- Cameras
- Earphones
- Food or beverages
- Hats (except religious ones)
- Hoodies or jackets
- Notes
- Phones
- Food or drink
- Purses
- Radios
- Rulers
- Scratch papers
- Study materials
- Watches of any kind
Learn more here.
A passing score for the UBE in the District of Columbia is 266/400. 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 District of Columbia is 75/150.
View lists of those who passed the District of Columbia State Bar Exam, posted on the District of Columbia State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my District of Columbia Bar Exam results released?
District of Columbia Bar Exam results are usually posted 9-10 weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are usually posted in May. July bar exam results are usually posted late October.
Can I see my District of Columbia Bar Exam score?
If you passed the District of Columbia bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.
If you failed the District of Columbia bar exam, you’ll be able to see your scaled scores on the MBE, MEE, MPT, and UBE. Those who fail the District of Columbia bar exam will also have the opportunity to review their essay answers and view three top essay answers for each question.
Can I appeal to have my DC Bar Exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the DC Bar Exam?
You can retake the UBE 4 times in the District of Columbia.
Applicants seeking admission to the District of Columbia State Bar without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.
In order to be eligible for admittance to the DC State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Be admitted to practice law in another U.S. state or territory for five years just before applying
- Hold a legal degree from an ABA accredited law school
All UBE states have reciprocity with the District of Columbia if the scores are high enough to meet the standard in Washington, DC.
Here’s a list of law schools in Washington, DC.
George Washington University Law
- Founded: 1865
- Located: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: About 1,500 students
- Tuition Cost: $63,205 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 95.8% (takers of DC bar)
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.gwu.edu
American University Washington College of Law
- Founded: 1896
- Located: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: About 1,670 students
- Tuition Cost: $57,836 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 69.43%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: wcl.american.edu
David A. Clarke School of Law (University of the District of Columbia)
- Founded: 1986
- Located: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: about 180 students
- Tuition Cost: $24,260 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 45.07%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.udc.edu
Howard University School of Law
- Founded: 1869
- Located: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: about 473 students
- Tuition Cost: $32,056 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 79%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.howard.edu
Columbus School of Law
- Founded: 1897
- Located: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: about 519 students
- Tuition Cost: $52,660 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 85.1%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:
George Washington University Law
- George Washington University Class of 2023 (3,328 members)
- George Washington University Class of 2022 (3,462 members)
- George Washington University Class of 2020 (2,637 members)
American University Washington College of Law
Davis A. Clarke School of Law (University of the District of Columbia)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2017 (107 members)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2017 Part-Time (20 members)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2016 (110 members)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2016 Part-Time (39 members)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2015 (77 members)
- UDC Davis A. Clarke School of Law Class of 2015 Part-Time (38 members)
Howard University School of Law
- Howard U. School of Law (196 members)
- Howard University School of Law Friends (56 members)
- Howard University School of Law Alumni – HUSL (1,973 members)
- Howard University School of Law (HUSL) Class of 2022 (197 members)
- Howard University School of Law Class of 2021 (160 members)
- Howard University School of Law Class of 2020 (167 members)
Columbus School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the District of Columbia State Bar Exam: