Ultimate Guide to Georgia State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Georgia Bar Exam prep.
Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Schedule · Dates · Location · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources
*Updated January 2024
Georgia State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The State Bar of Georgia was started in 1964. It includes about 50,000 legal professionals.
Georgia is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state. Georgia has its own bar exam that uses the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Georgia also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
July 2023 (1049 takers)
February 2023 (495 takers)
February 2022 (488 takers)
July 2021 (1,199 takers)
What’s the format of the Georgia Bar?
The Georgia Bar Exam is administered twice each year in Georgia (in February and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The Georgia Bar has four parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), and Georgia essay questions.
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 score.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects.
MPT
The MPT consists of two 90-minute tasks where you analyze and apply laws to specific scenarios. The Georgia essays and the MPT scores are combined and together make up 50% of your total score. Crushendo offers the most recent MPT questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used.
Georgia Essays
The Georgia essays are four essay questions written by the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners. You have three hours to complete the essays, with no breaks between questions.
The Georgia essays and the MPT scores are combined and together make up 50% of your total score.
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 Georgia State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Georgia bar exam.
The Georgia Bar application fee for most takers is $442. There is a $200 late fee after the first filing deadline. There is an extra $10 fee if you pay using a credit card.
*Visit the Georgia State Bar’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application opens on November 4. You should submit your application by January 2 to avoid late fees. If you file between January 2 and February 3, there is a $2oo late fee. February 3 is the final deadline.
If you desire to take the bar exam in July, the application opens on April 6. You should submit your application by June 3 to avoid late fees. If you file between June 3 and July 6, there is a $2oo late fee. July 6 is the final deadline.
These dates are for 2020. Specific deadlines vary year to year, see the Georgia bar website for more specific dates.
In addition to passing the Georgia bar exam with a score of at least 270 out of 400, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Georgia, including:
- Score 75 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Certificate from Committee of Character and Fitness
- Have a bachelor’s degree and a JD from a law school approved by the ABA or by the Georgia bar examiners
Georgia State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Office of Bar Admissions
330 Capitol Avenue, SE
Phone number: (404)-656-3490
What to bring
- Your current driver’s license or picture ID
- Laptop computer, cord, extension cord for Tuesday
- Black ink pens for Tuesday
- Pencils for Wednesday
- Water in a clear, disposable plastic, unlabeled bottle
- Clear plastic bag with keys, hotel card, wallet, cash, and/or female hygiene items
Important notes
- Ear plugs are provided for you
- Pencil sharpeners are only allowed on Wednesday
- Do not bring your laptop in any case unless it is in a clear, plastic 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
More information here.
View recent bar pass lists:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Georgia Bar Exam results released?
Georgia Bar Exam results are usually in late May or late October.
Can I see my Georgia Bar Exam score?
If you passed the Georgia Bar Exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the exam, you will receive your written examination back.
Can I appeal to have my Georgia Bar Exam re-graded?
No. If your essay score is close to passing, it will be automatically re-graded. After scores have been released, there is no appeals process.
How many times can I take the Georgia Bar Exam?
You can take the Georgia Bar Exam without limit.
You have reciprocity with Georgia if the jurisdiction that you are admitted to has the same requirements as the Georgia bar. The Georgia Board of Bar Examiners does not publish an official list of reciprocal jurisdictions, and reciprocal states may change depending on bar exam rules. However, Georgia does NOT have reciprocity with California, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Maine.
To be eligible for reciprocity, you must follow reciprocity requirements:
- Have a Bachelor’s Degree and a JD
- Actively practice law for five of the last seven years
If you are not located in a reciprocal jurisdiction or have not been actively practicing law, there are other options. If you are admitted in another jurisdiction, you can qualify to take the attorney’s examination, which is only a one day bar exam with 2 MPT questions and 4 Georgia essay questions. You can do this instead of taking the two-day bar exam.
Here’s a list of law schools in Georgia.
Emory University School of Law
- Founded: 1916
- Located: Atlanta, GA
- Enrollment: about 800
- Tuition Cost: $58,200 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 83%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.emory.edu
University of Georgia School of Law
- Founded: 1859
- Located: Athens, GA
- Enrollment: about 600
- Tuition Cost: $38,652 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 92%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.uga.edu
Georgia State University College of Law
- Founded: 1982
- Located: Atlanta, GA
- Enrollment: about 650
- Tuition Cost: $37,618 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 95%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.gsu.edu
Mercer University School of Law
- Founded: 1873
- Located: Macon, GA
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $39,484 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 81%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.mercer.edu
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
- Founded: 1933
- Located: Atlanta, GA
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $22,065 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 62%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: johnmarshall.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- Georgia Attorney Questions and Answers (825 members)
- Georgia Lady Lawyers (377 members)
- Georgia Association for Women Lawyers – Douglas/Paulding Chapter (47 members)
- Girl Attorney – GA (352 members)
- Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) (362 members)
- GA/AL Immigration Attorneys (345 members)
- Atlanta Immigration Lawyers (60 members)
- Metro Atlanta Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Group (MACBAG) (235 members)
Emory University School of Law
- International Law Society (Emory Law) (288 members)
- Emory Law Alumni Networking Group (383 members)
- Emory Law School Democrats (166 members)
- Emory Law School Student Events (2,100 members)
- Emory Law Class of 2022 (460 members)
- Emory Law Class of 2020 (587 members)
University of Georgia School of Law
- UGA Law Democrats (42 members)
- UGA Law Alumni in Atlanta (130 members)
- UGA Law Dawgs Buy/Sell (475 members)
- UGA Law Current Law Dawgs (538 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2023 (108 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2022 (211 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2020 (221 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2019 (202 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2018 (206 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2016 (201 members)
- UGA LAW CLASS OF 2015! (139 members)
- UGA Law Class of 2017 (190 members)
Georgia State University College of Law
- GSU Law Facebook Group (1,570 members)
- GSU College of Law Sports and Entertainment Society (80 members)
- GSU Law Book Exchange – Buy/Sell/Swap/Rent (559 members)
Mercer University School of Law
- Mercer University Law OWLS (Older, Wiser Law Students) (93 members)
- Mercer Law School Class of 2023 (46 members)
- Mercer Law School Class of 2022 (121 members)
- Mercer Law School Class of 2021 (124 members)
- Mercer Law School Class of 2020 (217 members)
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
- The John Marshall Law School Professional Law Students’ Association (88 members)
- Children & Family Law Society – The John Marshall Law School (59 members)
- Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School – Office of Academic Achievement (16 members)
- Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (21 members)
- SALSA John Marshall Law School (54 members)
- The Official Alumni Group of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (699 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Georgia State bar exam: