Ultimate Guide to Illinois State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Illinois bar exam prep.
Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Locations · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources · Other Jurisdictions
*Updated January 2024
Illinois State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Illinois State Bar Association was created in 1877. The voluntary organization has about 28,000 members. There are about 65,000 lawyers living in Illinois. About 38% of lawyers in Illinois are female.
Illinois is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. Illinois first administered the UBE in July 2019.
July 2023 (1998 takers)
February 2023 (753 takers)
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 UBE is administered twice each year in Illinois (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 Illinois bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Illinois bar exam.
Illinois’ application fee for first-time bar exam takers is $500, $700, or $1,000, depending on when the application is filed. The application fee for repeat takers is $500 or $850, depending on when the application is filed.
The application cost for admission on motion and UBE score transfer applicants is $1,250.
Applying for Character and Fitness certification/recertification costs $450.
*See Rule 706 for more details about fees.
To take the bar exam in February, you must submit your bar exam application by December 15th. To take the July bar exam, you must submit your application by May 15th. If you are a first-time taker you can save up to $500 by applying early. If you are a repeat taker you can save $350 by applying on time.
February Registration Deadlines
- Early: September 15th
- On Time: November 1st
- Late: December 15th
July Registration Deadlines
- Early: February 15th
- On Time: April 1st
- Late: May 15th
*There’s no limit on how many times you can take the bar exam in Illinois.
In addition to passing the Illinois bar exam with a score of at least 266, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Illinois, including:
- Have the equivalent of a high school diploma.
- Have completed 90 semester hours from an approved college.
- Have a law degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Committee on Character & Fitness certification.
*Refer to the Illinois Supreme Court rules for more information.
Illinois Board of Admissions to The Bar
Physical address:
Illinois Board of Admissions to The Bar
625 South College Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
Phone number: (217) 522-5917
Mailing address:
Illinois Board of Admissions to The Bar
625 South College Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
What to bring
- Photo ID (a valid driver’s license, passport, or state identification card).
- Permitted personal items.
Important notes
- After checking in with your photo ID you will be given a photo ID badge. The badge will indicate your seating assignment and will act as your admission ticket for each of the four testing sessions. Your ID badge must be worn on your chest at all times on the test site.
- In order to enter the testing room, you will pass through a checkpoint. At the checkpoint you are required to wear your badge, and display your permitted items in a clear, plastic bag.
- At check-in you will be provided one clear plastic bag with which to store your permitted personal items.
- Laptop testers may bring a 2-1/2 gallon clear plastic bag in which to carry their laptop supplies in the testing room.
Prohibited items
- Anything not listed as a permitted item.
- Coats, jackets, gloves, hats, umbrellas, and scarves.
Permitted items
Only these ten items may be allowed into the test room:
- Your photo ID badge.
- Your personal photo ID.
- Laptop equipment (first day only).
- Credit card and money.
- Transportation card.
- Keys.
- Feminine hygiene products.
- Eyeglasses (no cases permitted).
- Earplugs (no attached wires permitted).
- Previously-approved medical items.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Illinois bar exam results released?
February bar exam results are usually posted toward the beginning of April. July bar exam results are usually posted toward the beginning of October.
Can I see my Illinois bar exam score?
You will receive an e-mail with information about your exam results. There will also be information available to you when you log in to your account on the Illinois Board of Admissions to The Bar website.
Can I appeal to have my Illinois bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Illinois?
There’s no limit to how many times you can take the UBE in Illinois.
Applicants seeking admission as an attorney in Illinois without taking the bar exam, must comply with Rule 705 of the Illinois Supreme Court.
Reciprocity Requirements Overview
The first thing you need to do is take a preliminary questionnaire for admission on motion. Once your questionnaire is approved, you may proceed with the following steps.
In order to be eligible for admission on motion in Illinois, you must:
- Have paid the admission on motion fee ($1,250).
- Have a law degree from an approved list of law schools.
- Have certification from the Committee on Character and Fitness (costs $450).
- Have passed the MPRE (unless you have practiced law for 15+ years).
- Have an active status as an attorney in at least one jurisdiction.
- Be a member in good standing in all of your admitted jurisdictions.
- Have practiced law in the United States or a U.S. territory for at least three years prior to your application.
- Provide evidence that you have practiced law for at least three of the five years prior to your application. During the 3+ years you need to have worked a minimum of 80 hours/month.
- Have not failed the Illinois bar exam in the last five years.
Reciprocal Jurisdictions: All U.S. states and territories.
*Click here for more information on admission on motion in Illinois.
Here’s a list of ABA accredited law schools in Illinois.
University of Chicago Law School
- Founded: 1902
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: About 630 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$66,650
- Bar Passage Rate: 98.58% (2017 first-time takers)
- Website: law.uchicago.edu
Chicago-Kent College of Law (Illinois Institute of Technology)
- Founded: 1888
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: About 940 students (2011)
- Tuition Cost: ~$48,140-$51,460
- Bar Passage Rate: 73.53% (2018)
- Website: kentlaw.iit.edu
DePaul University College of Law
- Founded: 1912
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: 710 (2018)
- Tuition Cost: ~$48,670
- Bar Passage Rate: 70.33% (2017 first-time takers)
- Website: law.depaul.edu
University of Illinois College of Law
- Founded: 1897
- Located: Champaign, IL
- Enrollment: About 640 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$45,000
- Bar Passage Rate: 91.12% (2018)
- Website: law.illinois.edu
John Marshall Law School
- Founded: 1899
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: About 1,900 students
- Tuition Cost: ~$1,500/credit hour
- Bar Passage Rate: 62% (July 2018 first-time takers)
- Website: jmls.uic.edu
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- Founded: 1908
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: About 850 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$48,570
- Bar Passage Rate: 78.5% (2017 first-time takers)
- Website: luc.edu/law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
- Founded: 1975
- Located: DeKalb, IL
- Enrollment: About 335 students (2012)
- Tuition Cost: ~$44,340
- Bar Passage Rate: 84% (July 2017 first-time takers)
- Website: niu.edu/law
Pritzker School of Law (Northwestern University)
- Founded: 1859
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Enrollment: 817 (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$66,500
- Bar Passage Rate: 92% (2017)
- Website: law.northwestern.edu
Southern Illinois University School of Law
- Founded: 1972
- Located: Carbondale, IL
- Enrollment: About 270 students
- Tuition Cost: ~$52,512
- Bar Passage Rate: 67% (2017)
- Website: law.siu.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:
- ECIWAA – East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association (95 members)
- GIRL ATTORNEY® – IL (75 members)
University of Chicago Law School
- The University of Chicago Law School Class of 2022 (422 members)
- The University of Chicago Law School Class of 2021 (377 members)
- The University of Chicago Law School Class of 2020 (264 members)
- The University of Chicago Law School Class of 2019 (202 members)
- LLM Class 2020 – University of Chicago Law School (177 members)
- Law Women’s Caucus (University of Chicago Law School) (125 members)
Chicago-Kent College of Law (Illinois Institute of Technology)
- Official Group for the Chicago-Kent 2019 Entering Class (265 members)
- Chicago-Kent College Of Law – SBA (208 members)
- Phi Alpha Delta – Blackstone Chapter – Chicago Kent College of Law (91 members)
- Chicago-Kent LL.M. Class of 2020 (64 members)
DePaul University College of Law
- DePaul Student Bar Association (380 members)
- DePaul Law: Fall 2018 Entering Students (298 members)
- DePaul Latino Law Student Association (204 members)
- Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (DePaul) (167 members)
- DePaul Law: Fall 2019 Entering Students (147 members)
- DePaul Law APALSA (131 members)
University of Illinois College of Law
- University of Illinois College of Law Class of 2019 (272 members)
- Illinois Law Class of 2022 Admitted Students (161 members)
- University of Illinois College of Law Black Law Student Association Alumni (101 members)
John Marshall Law School
- JMLS Fall 2019 Admitted Students (283 members)
- JMLS Class 2019 (116 members)
- The John Marshall Law School Professional Law Students’ Association (88 members)
- SALSA John Marshall Law School (54 members)
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- Loyola University Chicago Law SBA (1,256 members)
- LLSA Loyola University Chicago School of Law (247 members)
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law Class of 2022 (242 members)
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law Class of 2021 (236 members)
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law Class of 2020 (211 members)
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Class of 2019 (121 members)
Northern Illinois University College of Law
- Northern Illinois University College of Law (1,004 members)
- NIU College of Law Class of 2022 (192 members)
- NIU College of Law – Class of 2019 (182 members)
- NIU College of Law – Class of 2021 (173 members)
- NIU College of Law – Class of 2018 (163 members)
- NIU College of Law – Class of 2020 (157 members)
- NIU College of Law Trial Ad Society (150 members)
- NIU Pre-Law Society (127 members)
- NIU College of Law – Class of 2017 (112 members)
- NIU Criminal Law Society (106 members)
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
- Official Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Class of 2021 (238 members)
- Official Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Class of 2020 (217 members)
- Official Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Class of 2019 (204 members)
- Official Northwestern Pritzker Class of 2022 (188 members)
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law LL.M class of 2020 (175 members)
Southern Illinois University School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Illinois State Bar Exam: