Ultimate Guide to Kentucky State Bar Exam

kentucky bar

Kentucky State Bar Exam | Basic Information

The Kentucky Bar Association was started in 1934, and is a mandatory bar.

Kentucky is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Kentucky first administered the UBE in February 2021. Kentucky also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

Kentucky State Bar Exam Pass Rates

February 2022

Overall Pass Rate: 45%
First-Time Pass Rate: 52%
Repeat Pass Rate: 49%

February 2021 (114 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 59%
First-Time Pass Rate: unknown
Repeat Pass Rate: unknown

July 2021

Overall Pass Rate: 72.17%
First-Time Pass Rate: 71.91%
Repeat Pass Rate: 28.57%

July 2020 (323 takers)

Overall Pass Rate: 74%
First-Time Pass Rate: 84%
Repeat Pass Rate: 42%

Kentucky Bar Review Courses

Compare top Kentucky 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.

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.

Kentucky State Bar Exam Format

What’s the format of the UBE?

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Kentucky (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), 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

Schedule

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

Dates

  • July 26-27, 2022
  • February 21-22, 2023
  • July 25-26, 2023

Location

Kentucky Bar Exam Application

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

The Kentucky Bar application fee for most takers is $875. The fee is $1,125 if you submit after the first deadline and $1,375 if you submit after the second deadline.

The application fee for attorneys is $1,200. The fee is $1,450 if you submit after the first deadline and $1,700 is you submit after the second deadline.

*Visit the Kentucky State Bar’s website for more information.

If you desire to take the bar exam in February, you should submit your application by October 1 to avoid late fees. If you file between October 2 and November 10, there is a $250 late fee. If you file between November 11 and December 10, there is a $500 late fee. December 10 is the final deadline.

If you desire to take the bar exam in July, you should submit your application by February 1 to avoid late fees. If you file between February 2 and March 10, there is a $250 late fee. If you file between March 11 and May 10, there is a $500 late fee. May 10 is the final deadline.

In addition to passing the Kentucky bar exam with an MBE score of at least 135 out of 200 and an essays score of 900 out of 1,200, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Kentucky, including:

  1. Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
  2. Certificate from Committee of Character and Fitness

More information here.

Kentucky State Bar Admissions Office

Physical address:

Kentucky Board of Bar Examiners
1510 Newtown Pike, Suite 156
Lexington, KY 40511
 

Phone number: (859) 246-2381

Email: info@kyoba.org

Fax: (859) 246-2385

Kentucky Bar Exam: What to Bring

What to bring

  • Your current driver’s license or picture ID
  • Jacket
  • Money
  • Keys

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
  • Watches

Kentucky Bar Exam Scores and Grading

A passing score for the UBE in Kentucky 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 Kentucky is 80/150.

UBE-Suite-Flashcards-Mnemonics-Practice-Questions-Complete-Bar-Prep-Course

Kentucky Bar Review Course

Crushendo’s comprehensive UBE Suite comes with everything you need to crush the Kentucky Bar Exam.

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

Kentucky Bar Exam Results

View recent bar pass lists:

Frequently Asked Questions

When are my Kentucky bar exam results released?

Kentucky bar exam results are usually posted nine weeks after the exam date.

Can I see my Kentucky bar exam score?

If you passed the Kentucky 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 Kentucky bar exam re-graded?

No. If your essay score is close to passing, it will be automatically regraded. After scores have been released, there is no appeals process.

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

You can take the Kentucky bar five times.

Kentucky Bar Exam Reciprocity

The following states and jurisdiction have reciprocity with Kentucky: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

You can be admitted if you meet the reciprocity requirements:

  • Be actively engaged in the practice of law for five of the last seven years

Law Schools in Kentucky

Here’s a list of law schools in Kentucky.

Salmon P. Chase College of Law (Northern Kentucky University)

Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (University of Louisville)

J. David Rosenburg College of Law (University of Kentucky)

  • Founded: 1908
  • Located: Lexington, KY
  • Enrollment: about 350
  • Tuition Cost: $50,352 View tuition breakdown
  • Bar Passage Rate: 74%
  • ABA Accredited: Yes
  • Website: law.uky.edu

Helpful Groups

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

Salmon P. Chase College of Law (Northern Kentucky University)

Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (University of Louisville)