Ultimate Guide to Kentucky State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Kentucky 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 · Other Jurisdictions
*Updated February 2024
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).
July 2023 (315 takers)
February 2023 (115 takers)
February 2022
July 2021
| 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 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
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:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- 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
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
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.
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
Here’s a list of law schools in Kentucky.
Salmon P. Chase College of Law (Northern Kentucky University)
- Founded: 1893
- Located: Highland Heights, KY
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $21,346 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 61%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: chaselaw.nku.edu
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (University of Louisville)
- Founded: 1846
- Located: Louisville, KY
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: $27,534 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 74%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: louisville.edu/law
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
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)
- National Lawyers Guild Student Chapter NKU Chase College of Law (43 members)
- NKU Chase Legal Association of Women (165 members)
- NKU Chase College of Law – Sport and Entertainment Law Society (59 members)
- NKU Chase Criminal Law Association (95 members)
- NKU Chase International Law Student Association (56 members)
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (University of Louisville)
- Louisville Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets, Roommates (5,927 members)
- SBA- Brandeis School of Law (552 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2023 (76 members)
- Brandeis School of Law Book Exchange (68 members)
- Women’s Law Caucus – University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (33 members)
- Brandeis Christian Law Society (32 members)
- Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Moot Court Board (138 members)
- UofL Brandeis Labor & Employment Law Society (34 members)
- The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights under Law, Cardozo Chapter (41 members)
- PALS – Brandeis School of Law (21 members)
- Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (29 members)
- Business Law Society (University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law) (93 members)
- Journal of Animal and Environmental Law – Brandeis School of Law (30 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2022 (87 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2021 (125 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2020 (138 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2019 (100 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2018 (182 members)
- University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Class of 2017 (165 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Kentucky State bar exam: