Ultimate Guide to Kentucky State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Kentucky bar exam prep.
Pass Rates · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Location · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources
*Updated June 2020
Kentucky State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Kentucky Bar Association was started in 1934 and is a mandatory bar.
Kentucky is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state. Kentucky has its own bar exam that uses the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the national multiple-choice test. Kentucky uses the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), the national essay exam. Kentucky also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
February 2020 (unknown takers)
View detailed statistics
February 2019 (178 takers)
What’s the format of the Kentucky Bar?
The Kentucky bar is administered twice each year in Kentucky (in February and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The Kentucky bar has four parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Kentucky Essay Exam.
MBE
The MBE is a six-hour test and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that test your understanding across seven subjects. You must score at least a 135 out of 200 on the MBE.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects.
Kentucky MBE Review Course
Crushendo’s comprehensive MBE Suite comes with everything you need to crush the MBE exam.
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MEE
The MEE consists of six 30-minute legal essays. Between the MEE and the Kentucky Essays sections, you must score at least 900 out of 1,200 possible points to pass.
MEE exam 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.
Examiners could replace three of the essays with one MPT question if they desire.
Kentucky Essay Exam
The Kentucky Essay Exam consists of six 30 minute legal essays. Between the MEE and the Kentucky Essays sections, you must score at least 900 out of 1,200 possible points to pass.
See previous Kentucky Essay Exam questions here.
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: