Ultimate Guide to Maryland State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Maryland 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 January 2024
Maryland State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) was formed in 1896. The voluntary organization has about 25,000 members. There are about 40,000 lawyers in Maryland.
Maryland is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. Maryland first administered the UBE in July 2019.
July 2023 (808 takers)
February 2023 (358 takers)
February 2022 (338 takers)
July 2021 (865 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 Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Maryland (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, Locations
Are you interested in taking the Maryland bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Maryland bar exam.
The Maryland bar exam application fee for most takers is $400. The Character Questionnaire costs an additional $225. There is a $125 laptop fee.
*See the Maryland State Bar Fee Guide for more information.
If you want to take the February bar exam, you should submit your application by September 15. If you apply after September 15 but before December 20, there is a $50 fee. If you want to take the July bar exam, you should submit your application by January 15. If you apply after January 15 but before March 1, there is a $50 fee. If you apply after March 1 but before May 20, you will pay a $125 fee.
In addition to passing the Maryland 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 Maryland, including:
- Score 85 or higher on the MPRE within the accepted time frame.
- Receive a JD from an ABA-approved law school
Maryland State Board of Law Examiners
Physical address:
Judiciary A-POD,
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: (410) 260-3640
What to bring
- Your official government issued photo ID (U.S. driver’s license or passport)
- Your examination pass
Important notes
- You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions
- You must carry all permitted items into the testing center in one clear, re-sealable plastic food bag of one gallon size or less (photo ID, seat ticket, etc.)
- You will be provided with a pair of foam ear plugs
Permitted items
- No. 2 pencils and erasers
- Blue or black ink pens
- Highlighters (essay day only)
- Capped or lidded drink
Prohibited items
All other items are prohibited, including:
- Bags
- Watches
- Hats (unless religious or health exemption)
- Cell phones
- Notes
- Electronic devices
- Tissues
- Books
- Mechanical pencils
- Highlighters
- Flip flops
- Briefcases
- etc.
*More information on what you can and cannot bring to the testing center.
View lists of those who passed the Maryland State bar exam, posted on the Maryland State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Maryland bar exam results released?
February bar exam results are usually posted in April. July bar exam results are usually posted in October.
Can I see my Maryland bar exam score?
Results will be posted to eBar My Status pages.
Can I appeal to have my Maryland bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Maryland?
There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in Maryland.
Applicants seeking to be admitted as attorneys in Maryland, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Rule 19.25.
Reciprocity Requirements Overview
In order to be eligible for admission on motion in Maryland, you must:
- Hold a Juris Doctor degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
- Have practiced law for three of the five years prior to your application, or 10 years total
- Have a Certificate of Good Standing
All states, territories, and districts have reciprocity with Maryland if these requirements are kept.
Here’s a list of ABA Accredited law schools in Maryland.
University of Baltimore School of Law
- Founded: 1925
- Located: Baltimore, MD
- Enrollment: About 730 students (2017)
- Tuition Cost: ~$45,850
- Bar Passage Rate: 70% (July 2017)
- Website: law.ubalt.edu
Francis King Carey School of Law (University of Maryland)
- Founded: 1816
- Located: Baltimore, MD
- Enrollment: About 700 students
- Tuition Cost: ~$48,426
- Bar Passage Rate: 75.6% (2017)
- Website: law.umaryland.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:
- Maryland Lawyers (2,867 members)
- Maryland Lawmas (492 members)
- Lawyer Moms of America Maryland Chapter (216 members)
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (133 members)
- Maryland Estate Planning Attorney Tutorials (103 members)
- Maryland Lawyers – Politics and Law (75 members)
- Maryland Attorneys (40 members)
University of Baltimore School of Law
- UB School of Law Current Students (856 members)
- University of Baltimore Law School Black Alumni (161 members)
- The Federalist Society : University of Baltimore School of Law (50 members)
- Latin American Law Student Association – University of Baltimore Law School (45 members)
- Military & Government Law Association – UBALT LAW (39 members)
- Parents in Law School, University of Baltimore (35 members)
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- Maryland Carey Law Class of 2021/2022 (296 members)
- Maryland Carey Law Class of 2020/2021 (285 members)
- Maryland Carey Law – Class of 2019/2020 (279 members)
- Maryland Carey Law Class of 2022/2023 (240 members)
- Maryland Carey Law Women’s Bar Association (193 members)
- Maryland Carey Law ADR Team (101 members)
- Maryland Carey Law- LL.M. Students & Alumni (59 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Maryland State Bar Exam: