Ultimate Guide to Massachusetts State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) was formed in 1911. The MBA is a voluntary organization. There are about 43,000 lawyers in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. Massachusetts first administered the UBE in July 2018.
July 2023 (1,578 takers)
February 2023 (494 takers)
February 2022 (396 takers)
July 2021 (1,407 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 Massachusetts (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
Boston
Hynes Convention Center
900 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02115
Springfield
Western New England Law School
1215 Wilbraham Rd
Springfield, MA 01119
Are you interested in taking the Massachusetts bar exam? Here’s some basic information about applying to take the Massachusetts bar exam.
The application fee for Admission by Examination in Massachusetts is $815.
For those who wish to use a laptop to write their bar exam essays there is an additional fee of $75 paid to Massachusetts and $100 paid to ExamSoft. Fees remain the same for those applying to retake the Massachusetts bar examination.
The fee for applying for Admission by Motion is $1,015.
Total cost: $815-$1,015
*See Mass.gov for more information.
If you wish to take the July 2019 bar exam, you must submit your application by May 10, 2019. In general you should submit your application at least three months prior to the exam.
*There’s no limit on how many times you can take the Massachusetts bar exam.
In addition to passing the Massachusetts bar exam with a score of at least 270, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, including:
- Have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree.
- Have a law degree from an approved law school.
- Score 85 or higher on the MPRE within the accepted time frame.
- Successfully complete the Massachusetts Law Component Examination.
- Submit documents listed on Mass.gov’s application guide (letters of recommendation, law school certificate, MPRE score report, etc.).
Massachusetts State Board of Law Examiners
Physical address:
Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon St 1st floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone number: (617) 482-4466
Mailing address:
Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon St 1st floor
Boston, MA 02114
Email address: info@bbe.state.ma.us
What to bring
- Your official government issued photo ID.
- Your seating assignment notice ticket (from sent email)
- Your examinee agreement
- #2 pencils (for Wednesday)
- Blue or black pens (for Tuesday)
- Laptop and power cord adapter (for Tuesday)
Important notes
- About six weeks before the exam date you should receive an email from ExamSoft. You should register and download the software to your laptop. If you do not successfully register and download the software in the permitted time frame, you will not be able to use your laptop, and will instead have to write your essays in an issued exam booklet.
Permitted items
- 1 clear, label-free, plastic water bottle (no larger than 1 liter)
- A piece of clothing, if needed (ie. sweater)
- 1 clear plastic bag of one gallon or less for personal items (lunch, medication, etc.)
Prohibited items
- Electronic devices
- Watches, timers
- Bags, purses, backpacks, briefcases
- Pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, mechanical pencils
- Erasable, fountain, or felt pens
- Highlighters
- Scrap paper
- Notes
- Bar prep materials
- Noisy shoes
- Flip flops
- Earplugs (these will be given to you at the testing center)
- Hats, hoods, and outer clothing (except for religious or medical reasons)
*More information on what you can and cannot bring to the testing center.
View the Massachusetts Bar Exam pass list.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Massachusetts bar exam results released?
February bar exam results are posted in April. July bar exam results are posted in October.
Can I see my Massachusetts bar exam score?
Yes. You will be notified by email when results are published. The email will include a breakdown of scores and your total UBE score.
Can I appeal to have my Massachusetts bar exam re-graded?
No. If your total UBE score was 265 to 269 your essay answers will be re-graded by a different grader. Your two scores will be used to compute your final UBE score, which is the score you will be able to see.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Massachusetts?
There’s no limit to how many times you can take the bar exam in Massachusetts.
Applicants seeking admission to the bar in Massachusetts without taking the bar exam, must comply with Supreme Court Rule 3:01.
Reciprocity Requirements Overview
In order to be eligible for admission by motion in Massachusetts, you must:
- Have practiced law for five of the seven years prior to your application. (see Section 6.1.1)
- Have practiced law in such a way as to assure the Board of Bar Examiners of your good moral character and professional qualifications. (see Section 6.1.2)
- Have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. (see Section 6.1.4)
- Have a law degree from an approved law school (approved by the ABA or a state statute). (see Section 6.1.4)
- Have scored 85 or higher on the MPRE, or with a score that was satisfactory at the time of your admittance to your admitted jurisdiction. (see Section 6.1.5)
- Certification showing you have successfully completed the Massachusetts Law Component Examination. (see Sections 6.1.6 and 6.3)
- Comply with all requirements set forth in Supreme Court Rule 3:01, and pay the necessary fees.
Reciprocal Jurisdictions: Admission by motion in Massachusetts is not dependent on reciprocity with other jurisdictions.
*For more information, see the instructions on Mass.gov, Admission by Motion FAQs and Section 6 of Supreme Court Rule 3:01.
Here’s a list of ABA Accredited law schools in Massachusetts.
Boston College Law School
- Founded: 1929
- Located: Newton, MA
- Enrollment: About 800 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$56,940
- Bar Passage Rate: 90.5% (2017)
- Website: bc.edu/..law
Boston University School of Law
- Founded: 1872
- Located: Boston, MA
- Enrollment: About 820 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$55,700
- Bar Passage Rate: 87.4% (2017)
- Website: bu.edu/law
Harvard Law School
- Founded: 1817
- Located: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Enrollment: About 1,990 students (2017)
- Tuition Cost: ~$65,875
- Bar Passage Rate: 97% (2016)
- Website: hls.harvard.edu
University of Massachusetts School of Law
- Founded: 2010
- Located: Dartmouth, MA
- Enrollment: 93 students (Fall 2018 class)
- Tuition Cost: ~$38,370
- Bar Passage Rate: 92.6% (July 2018 first-time takers)
- Website: umassd.edu/law
New England Law Boston
- Founded: 1908
- Located: Boston, MA
- Enrollment: About 1,130 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$50,888
- Bar Passage Rate: 64.6% (2018)
- Website: nesl.edu
Northeastern University School of Law
- Founded: 1898
- Located: Boston, MA
- Enrollment: About 630 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$52,800
- Bar Passage Rate: 89% (2018 first-time takers)
- Website: northeastern.edu/law
Suffolk University Law School
- Founded: 1906
- Located: Boston, MA
- Enrollment: About 1,680 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$49,410
- Bar Passage Rate: 65.5% (July 2017 first-time takers)
- Website: suffolk.edu/law
Western New England University School of Law
- Founded: 1919
- Located: Springfield, MA
- Enrollment: About 390 students (2010)
- Tuition Cost: ~$42,058
- Bar Passage Rate: 79.2% (July 2017 first-time takers)
- Website: wne.edu/law
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:
- Lawyer Moms of America – Massachusetts (393 members)
- National Lawyers Guild (NLG) – Massachusetts Chapter Law Students (52 members)
- Girl Attorney – MA (38 members)
Boston College Law School
- Boston College Law School 2018 (490 members)
- Boston College Law School 2020 (437 members)
- Boston College Law School 2019 (436 members)
- Boston College Law School 2021 (375 members)
- Boston College Law School 2022 (345 members)
- Boston College Law International Programs (158 members)
- Boston College Law School LAHANAS Class of 2022 (57 members)
Boston University School of Law
- Boston University School of Law Class of 2019 (504 members)
- Boston University School of Law Class of 2021 (445 members)
- Boston University School of Law Class of 2020 (441 members)
- Boston University School of Law’s Class of 2022 (301 members)
- Boston University Business Law Society (259 members)
- Boston University School of Law New York Young Alumni Council (153 members)
- Boston University Law Review 2018-2019 (71 members)
Harvard Law School
- Harvard Law School Association (855 members)
- Harvard Law School Public Interest Community (779 members)
- Harvard Law School – Class of 2021 (751 members)
- Harvard Law School – Class of 2020 (731 members)
- Harvard Law School – Class of 2022 (630 members)
- Harvard Law School Black Alumni Network (534 members)
- Harvard Law School LL.M. Class of 2020 (329 members)
- Harvard Law School Association (HLSA) of Northern California (149 members)
- Harvard Law School – Class of 2025 (61 members)
- Harvard Law School Alumni India group (41 members)
University of Massachusetts School of Law
- Southern New England Law Alumni (241 members)
- The Larkin Senate & Larkin Alumni Senate, Delta Theta Phi at UMass Law (156 members)
- UMass Law Class of 2022 (124 members)
- UMass Law Class of 2021 (115 members)
- Legal Association of Women (UMASS School of Law ~ Dartmouth) (112 members)
- UMass Law Class of 2020 (70 members)
- American Bar Association (ABA) at UMass Law (70 members)
- UMass Law Class of 2019 (38 members)
- UMass Law LALSA (27 members)
New England Law Boston
- New England Law | Boston ’19 Admitted Students (309 members)
- New England Law | Boston 2018 Admitted Students (138 members)
- New England Law Memes For Unranked Teens (87 members)
- ACS New England Law | Boston Student Chapter (66 members)
- New England Law | Boston E-01 Class of 2023 (45 members)
Northeastern University School of Law
- Northeastern Law Students (1,355 members)
- Northeastern University School of Law Class of 2021 (216 members)
- Northeastern University School of Law Class of 2019 (213 members)
- Northeastern University School of Law Class of 2022 (196 members)
- Northeastern University School of Law Class of 2020 (189 members)
- Northeastern University School of Law – DC Alumni Chapter (93 members)
Suffolk University Law School
- Suffolk Law Fall Class of 2019 (194 members)
- Suffolk University Law School Business Law Association (155 members)
- Suffolk University’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) (153 members)
- Suffolk University Law School APALSA (134 members)
- Suffolk Law Class of 2021 (121 members)
- Suffolk Law 2C – Class of 2020 (107 members)
- Suffolk Law Class of 2020 Section 2B (105 members)
- Suffolk Law Class of 2020 Section 2A (97 members)
- Suffolk University Law School – Evening Class Alum 2017/18 (93 members)
- Suffolk Law Ski & Snowboard Club (82 members)
- Suffolk Law School Alumni Chapter of Metropolitan Washington, DC (56 members)
- Suffolk Law South Asian Students Association (SALSA) (50 members)
- Suffolk Human Rights Law Society (34 members)
- Suffolk Law School Trust and Estates/ Real Estate Group (33 members)
- Suffolk Law Class of 2022 (21 members)
Western New England University School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Massachusetts State Bar Exam: