Ultimate Guide to Mississippi State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Mississippi 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
*Updated February 2024
Mississippi State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Mississippi Bar was started in 1821, and it developed into a unified, mandatory bar in 1932. It includes about 10,000 legal professionals.
Mississippi is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state, so it does not have the same reciprocity benefits as a UBE state. Mississippi has its own bar exam that includes a jurisdiction-drafted exam plus all the components of the UBE: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
Mississippi also requires that the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) be passed in order to practice there.
July 2023 (150 takers)
February 2023 (56 takers)
February 2022 (50 takers)
July 2021 (129 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 Mississippi Bar?
The Mississippi bar is administered twice each year in Mississippi (in February and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The Mississippi bar has four parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), Multistate Essay Examinations (MEE), the Mississippi Essay Examinations (MSE), 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 40% of your overall score.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects (in addition to MEE and MPRE subjects).
MEE
The MEE consists of six 30-minute legal essays. Your MEE score comprises 15% of your score.
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.
MSE
The MSE consists of six legal essays that deal with Mississippi-specific law. These essays comprise 30% of your total score.
MPT
The MPT consists of one 90-minute tasks where you analyze and apply laws to specific scenarios. Your MPT score comprises 15% of your score. Crushendo offers the most recent MPT questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used.
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 Mississippi State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Mississippi bar exam.
The Mississippi Bar application fee for most takers is $600 if you file an early application. The fee is $1,000 for those who do not complete early registration or lawyers who have been admitted for less than a year.
*Visit the Mississippi State Bar’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, you should submit your application by November 15 to avoid late fees. If you file between November 15 and December 16, there is a $325 late fee. If you file between December 16 and January 15, there is a $625 late fee. January 15 is the final deadline.
If you desire to take the bar exam in July, you should submit your application by May 1 to avoid late fees. If you file between May 1 and June 1, there is a $325 late fee. If you file between June 1 and June 15, there is a $625 late fee. June 15 is the final deadline.
In addition to passing the Mississippi bar exam with a score of at least 132 out of 200, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Mississippi, including:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Certificate from Committee of Character and Fitness
- Be a graduate of an ABA approved law school
Mississippi State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Mississippi Board of Bar Examiners
1891 Eider Court
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750
Phone number: (850) 487-1292
What to bring
- Your current driver’s license or picture ID
- Admission certificate
- Jacket
- Money
- Wallet
- Keys
- Earplugs
- Pens, pencils, and erasers
- Facial tissue
- One clear plastic water bottle
Prohibited items
- Any item that can connect to the internet
- Any item that can record audio or video
- Backpacks
- Books
- Briefcases
- Calculators
- Cameras
- Flip flops
- Notes
- Phones
- Food or drink
- Purses
- Radios
- Rulers
- Scratch papers
- Study materials
- Sunglasses
- Watches
Learn more here.
A passing score for the bar in Mississippi is 132/200. Scores of the three tests comprising the bar are weighted as follows:
- MBE = 40% of your total score
- MEE = 15% of your total score
- MSE = 30% of your total score
- MPT = 15% of your total score
*A passing score for the MPRE in Mississippi is 75/150.
View recent bar pass lists:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Mississippi bar exam results released?
Mississippi bar exam results are usually posted six to nine weeks after the exam date.
Can I see my Mississippi bar exam score?
If you passed the Mississippi 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 Mississippi bar exam re-graded?
No. If your essay score is close to passing, it will be automatically re-graded. After scores have been released, there is no appeals process. You can ask to have your multiple-choice scores hand-graded for no extra cost.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Mississippi?
You can take the Mississippi bar without limit.
Here’s a list of law schools in Mississippi.
Mississippi College School of Law
- Founded: 1930
- Located: Jackson, MS
- Enrollment: about 350
- Tuition Cost: $18,435 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 61%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.mc.edu
University of Mississippi School of Law
- Founded: 1854
- Located: Jackson, MS
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $16,870 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 76%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.olemiss.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
Mississippi College School of Law
- Phi Alpha Delta – MC Law (14 members)
- MC Law Class of 2022 (158 members)
- MC Law Class of 2021 (138 members)
- MC Law Class of 2020 (168 members)
University of Mississippi School of Law
- Ole Miss Law SBA Social (291 members)
- Dean’s Leadership – Ole Miss Law (42 members)
- Ole Miss Law Casebook and Textbook Exchange (199 members)
- Ole Miss Law Class of 2023 (86 members)
- Ole Miss Law Class of 2022 (197 members)
- Ole Miss Law Class of 2021 (168 members)
- Ole Miss Law School Class of 2020 (138 members)
- Ole Miss Law School Class of 2019 (134 members)
- Ole Miss Law School Class of 2018 (137 members)
- Ole Miss Law School Class of 2017 (116 members)
- Ole Miss Law School Class of 2016 (111 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Mississippi State bar exam: