Ultimate Guide to Missouri Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Missouri 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
Missouri State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Missouri State Bar was founded in 1944. This mandatory organization has about 30,000 members.
Missouri is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. Missouri first administered the UBE in February 2011.
July 2023 (663 takers)
February 2023 (223 takers)
February 2022 (234 takers)
July 2021 (628 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 Missouri (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, Location
Are you interested in taking the Missouri State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Missouri bar exam.
The Missouri State Bar application fee for most takers is $485 if you applied for a Character and Fitness Report as a 1L or 2L. Otherwise, it is $910. The application cost for UBE score transfer applicants and out-of-state lawyers applying for admission into the Missouri State Bar is $675.
*Visit the Missouri State Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, you should submit your bar exam application by October 1. There is a fee of about $125-150 for each month after October 1, with a final deadline on December 31. If you desire to take the bar exam in July, you should submit your bar exam application by March 1. There is a fee of about $125-150 for each month after March 1, with a final deadline on May 31.
In addition to passing the Missouri bar exam with a score of at least 260, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Missouri, including:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
- Committee on Character & Fitness certification.
- Take the Missouri Educational Component Test, an open-book test on Missouri law
Missouri State Bar Admissions Office
Mailing address:
Missouri Board of Law Examiners
P.O. Box 104236
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4236
Phone: (573) 751-9814
Email: mble@courts.mo.gov
What to bring
- Your current driver’s license.
- Your Bar Examination Identification & Certification Card that has your photo, NCBE number, and examinee number.
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
View lists of those who passed the Missouri State bar exam, posted on the Missouri State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Missouri bar exam results released?
The Missouri bar tries to release bar exam results about seven weeks after the exam is taken.
Can I appeal to have my Missouri bar exam re-graded?
There is no appeal of essay score, but you may appeal to have your multiple choice regraded to verify that the machine made no errors.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Missouri?
There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in Missouri.
Applicants seeking admission to the Missouri State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Admission Rules to qualify.
Reciprocity Requirements Overview
In order to be eligible for admittance to the Missouri State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Be admitted to practice law in another U.S. state or territory
- Hold a legal degree from an ABA-approved law school
- Have practiced law for five of the 10 years prior to your application
- Ensure that the primary state you practiced law in would allow lawyers in Missouri a similar accommodation
Here is a list of law schools in Missouri:
University of Missouri School of Law
- Founded: 1872
- Located: Columbia, MO
- Enrollment: about 350
- Tuition Cost: $41,109 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 80%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.missouri.edu
Saint Louis University School of Law
- Founded: 1843
- Located: Saint Louis, MO
- Enrollment: about 550
- Tuition Cost: $42,540 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 86%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: slu.edu/law
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law
- Founded: 1895
- Located: Kansas City, MO
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $38,215 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 81%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.umkc.edu
Washington University School of Law
- Founded: 1867
- Located: Saint Louis, MO
- Enrollment: about 700
- Tuition Cost: $58,800 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 76%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.wustl.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
University of Missouri School of Law
- University of Missouri School of Law Alumni (15 members)
- University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law Alumni (2 members)
- Mizzou Criminal Law Association (7 members)
- Mizzou Law Alumni in St. Louis (45 members)
- ACS – Mizzou Law (29 members)
- Mizzou Law Federalist Society (89 members)
- MU Law SBA (728 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2022 (96 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2021 (79 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2020 (81 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2019 (94 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2018 (87 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2017 (103 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2016 (106 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2015 (124 members)
- Mizzou Law Class of 2014 (124 members)
Saint Louis University School of Law
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law
- UMKC Law: Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys – Student Chapter (4 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2022 (155 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2021 (181 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2020 (207 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2019 (261 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2018 (258 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2017 (230 members)
- UMKC School of Law Class of 2016 (228 members)
Washington University School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Missouri State Bar Exam: