Ultimate Guide to Montana State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Montana 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
Montana State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The State Bar of Montana was formed in 1974, although the voluntary Montana Bar Association has existed since 1885.
Montana is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Montana first administered the UBE in July 2013.
July 2023 (110 takers)
February 2023 (39 takers)
February 2022 (51 takers)
July 2021 (103 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 |
–
Last updated: 1/7/23
*Cost ignores promotions and live tutoring.
–
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 Montana (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
| Morning | Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | MEE (3 hours) | MPT (3 hours) |
| Day 2 | MBE (3 hours) | MBE (3 hours) |
- February 25–26, 2025
- July 29–30, 2025
The Montana Law seminar takes place the day after the bar exam. This seminar is required for admission to the bar in Montana. Plan to be at the testing site Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. See more information on the schedule.
Are you interested in taking the Montana State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Montana bar exam.
The Montana Bar application fee for law students or those who have not been previously licensed is $155, plus a fee of $310 for the UBE exam and an additional $155 for the required Montana Law seminar. Those who are already licensed in another state will play an application fee of of $410 instead of $155.
*Visit the State Bar of Montana’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application deadline is October 1. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application deadline is March 15. Late applications are only allowed if the person petitions the Montana Supreme Court, and if the plea is granted the application will be received if a $100 late fee is paid.
In addition to passing the Montana 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 Montana, including:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Character and Fitness Review
- Graduate from an ABA-approved law school
- Attend the Montana Law Seminar, which happens the day after the bar exam
Montana State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
State Bar of Montana
33 S Last Chance Gulch St #1b,
Helena, MT 59601
Phone number: (406) 442-7660
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 Montana State bar exam, posted on the Montana State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Montana bar exam results released?
February bar exam results are usually posted in April. July bar exam results are usually posted in September.
Can I see my Montana bar exam score?
If you passed the Montana bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.
Can I appeal to have my Montana bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Montana?
You can retake the UBE in Montana three times.
Attorneys in all states, territories, and districts can apply to the Montana State Bar if they meet the reciprocity requirements.
In order to be eligible for admittance to the Montana State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Show proof of being admitted to the bar in a reciprocal state
- Hold a JD or LLB from an ABA-approved law school
- Have proof of good standing in the bar in another state
- Have proof of active legal standing in at least five of the last seven years
Here’s a list of law schools in Montana.
Alexander Blewett III School of Law (University of Montana)
- Founded: 1911
- Located: Missoula, MT
- Enrollment: 234 students
- Tuition Cost: $34,647 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 80%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: umt.edu/law
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
Alexander Blewett III School of Law (University of Montana)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Montana State Bar Exam: