Ultimate Guide to Nebraska State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Nebraska bar exam prep.
Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources
*Updated February 2024
Nebraska State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Nebraska State Bar Association was formed in 1937. It is a mandatory association for those with a license to practice law in Nebraska. Current law students are allowed free membership.
Nebraska is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Nebraska first administered the UBE in February 2012.
July 2023 (204 takers)
February 2023 (66 takers)
February 2022
July 2021
| 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 Nebraska (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
Are you interested in taking the Nebraska State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Nebraska bar exam.
The Nebraska Bar application fee for most first-time takers is $515. If you fail the exam, the fee to take the next immediate exam is $250. The late fee for applications is $150. The laptop fee is $100 and there is a $25 processing fee for the application.
*Visit the Nebraska State Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application opens on January 2 and the filing deadline is March 1. You may file up to 30 days after the deadline if you pay a $150 late fee. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application opens on September 1 and the filing deadline is November 1. You may file up to 30 days after the deadline if you pay a $150 late fee.
In addition to passing the Nebraska bar exam with a score of at least 270, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Nebraska, including:
- Score 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Provide fingerprints to the State of Nebraska
Nebraska State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Nebraska State Bar Commission of the Nebraska Supreme Court
3806 Normal Blvd.
Lincoln, Nebraska 68506-5241
Phone number: (402) 471-3092
Email: nsc.attyadmissions@nebraska.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
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Nebraska bar exam results released?
Nebraska bar exam results are usually posted six weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are normally posted in April. July bar exam results are normally posted in September.
Can I see my Nebraska bar exam score?
If you passed the Nebraska bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you fail the exam, your essays will be accessible. Follow instructions provided by Nebraska when you receive your score notification.
Can I appeal to have my Nebraska bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Nebraska?
You can retake the UBE without any limit in Nebraska.
Applicants seeking admission to the Nebraska State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.
If you are part of a bar in any of the states, territories, or jurisdictions in the United States, you are able to have reciprocity with the State of Nebraska if approved by the Board. In order to be eligible for admittance to the Nebraska State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Have a Certificate of Good Standing from last state
- Have proof of active legal standing in at least five of the last seven years
- Complete educational requirements of Nebraska
Here’s a list of law schools in Nebraska.
Nebraska College of Law
- Founded: 1869
- Located: Lincoln, NE
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $31,620 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 86%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.unl.edu
Creighton University School of Law
- Founded: 1904
- Location: Omaha, NE
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $41,494 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 79%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.creighton.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- Girl Attorney – NE (50 members)
- Lincoln Lawyers — Lincoln, Nebraska Attorneys (39 members)
- IA/NE New and Newer Immigration Attorneys (15 members)
- Nebraska Law Archive (75 members)
University of Nebraska College of Law
- Nebraska Law Textbook Exchange (4 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2022 (133 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2021 (124 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2020 (119 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2019 (121 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2018 (79 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2017 (91 members)
- Nebraska Law – Class of 2016 (98 members)
Creighton University School of Law
- Creighton University School of Law Friends (11 members)
- Creighton University School of Law Class of 2022 (121 members)
- Creighton University School of Law Class of 2021 (114 members)
- Creighton University School of Law Class of 2020 (90 members)
- Creighton University School of Law Class of 2017 (153 members)
- Creighton University School of Law 2016 (149 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Nebraska State Bar Exam: