Ultimate Guide to New York State Bar Exam

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) was formed in 1876. The voluntary organization has about 74,000 members. There are about 182,000 lawyers in New York.

New York is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. New York first administered the UBE in July 2016.

July 2023 (9,779 takers)

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February 2023 (3,660 takers)

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February 2022 (3,068 takers)

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July 2021 (9,227 takers)

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Compare top New York Bar Exam prep courses from Crushendo, Barbri, Themis, Kaplan, AmeriBar, and BarMax.

What’s the format of the UBE?

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in New York (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!

• July 30–31, 2024
• February 25–26, 2025

Albany (February & July)

Empire State Plaza Convention Hall
Concourse Level, Albany, NY 12242

or

Albany Capital Center
55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207

Buffalo (February & July)

Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center
153 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

New York City (February & July)

Jacob Javits Convention Center – Exhibition Hall 3E
11th Avenue at West 35th Street, Manhattan

Saratoga Springs (July)

Saratoga City Center
522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

White Plains (February & July)

Pace Law School/New York State Judicial Institute
78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603

*Learn more about NY bar exam test sites.

Are you interested in taking the New York bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the New York bar exam.

New York State Board of Law Examiners

What to bring

• Your official government issued photo ID (U.S. driver’s license or passport) .
• Your seat ticket (print it online before the exam). The seat number on your seat ticket is your only form of identification used for the grading process.

Important notes

• You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions.
• You must carry all permitted items into the testing center in one clear, re-sealable plastic food bag (photo ID, seat ticket, etc.).

Permitted items

• No. 2 pencils and erasers
• Blue or black ink pens (on the essay day only)
• Cash
• Keys
• Foam earplugs
• Feminine hygiene products
• Medications
• 1-liter drink in a clear, disposable, label-free, resealable plastic container

Prohibited items

All other items are prohibited, including:

• Bags
• Cell phones
• Notes
• Electronic devices
• Tissues
• Books
• Mechanical pencils
• Highlighters
• Flip flops
• Briefcases
• etc.

*More information on what you can and cannot bring to the testing center.

A passing score for the UBE in New York is 266/400. Scores of the three tests comprising the UBE are weighted as follows:

• MBE = 50% of your total UBE score
• MEE = 30%
• MPT = 20%

*A passing score for the MPRE in New York is 85/150.

View lists of those who passed the New York State Bar Exam, posted on the New York State Bar Association’s website:

• February 2022
• July 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

When are my New York Bar Exam results released?

February bar exam results are usually posted late April. July bar exam results are usually posted late October.

Can I see my New York Bar Exam score?

Yes. Candidates will be notified by email when results are published. The day results are released you will be able look up your score.

Can I appeal to have my New York Bar Exam re-graded?

No. If your initial score was 262 to 265 your test will be re-graded by additional graders. Your two scores will be used to compute your final UBE score, which is the score you will be able to see. You will not be able to see the initial score you received prior to re-grading.

How many times can I take the New York Bar Exam?

There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in New York.

Applicants seeking to be admitted as attorneys in New York without taking the bar exam, must comply with Rule 520.10 of Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

Reciprocity Requirements Overview

In order to be eligible for admission on motion in New York, you must:

• Hold a Juris Doctor degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Have practiced law for five of the seven years prior to your application.
• Be admitted to practice law in a reciprocal jurisdiction.
• Be at least 27 years old.
• Have a certificate of good standing from each territory you’ve been admitted to practice law in.
• Pass any test of character and fitness deemed necessary by the Appellate Division.
• Comply with all requirements set forth in Rule 520.10 and pay the necessary fees.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

*See Rule 520.10 for more information.

Here’s a list of ABA Accredited law schools in New York.

Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:

• Lawyer Moms of America – New York (1,421 members)
• New York City Bar Association – Lawyers Connect (1,195 members)
• Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) (987 members)
• International Lawyers in NYC (457 members)
• New York Democratic Lawyers Council (456 members)
• New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) – Young Lawyers Section (388 members)
• Brazilian Lawyers in New York (334 members)
• Greater New York Lawyers Network (281 members)
• Ask a Lawyer – NY (75 members)

Albany Law School

• Albany Law School Alumni (824 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2021 (278 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2020 (234 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2019 (219 members)
• Albany Law School Class of 2022 (194 members)
• Albany Law School–entering class 2019 (161 members)
• Albany Law School Pro Bono Society (78 members)

Brooklyn Law School

• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2019 (483 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2018 (449 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Entering Class of 2017 (412 members)
• Black Law Students Association – Brooklyn Law School (189 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (152 members)
• Intellectual Property Law Association, Brooklyn Law School (90 members)
• Brooklyn Law School Art Law Association (89 members)
• Italian-American Law Students Association, Brooklyn Law School (43 members)

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University

• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2017 Entering Class (437 members)
• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2018 Entering Class (410 members)
• Cardozo School of Law Fall 2019 Entering Class (284 members)
• Cardozo School of Law May 2018 Entering Class (137 members)
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law 2017 OCI (133 members)

City University of New York School of Law

• CUNY Law Alumni Group (253 members)

Columbia University School of Law

• Columbia Law School (2.3K members)
• Columbia Law School — Class of 2018 (708 members)
• Columbia Law School — Class of 2019 (661 members)
• Columbia Law School – Class of 2020 (610 members)
• Columbia Law School Class of 2021 (505 members)
• Columbia Law School LLM – Class 2018 (467 members)
• Columbia Law School – LLM Class of 2019 (434 members)
• Columbia Law School Class of 2022 (325 members)
• Columbia Law School – LL.M. Class of 2020 (313 members)
• Columbia Law School – Visiting Scholars (258 members)
• Columbia Law School — Korean Students (141 members)
• Columbia Law School – Foodies and Theatre Lovers (116 members)
• Columbia Law School – LLM Class of 2020 (108 members)
• Columbia Law School NALSA (85 members)

Cornell Law School

• Cornell Law School Housing (360 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2018 (291 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2017 (256 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2021 (244 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2020 (239 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2019 (239 members)
• Cornell Law School J.D. Class of 2022 (197 members)
• Cornell Law School LL.M. Class of 2017 (132 members)

Fordham University School of Law

• Fordham Law Class of 2022/2023 Admitted Students (390 members)
• Fordham Law School LALSA (152 members)
• Fordham Law School Alumni from Korea (103 members)
• Fordham University School of Law LL.M. Alumni (74 members)

Maurice A. Deane School of Law (Hofstra University)

• Hofstra Law Class of 2022 (279 members)
• Hofstra Law School Immigration Law Society (131 members)
• International Law Society at Hofstra Law School (117 members)

New York Law School

• New York Law School: Italian Law Student Association (ILSA) (145 members)
• New York Law School Moot Court Alumni Organization (114 members)

New York University School of Law

• NYU LL.M. 2019 – 2020 (559 members)
• NYU Law Class of 2022 (254 members)
• NYU Women of Color Collective (WOCC) (242 members)
• NYU School of Law Korean JD (115 members)
• NYU Japanese Law Society (JLS) (85 members)

Pace University School of Law

• Pace Law School Student Bar Association (343 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2020 (305 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2019 (294 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2018 (273 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2021 (272 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2017 (257 members)
• Pace Law School Class of 2022 (240 members)
• Black Law Students Association at Pace University School of Law (BLSA) (101 members)

St. John’s University School of Law

• St. John’s Law: Class of 2020 (Day) / 2021 (Eve) (279 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2019 (Day) / 2020 (Eve) (278 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2018 (Day) / 2019 (Eve) (265 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2021 (full time) / 2022 (part time) (250 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2017 (Day) / 2018 (Eve) (216 members)
• St. John’s Law: Class of 2022 (full time) / 2023 (part time) (182 members)
• St. John’s University School of Law APALSA (135 members)

University at Buffalo Law School

• Class of 2018 – University at Buffalo School of Law (290 members)
• Class of 2017 – University at Buffalo School of Law (289 members)
• Class of 2019 – University at Buffalo School of Law (258 members)
• Class of 2020 – University at Buffalo School of Law (231 members)
• Class of 2021 – University at Buffalo School of Law (201 members)
• Class of 2022 – University at Buffalo School of Law (124 members)
• OUTLaw-University at Buffalo School of Law (98 members)
• LL.M. Students – University at Buffalo School of Law (61 members)

Syracuse University College of Law

• Syracuse Law Class of 2022 (212 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2021 (208 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2018 (195 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2019 (192 members)
• Syracuse Law Class of 2020 (149 members)
• Syracuse University College of Law Class of 2017 (136 members)
• Syracuse Law Review Alumni (57 members)

Touro Law Center

• Student Bar Association Touro Law School (447 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2018 (89 members)
• Touro Law 2017 (81 members)
• Touro Law School: Class of 2020 (47 members)
• Touro Law Alumni Network (46 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2021 (32 members)
• Touro Law Class of 2022 (13 members)

More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the New York State Bar Exam:

• New York Jurisdiction Information
• New York State Board Of Law Examiners
• New York Supreme Court
• National Conference of Bar Examiners
• American Bar Association
• Bar Prep Tips & Tricks YouTube Videos
• Awesome Law School “Lectures”
• Best Law School Audio Outlines
• Shop Crushendo