Ultimate Guide to Ohio State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Ohio 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 January 2024
Ohio State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Ohio State Bar Association was formed in 1880. Ohio is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) for their state bar review. Ohio administered the UBE for the first time in July 2020.
July 2023 (966 takers)
February 2023 (358 takers)
February 2022 (304 takers)
July 2021 (964 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 Ohio (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 Ohio State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Ohio bar exam.
The Ohio State Bar registration fee is $358. The late application fee is $458.
*Visit the Ohio Bar Admission Fee Schedule for more information.
If you want to take the bar exam in February, you should submit your bar exam application by November 1. The late application deadline is December 10. If you want to take the July bar exam, you should submit your application in April 1. The late application deadline is May 10.
In addition to passing the Ohio 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 Ohio, including:
- Score 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Committee on Character & Fitness certification.
- Complete an Ohio component
Ohio State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Office of Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431
Phone: 614-387-9340
Fax: 614-387-9349
Email: BarAdmissions@sc.ohio.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 Ohio State bar exam, posted on the Ohio State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Ohio bar exam results released?
Ohio bar exam results are usually posted eight to nine weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are usually posted mid-April. July bar exam results are usually posted mid-September.
Can I see my Ohio bar exam score?
If you passed the Ohio bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the Ohio bar exam, you’ll be able to see your scaled scores on the MBE, MEE, MPT, and UBE.
Can I appeal to have my Ohio bar exam re-graded?
The essays may be regraded if they are within one point of passing.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Ohio?
There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in Ohio.
All states, districts, and jurisdictions have reciprocity with Ohio if you comply with the following requirements:
- Be engaged in the practice of law for five out of the last 10 years.
- Receive a JD from an ABA-approved law school.
- Provide your fingerprints to the State of Ohio.
- Have a Certificate of Good Standing from a previous jurisdiction.
Here’s a list of law schools in Ohio.
Moritz College of Law (Ohio State)
- Founded: 1891
- Located: Columbus, OH
- Enrollment: about 600
- Tuition Cost: $46,402 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 87%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: moritzlaw.osu.edu
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Founded: 1826
- Located: Cleveland, OH
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $53,674 View tuition costs
- Bar Passage Rate: 85%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: case.edu/law
University of Akron School of Law
- Founded: 1921
- Located: Akron, OH
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $24,314 View tuition costs
- Bar Passage Rate: 61%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: uakron.edu/law
Claude W. Pettit College of Law (Ohio Northern University)
- Founded: 1895
- Located: Ada, OH
- Enrollment: about 150
- Tuition Cost: $30,130 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 76%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.onu.edu
Capital University Law School
- Founded: 1903
- Located: Columbus, OH
- Enrollment: about 430 students
- Tuition Cost: $37,920 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 72%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.capital.edu
Cincinnati College of Law
- Founded: 1833
- Located: Cincinnati, OH
- Enrollment: about 360 students
- Tuition Cost: $29,010 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 78%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.uc.edu
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (Cleveland State)
- Founded: 1897
- Located: Cleveland, OH
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: $27,853 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 93%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.csuohio.edu
University of Toledo College of Law
- Founded: 1906
- Located: Toledo, OH
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $32,957 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 73%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: utoledo.edu/law
University of Dayton School of Law
- Founded: 1922
- Located: Dayton, OH
- Enrollment: about 250
- Tuition Cost: $35,263 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 60%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: udayton.edu/law
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- Central Ohio Lawyer Networking (103 members)
- Personal Finance for Lawyer Moms (447 members)
- Hiking Lawyers & Friends (1,356 members)
Moritz College of Law (Ohio State)
- The OSU Moritz College of Law Jewish Law Students Association – JLSA (58 members)
- The OSU Moritz College of Law Labor and Employment Law Association (LELA) (44 members)
- Moritz College of Law Program (15 members)
- Moritz OutLaws (96 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz Oxford Summer Program (132 members)
- International Law Society – Moritz (14 members)
- OSU Moritz College of Law Washington, D.C. Alumni Group (26 members)
- Energy and Environmental Law Society at OSU Moritz (68 members)
- Moritz College of Law, Business Law Society (39 members)
- Moritz Criminal Law Society (99 members)
- Moritz College of Law Immigration Law Society (16 members)
- Mortiz Class of 2022 (336 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Class of 2021 (397 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Class of 2020 (414 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Class of 2019 (383 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Class of 2017 (365 members)
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Class of 2016 (365 members)
- OSU-Moritz College of Law – LLM 2016-2017 (21 members)
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Environmental Law Society – Case Western Reserve University School of Law (20 members)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law Class of 2022 (149 members)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law Class of 2019 (202 members)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law Class of 2017 (201 members)
University of Akron School of Law
- The University of Akron School of Law Alumni Association (106 members)
- University of Akron Gay-Straight Law Alliance (82 members)
- Akron Law Textbook Exchange (156 members)
- Akron Law’s Muslim Law Student Association (43 members)
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity – University of Akron (81 members)
- Akron Law – International Law Society (ILS) (67 members)
- Akron Law – Roommate Connection (187 members)
- Akron Law Trial Team (56 members)
- Akron Law – 2019 Entering Class (76 members)
- Akron Law – Fall 2018 Entering Class (111 members)
- Akron Law – Spring 2018 Entering Class (25 members)
- Akron Law – Spring 2017 Entering Class (34 members)
- Akron Law – Fall 2017 Entering Class (155 members)
- Akron Law – Spring 2016 Entering Class (26 members)
- Akron Law – Fall 2016 Entering Class (144 members)
Claude W. Pettit College of Law (Ohio Northern University)
- ONU Law Alumni (Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law) (243 members)
- ONU Law Class of 2023 (9 members)
- ONU Law Class of 2022 (62 members)
- ONU Law Class of 2020 (85 members)
Capital University Law School
Cincinnati College of Law
University of Toledo College of Law
- University of Toledo College of Law Entering Class 2020 (12 members)
- University of Toledo College of Law Entering Class 2019 (75 members)
- University of Toledo College of Law SBA (263 members)
University of Dayton School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Ohio State Bar Exam: