Ultimate Guide to Utah State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Utah 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
Utah State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Utah State Bar was started in 1894 and officially established by the State Legislature in 1931. It includes more than 11,000 legal professionals.
Utah is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Utah first administered the UBE in February 2013.
July 2023 (270 takers)
February 2023 (79 takers)
February 2022
July 2021 (224 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 Utah (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 Utah State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Utah bar exam.
The Utah Bar application fee for most takers is $550, with an additional $150 laptop fee. There is a $100 late filing fee and a $300 final late filing fee.
*Visit the Utah State Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the application opens on September 1 and you must submit your application by October 1 to avoid late fees. You can submit your application from October 1 to October 15 if you pay a $100 late fee. You can submit your application from October 15 to November 1 if you pay a $300 late fee. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application opens on February 1 and you must submit your application by March 1 to avoid late fees. You can submit your application from March 1 to March 15 if you pay a $100 late fee. You can submit your application from March 15 to April 1 if you pay a $300 late fee.
In addition to passing the Utah 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 Utah, including:
- Score 86 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Certificate from Committee of Character and Fitness
- Be a graduate of an ABA approved law school
Utah State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Utah Law & Justice Center
645 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone number: (801) 531-9077
Email: info@utahbar.org
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 Utah Bar Exam results released?
Utah Bar Exam results are usually posted six to nine weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are normally posted in April. July bar exam results are normally posted in October.
Can I see my Utah Bar Exam score?
If you passed the Utah Bar Exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the exam, you will receive your written examination back.
Can I appeal to have my Utah Bar Exam re-graded?
You may request a review of your exam within 10 days after you get your results.
How many times can I take the Utah Bar Exam?
You can take the UBE six times in Utah.
Applicants seeking admission to the Utah State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.
The following states have reciprocity with Utah: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In order to be eligible for admittance to the Utah State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Have a JD from an ABA-accredited law school
- Actively practice law for 60 of the 84 months before applying
- Be a member of good standing in your state
Here’s a list of law schools in Utah.
J. Reuben Clark School of Law (Brigham Young University)
- Founded: 1973
- Located: Provo, UT
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $26,900 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 87%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.byu.edu
S. J. Quinney College of Law (University of Utah)
- Founded: 1913
- Located: Salt Lake City, UT
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $38,180 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 86%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.utah.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- Women Lawyers of Utah (517 members)
- Utah Small Firm Attorney Network (USFAN) (591 members)
- WLU Book Club (Women Lawyers of Utah) (134 members)
- Social Group for Utah County Women Lawyers (11 members)
J. Reuben Clark School of Law (Brigham Young University)
- BYU Law Alumni and Students (431 members)
- LAWSA (BYU Law Spouse Association) (213 members)
- BYU Law Textbook Exchange (303 members)
- BYU Minority Law Students Association (43 members)
- BYU Law Singles (54 members)
- BYU Law SBA (235 members)
- BYU Law Climbers (17 members)
- BYU Health Law Society (16 members)
- 2022 BYU Law (131 members)
- 2021 BYU Law (119 members)
- 2020 BYU Law (111 members)
- 2019 BYU Law (146 members)
- BYU Law Class of 2017 (130 members)
- 2016 BYU Law (120 members)
S. J. Quinney College of Law (University of Utah)
- Student Bar Association – S. J. Quinney College of Law (5 members)
- Women’s Law Caucus – S. J. Quinney College of Law (133 members)
- University of Utah, School of Law Bar Review (6 members)
- University of Utah Minority Law Caucus (47 members)
- Family Law Society – S. J. Quinney College of Law (11 members)
- S. J. Quinney College of Law – Class of 2022 (86 members)
- S. J. Quinney College of Law – Class of 2021 (74 members)
- Class of 2019 – S. J. Quinney College of Law (76 members)
- S. J. Quinney College of Law – Class of 2017 (94 members)
- S. J. Quinney College of Law – Class of 2016 (112 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Utah State Bar Exam: