Ultimate Guide to Washington State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Washington 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
Washington State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Washington State Bar Association was formed in 1888. There are about 40,000 attorneys and legal professionals licensed with the Washington State Bar. It is mandatory to be a member of this bar association to practice in the State of Washington.
Washington is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Washington first administered the UBE in July 2013.
July 2023 (699 takers)
February 2023 (264 takers)
February 2022 (243 takers)
July 2021 (653 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 Washington (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 Washington State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Washington bar exam.
The Washington Bar application fee for most takers is $585. The fee is $620 if you are already a licensed attorney in another jurisdiction.
*Visit the Washington 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 the filing deadline is October 7. There is a late filing deadline on November 5 with a $300 late fee. If you want to take the July bar exam, the application opens on February 1 and the filing deadline is March 5. There is a late filing deadline on April 5 with a $300 late fee.
In addition to passing the Washington 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 Washington, including:
- Score 75 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Character and Fitness Review
- Pass the Washington Law Component. This component can be taken as many times as needed to achieve 80% correct.
Washington State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Washington State Bar Association
1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101-2539
Phone number:
Toll-free: 800-945-9722
Local: 206-443-9722
Admissions: 206-727-8209
Ethics Line: 206-727-8284
Email: questions@wsba.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.
- Pens and pencils are provided to examinees.
- 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 Washington State Bar Exam, posted on the Washington State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Washington bar exam results released?
Washington bar exam results are usually posted 8-9 weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are usually posted about April 10. July bar exam results are usually posted in September.
Can I see my Washington bar exam score?
If you passed the Washington bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the exam, you will receive MPT items, MEE questions, and a copy of the scored written essays in the mail.
Can I appeal to have my Washington bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Washington?
You can retake the UBE without any limit.
Applicants seeking admission to the Washington 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 Washington. In order to be eligible for admittance to the Washington State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Show proof of being admitted to the bar in another state
- Proof of good standing in the bar in another state
- Proof of active legal standing in at least three of the last five years
Here’s a list of law schools in Washington.
University of Washington School of Law
- Founded: 1899
- Located: Seattle, WA
- Enrollment: about 700
- Tuition Cost: $48,588 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 90.5%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.uw.edu
Gonzaga University School of Law
- Founded: 1912
- Located: Spokane, WA
- Enrollment: about 350
- Tuition Cost: $40,500 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 84%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: gonzaga.edu/school-of-law
Seattle University School of Law
- Founded: 1972
- Located: Seattle, WA
- Enrollment: 574
- Tuition Cost: $48,330 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 91%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.seattleu.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after passing the bar exam:
- The Washington Bar Association (463 members)
- Kitsap County Washington Women Lawyers (24 members)
- Washington Women Lawyers – Southeast Washington Group (25 members)
- Washington Women Lawyers – Yakima Chapter (52 members)
Washington University School of Law
- Washington University School of Law Student Page (627 members)
- Washington University School of Law Class of 2022 (218 members)
- Washington University School of Law Class of 2021 (244 members)
Gonzaga School of Law
- Gonzaga Law Thomas More Scholars (32 members)
- Gonzaga Law Student Bar Association (113 members)
- Gonzaga Law School – Comments from Class (284 members)
- Gonzaga University School of Law Federalist Society (43 members)
- Gonzaga Law Class of 2022 (198 members)
- Gonzaga Law Class of 2021 (177 members)
- Gonzaga Law Class of 2020 (136 members)
- Gonzaga Law Class of 2019 (97 members)
Seattle University School of Law
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Washington State Bar Exam: