Ultimate Guide to West Virginia State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to West Virginia 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
West Virginia State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The West Virginia State Bar Association was formed in 1947. There are about 9,000 attorneys and legal professionals licensed with the West Virginia State Bar. It is mandatory to be a member of this bar association to practice in the State of West Virginia.
West Virginia is one of 40+ jurisdictions that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). West Virginia first administered the UBE in July 2017.
July 2023 (119 takers)
February 2023 (55 takers)
February 2022 (66 takers)
July 2021 (133 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 UBE is administered twice each year in West Virginia (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 West Virginia State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the West Virginia bar exam.
The West Virginia Bar application fee for most takers is $500. There is a $200 late filing fee.
*Visit the West Virginia State Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the filing deadline is November 1. If the application is submitted between November 1 and December 1, there is a $200 late fee. December 1 is the final deadline. If you want to take the July bar exam, the filing deadline is April 1. If the application is submitted between April 1 and May 1, there is a $200 late fee. May 1 is the final deadline.
In addition to passing the West Virginia 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 West Virginia, including:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Character and Fitness Review
West Virginia State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Law Examiners Board
4700 MacCorkle Ave SE # 1200B
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone number: (304) 558-7815
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 West Virginia bar exam results released?
*February 2022 bar exam results/pass list.
West Virginia bar exam results are usually posted eight to nine weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are usually posted in April. July bar exam results are usually posted in September.
Can I see my West Virginia bar exam score?
You may be able to receive an unofficial copy of your bar exam if you send a request to the bar examination office.
Can I appeal to have my West Virginia bar exam re-graded?
No.
How many times can I take the bar exam in West Virginia?
You can retake the UBE four times. After that, you need permission from the Board.
Applicants seeking admission to the West Virginia State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.
If you are a part of a bar in any of the following states or jurisdictions, you are able to have reciprocity with the state of West Virginia: Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In order to be eligible for admittance to the West Virginia State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:
- Show proof of being admitted to the bar in another state
- Have proof of good standing in the bar in another state
- Have proof of active legal standing in at least five of the last seven years
Here’s a list of law schools in West Virginia.
West Virginia University College of Law
- Founded: 1878
- Located: Morgantown, WV
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $40,248 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 71%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.wvu.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
West Virginia University College of Law
- WVU College of Law Alumni (1,811 members)
- West Virginia University Immigration Law Clinic Group (7 members)
- West Virginia University College of Law (8 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2022 Announcements (144 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2021 ANNOUNCEMENTS (149 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2020 Announcements (135 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2020 Student Page (99 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2019 (Announcement page) (162 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2018 (154 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2017 – Announcement Page (145 members)
- WVU College of Law Class of 2015 (190 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the West Virginia State Bar Exam: