Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Pennsylvania 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
*Update June 2020
Pennsylvania State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Pennsylvania Bar Association was formed in 1845.
Pennsylvania is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state. Pennsylvania has its own bar exam that uses the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the national multiple-choice test. Pennsylvania also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
February 2020 (506 takers)
February 2019 (510 takers)
What’s the format of the Pennsylvania Bar?
The Pennsylvania bar is only administered twice a year in February and July. The examination is administered over two days on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in July. The Pennsylvania bar has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), one PT essay, and six Pennsylvania essay questions.
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 45% of your Pennsylvania bar score.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects.
Pennsylvania Essays
The Pennsylvania essays consist of seven legal essays written on the first day of the Pennsylvania bar. These essays, along with one PT question, comprise 55% of your Pennsylvania bar score.
Pennsylvania bar exam essay topics may include the following:
- Business Organizations (including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and professional corporations)
- Civil Procedure (Pennsylvania and federal)
- Conflict of Laws
- Contracts
- Criminal Law (including related Pennsylvania and federal constitutional issues and DUI)
- Employment Discrimination (limited to Title VII, ADA, and ADEA)
- Evidence (Pennsylvania and federal)
- Family Law
- Federal Constitutional Law
- Federal Income Taxes (personal only and limited to taxable and non-taxable income, deductions, proprietorships, and capital transactions)
- Professional Responsibility
- Real Property
- Torts
- U.C.C., Art. II – Sales
- Wills, Trusts, and Decedents’ Estates (including related fiduciary responsibilities)
Crushendo offers the most recent MEE questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. These MEE questions are similar to the questions that the Pennsylvania bar uses. You can find old Pennsylvania essay questions here.
This video provides general essay tips that will be useful on this essay portion.
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 Pennsylvania State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Pennsylvania bar exam.
The Pennsylvania Bar application fee for most takers is $650. There are late fees.
*Visit the Pennsylvania Bar website for more information.
If you desire to take the bar exam in February, the filing deadline is October 30. If you file between October 30 and November 15, you will pay a $150 late fee. If you file between November 15 and November 30, you will pay a $300 late fee. If you file between November 30 and December 15, you will pay a $400 late fee. December 15 is the final deadline.
If you desire to take the bar exam in July, the filing deadline is April 15. If you file between April 15 and April 30, you will pay a $150 late fee. If you file between April 30 and May 15, you will pay a $300 late fee. If you file between May 15 and May 15, you will pay a $400 late fee. May 15 is the final deadline.
In addition to passing the Pennsylvania bar exam with a score of at least 272, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Pennsylvania, including:
- Score 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Character and Fitness Review
- Graduate from an ABA-approved law school
- Get fingerprinted
Pennsylvania State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners
601 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 3600
P.O Box 62535
Harrisburg, PA 17106-2535
Phone: (717) 231-3350
Fax: (717) 231-3351
Email (technical issues only): webmaster@pabarexam.org
What to bring
- Your current driver’s license
- Your Bar Examination Identification & Certification Card that has your photo, NCBE number, and examinee number
What is Provided
- Earplugs
- Tissues and cough drops
- Pens or pencils
- Feminine hygiene products
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
- Fitness trackers
- Backpacks
- Books
- Briefcases
- Calculators
- Cameras
- Notes
- Phones
- Food or drink
- Purses
- Radios
- Rulers
- Scratch papers
- Study materials
More information here.
View lists of those who passed the Pennsylvania State bar exam, posted on the Pennsylvania State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Pennsylvania bar exam results released?
Pennsylvania bar exam results are usually released mid-April or mid-October.
Can I see my Pennsylvania bar exam score?
If you passed the Pennsylvania bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.
Can I appeal to have my Pennsylvania bar exam re-graded?
Re-grading is offered but appeals are not.
How many times can I take the bar exam in Pennsylvania?
You can retake the Pennsylvania bar without any limit.
The following states have reciprocity with Pennsylvania:
- Graduate from an ABA-approved law school
- Active practice of law for five of the last seven years
- Received Certificate of Good Standing from last state or jurisdiction
- Have not failed the Pennsylvania bar in the past
Here’s a list of law schools in Pennsylvania.
Thomas R. Kline School of Law (Drexel University)
- Founded: 2006
- Located: Philadelphia, PA
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: $45,500 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 77%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: drexel.edu/law
Duquesne University School of Law
- Founded: 1911
- Located: Pittsburgh, PA
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: $39,992 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 84%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: duq.edu/academics/schools/law
Penn State Dickinson Law
- Founded: 1834
- Located: Carlisle, PA
- Enrollment: about 225
- Tuition Cost: $50,581 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 82%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: dickinsonlaw.psu.edu
Penn State Law
- Founded: 2014
- Located: University Park, PA
- Enrollment: about 375
- Tuition Cost: $52,976 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 85%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: pennstatelaw.psu.edu
Carey Law School (University of Pennsylvania)
- Founded: 1923
- Located: Philadelphia, PA
- Enrollment: about 775
- Tuition Cost: $67,998 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 97%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.upenn.edu
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Founded: 1895
- Located: Pittsburgh, PA
- Enrollment: about 400
- Tuition Cost: $46,874 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 91%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.pitt.edu
Beasley School of Law (Temple University)
- Founded: 1895
- Located: Philadelphia, PA
- Enrollment: about 750
- Tuition Cost: $41,354 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 84%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.temple.edu
Charles Widger School of Law (Villanova University)
- Founded: 1953
- Located: Villanova, PA
- Enrollment: about 525
- Tuition Cost: $49,555 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 87%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: villanova.edu/university/law
Widener University Commonwealth Law School
- Founded: 1821
- Located: Harrisburg, PA
- Enrollment: about 325
- Tuition Cost: $1,571 per credit View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 68%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- Girl Attorney – PA (905 members)
- National Lawyers Guild Philadelphia Chapter (391 members)
- Federalist Society, Harrisburg Lawyers’ Chapter (22 members)
Thomas R. Kline School of Law (Drexel University)
- National Lawyer’s Guild- Drexel Law Chapter (29 members)
- Drexel Law Review (68 members)
- Criminal Law Society, Drexel Law (67 members)
- Kline School of Law Career Strategies Office Updates (421 members)
- Kline School of Law Class of 2o22 (238 members)
- Kline School of Law Class of 2021 (250 members)
- Kline School of Law Class of 2020 (256 members)
- Drexel Law 2020 (88 members)
- OUTLaw at Drexel University Kline School of Law (63 members)
- Employment Law – Drexel (20 members)
Duquesne University School of Law
- Duquesne University School of Law Animal Law Society (183 members)
- Duquesne Law Incoming Class Fall 2020 (30 members)
- Duquesne Law Incoming Class Fall 2019 (118 members)
- Duquesne Law Incoming Class – Fall 2017 (107 members)
- Duquesne Law Incoming Class – Fall 2016 (89 members)
Penn State Dickinson Law
- Corporate Law Society – Penn State Dickinson Law (72 members)
- Penn State Dickinson Law – Harrisburg Area Alumni (28 members)
- Penn State Dickinson School of Law LL. M. Alumni (143 members)
- Dickinson Law Class of 2020 (146 members)
Penn State Law
- Penn State Law Benefiting THON (45 members)
- Penn State Law Mindfulness in Law Society (MILS) (75 members)
- Penn State Law Environmental Law Society (45 members)
- Penn Law WCLSA (109 members)
- Penn State Law J.D. Class of 2022 (260 members)
- Penn State Law J.D. Class of 2021 (278 members)
- Penn State Law LL. M. Class of 2020 (173 members)
- Penn State Law J.D. Class of 2020 (279 members)
- Penn State Law Entering Class of Fall 2020 (86 members)
Carey Law School (University of Pennsylvania)
- University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law (146 members)
- University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law (JIL) (19 members)
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Pitt Law BLSA (80 members)
- Pitt Law International Law Society (168 members)
- Pitt Law – Asian Student Law Association (31 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2023 (58 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2022 (211 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2021 (270 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2020 (281 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2019 (268 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2017 (257 members)
- Pitt Law – Class of 2016 (266 members)
Beasley School of Law (Temple University)
- Temple Law Alumni Association (731 members)
- Temple Law and Public Policy Alumni Association (123 members)
- Temple Environmental Law Society (107 members)
- Temple Law Class of 2023/24 (26 members)
- Temple Law Class of 2022/23 (237 members)
- Temple Law Class of 2021/2022 (229 members)
- Temple Law Class of 2020/2021 (236 members)
- Temple Law Class 2019/2020 (197 members)
- Temple Law International Students 2019/2020 (44 members)
Charles Widger School of Law (Villanova University)
- Villanova University School of Law Friends (64 members)
- Villanova Law School Environmental and Energy Law Society (11 members)
- Villanova Jewish Law Students Association (24 members)
- Villanova OUTLaw (23 members)
- Villanova Law APALSA (18 members)
- Villanova Law School – National Lawyers Guild (36 members)
- Villanova Law School – BLSA (58 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2023 (114 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2022 (307 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2021 (289 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2020 (279 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2019 (281 members)
- Villanova Law Class of 2018 (204 members)
Widener University Commonwealth Law School
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Pennsylvania State bar exam: