The California Bar Exam stands apart from all other states because it has not adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE®). While California includes the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®) as its multiple-choice portion, it does not use the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®) or Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®). Instead, California has unique versions of these components, tailored to the state's legal requirements.
Whether you're preparing to take the exam for the first time or retaking it, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know — from application details to the California Bar Exam’s unique content.
California Bar Exam Structure
The California Bar Exam spans 2 days, a consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday. The first day consists of the written portion — 5 essay questions and a performance test — while the second day is dedicated to 200 multiple-choice MBE questions.
| Session | Tuesday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 3 essay questions | 100 MBE questions |
| Afternon | 2 essay questions and 1 performance task | 100 MBE questions |
California Bar Exam Subjects and Topics
The California Bar Exam evaluates your understanding of foundational legal principles, practical lawyering skills, and federal law through the following 3 components.
Performance Test
The performance test assesses your practical legal skills by requiring you to handle legal authorities within a specific factual problem. You will work with 2 sets of materials: a file containing source documents with case facts and a library with legal authorities needed to complete the assigned task.
| Abilities Tested | |
|---|---|
| Sort through the detailed factual materials. | Separate relevant/irrelevant facts. |
| Analyze statutes, cases, and administrative materials. | Identify and resolve ethical dilemmas. |
| Communicate effectively in writing. | Complete a lawyering task within time constraints. |
California Essay Questions
The essay section of the California Bar Exam tests your ability to analyze legal issues thoroughly and apply relevant law to a set of facts. Your response should clearly differentiate between material and immaterial facts, demonstrate an understanding of pertinent legal principles, and logically apply those principles to reach well-supported conclusions. Merely stating conclusions without reasoning will result in little or no credit.
Each response should be complete, focused on the issues presented, and avoid unnecessary discussions of unrelated legal doctrines. You should base your answers on general principles of law rather than California-specific law unless specifically instructed.
| Essay Subjects | |
|---|---|
| Business Associations | Evidence |
| Civil Procedure | Real Property |
| Community Property | Remedies |
| Constitutional Law | Torts |
| Contracts | Trusts |
| Criminal Law & Procedure | Wills and Succession |
Multistate Bar Exam
The MBE assesses your ability to apply fundamental legal principles and reasoning to fact patterns across 7 areas of law. Of the 200 multiple-choice questions, only 175 are scored, while 25 serve as unscored field tests for future exams.
| MBE Subjects | |
|---|---|
| Civil Procedure | Constitutional Law |
| Contracts | Criminal Law and Procedure |
| Evidence | Real Property |
| Torts | |
Learn More
UWorld MBE Sample Questions
A husband and wife were married in State A and lived there for 10 years before separating. One month later, the wife permanently moved to State B and immediately filed for divorce in a federal court in State B. The wife claims that she is entitled to $300,000 in alimony. The husband appeared in the action and has filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
Should the court grant the motion?
- No, because the court has diversity jurisdiction over the case.
- No, because the husband waived a subject-matter jurisdiction challenge by appearing in the case.
- Yes, because state courts have exclusive jurisdiction over this type of action.
- Yes, because the wife did not establish a domicile in State B.
Explanation:
| Federal diversity jurisdiction exceptions |
|
Federal courts cannot exercise diversity jurisdiction over cases involving:
|
A federal court must possess subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the merits of a case before it. Subject-matter jurisdiction can be established through either:
- federal-question jurisdiction – when a claim arises under the U.S. Constitution, a treaty, or federal law (not seen here) or
- diversity jurisdiction – when the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 and the opposing parties are citizens of different states.
Here, diversity jurisdiction is established since the wife claims that she is entitled to $300,000 and the parties are citizens of different states (States A and B). However, federal courts cannot exercise diversity jurisdiction over cases involving probate matters or domestic relations. Instead, state courts have exclusive jurisdiction over these types of actions (Choice A).* Therefore, the husband's motion to dismiss should be granted.
(Choice B) A challenge to subject-matter jurisdiction is never waived. However, a challenge to personal jurisdiction is waived if the defendant has voluntarily appeared in the case, unless it was a special appearance for the express purpose of objecting to personal jurisdiction.
(Choice D) An individual is a citizen of the state where he/she is domiciled—ie, physically present with the intent to remain indefinitely. Since the wife permanently moved to State B, she has established her domicile there.
Educational objective:
Federal courts cannot exercise diversity
jurisdiction over cases involving probate matters or domestic relations. Instead, state courts
have exclusive jurisdiction over these types of cases.
Bluebook Citations :
- Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689, 703–04 (1992) (explaining the domestic-relations exception to diversity jurisdiction).
A congressional committee investigated the pharmaceutical industry and found that the high cost of prescription drugs purchased and sold in the United States negatively impacted the nation's economy and the health of its citizens. In response, Congress passed a statute that regulates "the retail prices of every purchase or sale of prescription drugs in the United States."
A group of pharmaceutical companies challenged the constitutionality of this statute in federal court.
What is the strongest argument in support of the constitutionality of this statute?
- Congress may enact statutes for the general welfare.
- Congress may regulate the prices of all domestic purchases and sales of goods.
- The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate the interstate transportation of prescription drugs.
- The purchases and sales of prescription drugs in the United States substantially impact interstate commerce in the aggregate.
Explanation:
The commerce clause gives Congress broad power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. This includes:
- the channels of interstate and foreign commerce (eg, roadways)
- the instrumentalities of interstate and foreign commerce (eg, vehicles)
- persons and things moving in interstate or foreign commerce (eg, goods and services) and
- in-state activities that, singly or in the aggregate, substantially impact interstate or foreign commerce.
Since Congress's commerce power is broad, federal statutes are constitutional if there is any rational basis for concluding that the regulated activity substantially affects interstate or foreign commerce. This can be shown through express congressional findings.
Here, the federal statute regulates the retail prices of prescription drugs in the United States. Congress has the authority to regulate such products' interstate transportation, but this statute also regulates in-state purchases and sales (Choice C). Since the congressional committee found that the high cost of prescription drugs negatively impacted the nation's economy, it is rational to conclude that their aggregated in-state purchases and sales substantially impact interstate commerce. Therefore, this is the strongest argument to support this statute.
(Choice A) The taxing and spending clause empowers Congress to tax and spend for the general welfare. But regulating prices is not equivalent to taxing or spending.
(Choice B) Congress cannot regulate the prices of every domestic purchase and sale of goods since it cannot regulate purely in-state sales that do not substantially affect interstate commerce.
Educational objective:
The commerce clause empowers Congress to regulate (1)
channels and instrumentalities of, (2) persons and things moving in, and (3) in-state activities
that—singly or in the aggregate—substantially affect interstate or foreign commerce.
Bluebook Citations :
- Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1, 17 (2005) (explaining Congress's broad authority under the commerce clause).
The owner of a new office building contracted with a well-known landscaper to design and install landscaping around the building for $30,000. The agreement was memorialized in writing, was signed by both parties, and called for a budget of $5,000 for trees, shrubs, sod, and materials. The contract required the landscaper to complete the work within six months. Due to an unexpected increase in the price of trees and shrubs, the landscaper abandoned the project and never completed any of the work.
Three years after the landscaper's deadline, the building owner sued the landscaper for breach of contract. In the jurisdiction, the statute of limitations for breach of a services contract is two years after the breach, and the statute of limitations for breach of a sale-of-goods contract is four years.
Can the owner recover damages from the landscaper?
- No, because the contract is divisible with respect to the services and goods, and the landscaper's breach is therefore subject to the two-year statute of limitations.
- No, because the contract primarily calls for services, and the landscaper's breach is therefore subject to the two-year statute of limitations.
- Yes, because the landscaper's breach was a result of an increase in the price of goods, and his breach is therefore subject to the four-year statute of limitations.
- Yes, because the landscaper's breach was willful, and he is therefore estopped from denying that his breach is subject to the four-year statute of limitations.
Contracts for the sale of goods are governed by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), while contracts for services are governed by common law. However, some contracts involve the sale of goods and the rendering of services. To determine which law applies to a "mixed" or "hybrid" contract, courts ask whether its predominant purpose was the sale of goods or the rendering of services. The following factors are relevant to this determination:
- The contract's language
- The nature of the supplier's business (ie, whether it typically provides goods or services)
- The relative value of the goods and services
- The nature of the final product (ie, whether it can be described as a good or service)
Here, the building owner contracted to buy goods (eg, trees, shrubs, sod) and services (ie, designing and installing the landscaping). The owner likely hired the well-known landscaper due to his skill in performing landscaping services, and the $5,000 budget for goods was just one-sixth of the $30,000 contract price. Therefore, the contract primarily calls for services and is subject to the jurisdiction's two-year statute of limitations. And since the owner sued three years after the breach, the owner cannot recover damages from the landscaper.
(Choice A) The predominant-purpose test is unnecessary when a contract is divisible—ie, when the payment for goods can easily be separated from the payment for services. But here, the contract is likely indivisible since it combined the sale of the trees, shrubs, and sod with their installation.
(Choices C & D) The predominant-purpose test focuses on the parties' reason for entering the contract—not for breaching it. Therefore, it is irrelevant that the landscaper's breach was (1) a result of an increase in the price of goods or (2) willful.
Educational objective:
Sale-of-goods contracts are governed by the UCC,
while services contracts are governed by common law. When a contract calls for the sale of goods
AND the rendering of services, the contract's primary purpose determines whether the UCC or
common law applies.
Bluebook Citations :
- Bonebrake v. Cox, 499 F.2d 951, 960 (8th Cir. 1974) (applying the predominant-purpose test to determine which statute of limitations applies to a mixed contract for goods and services).
- Princess Cruises, Inc. v. Gen. Elec. Co., 143 F.3d 828, 833 (4th Cir. 1998) (listing factors that courts consider when applying the predominant-purpose test).
A man and a woman dated for several weeks. During that time, the man repeatedly asked the woman to have sex. Each time, the woman responded that she would not have sex with the man unless they were married. One evening, the man promised the woman that they would elope the following weekend if she would agree to have sex. The woman agreed and the couple had sex. The following weekend, the man told the woman that he had no intention of eloping and only made that promise to get the woman's consent. The woman reported the man to the police, who later arrested and charged the man with rape.
Is the man guilty of rape?
- No, because fraud in factum did not negate the woman's consent.
- No, because fraud in the inducement did not negate the woman's consent.
- Yes, because the woman's consent was obtained by fraud in factum.
- Yes, because the woman's consent was obtained by fraud in the inducement.
Explanation:
| Consent to sexual intercourse obtained by fraud | ||
| Type of fraud | Definition | Effect |
| In factum |
|
Negates victim's consent |
| In inducement |
|
Does not negate victim's consent |
In most modern jurisdictions, rape is defined as sexual intercourse with another without that person's consent.* This means that rape did not occur if the victim consented to sexual intercourse. However, a victim's consent may be ineffective if it was obtained by fraud. There are two types of fraud:
- Fraud in factum – when consent is obtained by fraud regarding the nature of the act itself, leaving the victim unaware that he/she consented to sexual intercourse and negating the victim's consent
- Fraud in the inducement – when consent is obtained by fraud regarding what the victim knows is an act of sexual intercourse, which does not negate the victim's consent
As a result, consent obtained by fraud in factum is not a valid defense to rape, but consent obtained by fraud in the inducement is a valid defense.
Here, the man falsely promised the woman that they would elope if she agreed to have sex with him. Since the woman knew that the act to which she consented was sexual intercourse, her consent was obtained by fraud in the inducement (Choices A & C). This type of fraud did not negate the woman's consent, so the man is not guilty of rape (Choice D).
Educational objective:
Fraud in factum occurs when the fraud pertains to the nature of the act itself and negates a rape victim's consent. In contrast, fraud in the inducement occurs when fraud is used to gain consent to what the victim knows is an act of sexual intercourse and does not negate the victim's consent.
A plaintiff sued a defendant for negligence to recover damages that the plaintiff suffered as a result of a crash between the two parties. At trial, the plaintiff's attorney called the plaintiff's wife to testify as to what she witnessed on the day of the crash. On cross-examination of the wife, the defendant's lawyer elicited several responses that tended to show that the plaintiff's actions constituted contributory negligence. The plaintiff's attorney seeks to ask the wife several questions on redirect examination, but the defendant's attorney objected.
What is the strongest argument that the court must allow redirect examination of the wife?
- The plaintiff's attorney failed to provide all significant information on direct examination.
- The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reiterate the necessary elements of the claim.
- The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reply to all matters raised on cross-examination.
- The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reply to significant new matters raised on cross-examination.
Explanation:
Federal Rule of Evidence 611 gives trial courts the authority to exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of examining witnesses at trial. This includes the discretion to determine whether—and to what extent—redirect examination of witnesses should be permitted. But when a party raises a significant new matter while cross-examining a witness, the court must allow the opposing party to address that matter through redirect examination.
Therefore, the strongest argument for allowing redirect examination of the plaintiff's wife is that the plaintiff's attorney seeks to reply to significant new matters that were raised on cross-examination.
(Choice A) A party is expected to elicit all significant information during direct examination of a witness. Therefore, a court need not permit redirect examination to allow the party to provide information inadvertently omitted on direct examination.
(Choices B & C) Redirect examination is generally limited to significant new matters raised on cross-examination. Therefore, a party is not entitled to redirect examination to (1) reiterate information like the necessary elements of the claim or (2) reply to all matters addressed in cross-examination.
Educational objective:
When a party raises a significant new matter on cross-examination of a witness, the court must allow redirect examination by the opposing party to address that matter.
Bluebook Citations :
- Fed. R. Evid. 611 (explaining the mode and order of examining witnesses).
Twenty years ago, a man who owned a 20-acre ranch agreed to sell all of his mineral rights to his neighbor. The man executed a warranty deed conveying the mineral estate to the neighbor, who failed to record the deed.
The following year, a woman moved her mobile home onto an undeveloped five-acre portion of the man's ranch. After the woman had lived on the property for 10 years, a local drilling company began operations on a nearby tract to drill a natural gas well. Believing that the woman owned the property, the drilling company approached the woman about leasing the mineral rights on her property and requested that the woman sign a lease of her mineral rights. The woman signed the lease as requested, and it was promptly and properly recorded. The drilling operations were successful, and the drilling company prepared to distribute profits from royalties. However, a dispute arose between the neighbor and the woman, as both parties claim ownership of the minerals.
The period of time to acquire title by adverse possession in the jurisdiction is 10 years.
In an action to determine title, is the court likely to award title to the mineral estate to the woman?
- No, because the woman actually possessed only the surface estate that had previously been severed from the mineral estate.
- No, because the woman did not actually possess the mineral estate until she signed the lease of the mineral rights.
- Yes, because the neighbor failed to record the warranty deed conveying the mineral estate.
- Yes, because the woman adversely possessed both the surface estate and the mineral estate for the statutory period.
Explanation:
An adverse possessor can acquire title to land owned by another if his/her possession of the land is:
- Open and notorious – apparent or visible to a reasonable owner
- Continuous – uninterrupted for the statutory period
- Exclusive – not shared with the owner
- Actual – physical presence on the land and
- Nonpermissive – hostile and adverse to the owner.
If the surface and mineral estates are owned by the same party, then the adverse possessor will acquire title to both estates—even if only one estate is actually possessed. But if the mineral estate has been severed from the surface estate (ie, the surface and mineral estates are owned by different parties), then the adverse possessor will only acquire title to the estate that is actually possessed. The mineral estate is actually possessed when the adverse possessor mines or drills wells on the land.
Here, the neighbor purchased the mineral estate from the man, thereby severing the mineral estate from the surface estate. And since the woman merely lived on the property for the 10-year statutory period—she did not attempt to mine or drill a well on the mineral estate—she actually possessed only the surface estate during that time (Choice D). This means that the woman did not adversely possess the mineral estate, and the court is not likely to award her title to that estate.
(Choice B) Adverse possession of a mineral estate requires the commencement of drilling or mining operations. Merely signing a lease of the mineral rights is not enough.
(Choice C) A deed need not be recorded to be valid, so the neighbor's failure to record has no impact on whether the woman adversely possessed the mineral estate.
Educational objective:
If a mineral estate has previously been severed from the surface estate (ie, surface and minerals owned by different persons), then an adverse possessor can only acquire title to the mineral estate by actually possessing the minerals (eg, by mining or drilling wells).
A teenager was riding a bicycle when she saw a classmate walking toward her. The teenager rode quickly toward the classmate, knowing that he would think she would run into him on her current trajectory. The teenager was not purposefully trying to harm or touch him. The classmate saw the teenager riding toward him and yelled at her to stop. The teenager swerved at the last moment and avoided hitting him. The classmate had a panic attack because he thought that the teenager would hit him.
Is the classmate likely to succeed if he sues the teenager for assault?
- No, because the teenager did not make contact with the classmate.
- No, because the teenager did not purposefully try to harm or touch the classmate.
- Yes, because the teenager acted with the requisite intent.
- Yes, because the teenager's conduct was extreme and outrageous.
Explanation:
Assault occurs when (1) a defendant intends to cause the plaintiff to anticipate an imminent, and harmful or offensive, contact with the plaintiff's person and (2) the defendant's affirmative conduct causes the plaintiff to anticipate such contact. The intent requirement is met when the defendant acts with either:
- purpose – the desire to cause anticipation of an imminent harmful or offensive contact or
- knowledge – the substantial certainty that the plaintiff will suffer such anticipation.
Here, the teenager rode her bicycle directly at her classmate, causing him to think that she would hit him (anticipation of imminent contact). And since the teenager knew with substantial certainty that the classmate would think she would run into him, she acted with the requisite intent. As a result, the classmate is likely to succeed in a suit against the teenager for assault.
(Choice A) Assault merely requires that the plaintiff be placed in anticipation of imminent contact. Actual bodily contact is not required. Therefore, the fact that the teenager did not make contact with the classmate is irrelevant.
(Choice B) The intent to make contact with the plaintiff is a requirement for battery, but assault merely requires the intent to cause the plaintiff to anticipate imminent contact. Therefore, the fact that the teenager did not purposefully try to harm or touch the classmate does not absolve her of liability for assault.
(Choice D) Extreme and outrageous conduct (i.e., conduct that is unacceptable in civilized society) is an element of intentional infliction of emotional distress—not assault, which only requires intentional conduct.
Educational objective:
For assault, intent exists when a defendant acts with the purpose (desire) or knowledge (substantial certainty) that his/her conduct will cause the plaintiff to anticipate an imminent, and harmful or offensive, contact.
- Restatement (Third) of Torts: Intentional Torts to Persons § 105 (Am. L. Inst., Tentative Draft No. 1, 2015) (providing the elements for assault).
Take a look at a typical competitor sample question. Their practice questions might parody the exam, but ours consistently meet or exceed exam-level difficulty. Their limited explanations address the correct answer choice but do not go the extra mile to explain the wrong choices – so you don’t make the same mistakes on exam day.
A mother gave her land to her two kids, a son, and a daughter, as joint tenants. The son built two adjoining homes on the land. He lived in one house and rented the other. The daughter lived out of the country and never visited the land. The daughter needed money, so she sold her interest in the land to her ex-boyfriend. Her ex-boyfriend immediately hired a developer to build a third home on the land. Soon after the daughter had sold her interest in the land, she was killed in a motorcycle accident. The ex-boyfriend is now asking the court for a judicial partition of the land. The son contends that upon his sister's death, he was now the sole owner of the land.
How should the court rule?
- For the ex-boyfriend, because he plans to live on the land.
- For the ex-boyfriend, because he paid for the son’s interest in the land.
- For the son, because he has the right of survivorship.
- For the son, because he has the sole position of the land.
Explanation:
Correct answer: B
California Bar Exam Requirements
To sit for the California Bar Exam, you must meet specific educational and certification requirements, which vary depending on whether you’re a law school student, a foreign-educated lawyer, or seeking admission on motion through reciprocity.
Law School Students
To be eligible to take the California Bar Exam, you must:
- Complete at least 2 years of college or pass approved equivalency exams before starting law school.
- Graduate from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or one accredited by the California State Bar.
- Complete your first year of law school or pass the First-Year Law Students' Exam.
Alternate Legal Education Paths
California allows several pathways to obtain the necessary legal education, beyond traditional law school:
- 4 years at a registered unaccredited distance-learning or correspondence law school (minimum of 864 hours per year)
- 4 years of study under the supervision of a judge or attorney
- A combination of these paths
Foreigners
If you are fully admitted to practice law in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, you can take the California Bar Exam without additional legal education.
Applicants with foreign legal education who are not admitted to practice law may still qualify by meeting specific requirements, depending on whether they hold a first degree in law.
Foreign Law Students with a First Degree in Law
- Must show that their degree is equivalent to a Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school or meets the requirements for practicing law in their jurisdiction
- Provide a detailed evaluation of their foreign legal education by an approved agency
- Complete 1 year of law study at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school
- Register as a law student with the State Bar’s Office of Admissions
Foreign Law Students without a First Degree in Law
- Provide proof of completing the equivalent of 2 years of undergraduate studies through a detailed evaluation by an approved agency
- Pass the First-Year Law Students' Exam or be exempt after completing the 1st year of a JD program
- Earn a JD from an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school or complete 4 years of legal study at a registered law school or through the Law Office Study Program
- Register as a law student with the State Bar’s Office of Admissions
Admission on Motion (Reciprocity)
California does not have reciprocity or admission on motion. To practice law in California without examination, attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions must:
- Register as an attorney applicant with the State Bar of California.
- Complete a positive moral character determination.
- Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®).
- Pass the California Bar Examination.
Special Options for Attorney Applicants
- Attorneys in good standing for at least 4 years immediately preceding the exam may choose to take the 1-day Attorneys’ Examination instead of the full 2-day exam.
- Attorneys with less than 4 years of active status, or those who are inactive or not in good standing, must take the full 2-day California Bar Exam, which includes the MBE.
Scheduling
Scheduling your California bar exam is done through your exam application.
- To apply for the California Bar Exam, visit this website, navigate to "Admissions," select "Create a new registration," and continue through the registration process.
- Once you've completed registering, you will receive a confirmation email prompting you to pay a one-time registration fee of $150. At that point, you can begin working on your online application.
California Bar Exam Dates, Deadlines, Fees, and Cost-Saving Options
Mark the dates and deadlines shown below on your calendar and review the eligibility requirements. Save yourself some stress and a potential $50-$250 late fee by collecting the proper documentation and submitting your application early.
Exam Dates and Deadlines
The California Bar Exam is administered in February and July each year, typically during the last week of the month.
| Deadlines | February 2025 | July 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Opens | October 1, 2024 | TBA |
| Timely Filing | November 1, 2024 | TBA |
| Late Filing | January 1, 2025 | TBA |
Fees
Here are the fees associated with taking the California Bar Exam.
| California Bar Exam Application Fees | |
|---|---|
| General | $850 |
| Attorney | $1,500 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Second Late Fee | $250 |
| Other Application Fees | |
| General registration | $150 |
| Determination of Moral Character (General) | $725 |
| Attorney Registration | $300 |
| Determination of Moral Character (Attorney) | $850 |
| First-Year Law Students’ Examination | $850 |
| First-Year Law Students’ Examination Late Fee | $25 |
| Laptop Fee | $153 |
| Laptop Late Fee | $50 |
Payment Policies
You must register before submitting your California Bar Exam application. You can submit your registration and exam applications at the same time, but if your registration is not approved within 10 days, your exam fee will be refunded. Payment disputes do not count as exam withdrawal.
To withdraw, you must do so through the Admissions Applicant Portal before the deadline. You can receive a 95% refund in cases of death or physical incapacity by completing a refund form.
Cost-Saving Options
California Bar Exam costs can be significant, but there are ways to reduce or avoid some expenses. Scholarships are available for covering these costs:
- Berkeley Law's Outside Agency Scholarships: Provides a list of third-party scholarships available to California law students, ranging from $500 to over $10,000
- Mexican American Bar Foundation Scholarships: Provides scholarships to Latino students in law school to support bar exam costs
- Latina Lawyers Bar Association Scholarships: Offers scholarships for Latina law students in California, including bar exam expenses..
- Fee Waivers: Applicants experiencing financial hardship may qualify for a fee waiver for some bar exam costs. Visit the State Bar of California for details.
- Law School-Sponsored Scholarships: Check with your law school for bar prep scholarships, which may be available through alumni programs or specific law school resources.
California Bar Exam Scoring and Grading
The California Bar Exam requires a minimum passing score of 1,390 out of 2,000. The written and MBE sections are weighted at 50% each. Written responses are graded on a scale of 40-100 and are then scaled to adjust for exam difficulty using statistical equating.
Your final score is calculated by averaging half of the scaled written score and half of the scaled MBE score. Experienced attorneys grade the written answers. If an applicant's total score falls between 1,350 and 1,390, their answers are read a second time for a final determination.
California Bar Exam Results and Pass Rates
As is typical with bar exams across the country, the California Bar Exam's repeater pass rate is markedly lower than the first-timer pass rate. This phenomenon is likely because many examinees who failed the first time haven't changed their study habits.
| Exam | Overall Pass Rate | First-Timer Pass Rate | Repeater Pass Rate | Results Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2024 | 34% | 45% | 29% | May 3 |
| July 2023 | 52% | 65% | 24% | November 9 |
Below is a breakdown of historic pass rates for the California Bar Exam:
| Exam | First Timers | Repeaters | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No Of Candidates | Pass Rate | No Of Candidates | Pass Rate | No Of Candidates | Pass Rate |
| 2023 | 6,183 | 61% | 5,137 | 26% | 11,320 | 45% |
| 2022 | 6,091 | 64% | 4,186 | 21% | 10,277 | 47% |
| 2021 | 6,208 | 67% | 4,426 | 22% | 10,634 | 48% |
| 2020 | 6,182 | 67% | 6,746 | 34% | 12,928 | 50% |
| 2019 | 6,105 | 59% | 6,299 | 27% | 12,404 | 43% |
| 2018 | 6,399 | 52% | 6,373 | 20% | 12,772 | 36% |
| 2017 | 6,550 | 58% | 6,435 | 30% | 12,985 | 44% |
Other California Bar Requirements
To obtain licensure and keep it, you must fulfill additional requirements beyond passing the California Bar Exam, namely passing the MPRE and completing continuing learning education (CLE) requirements.
MPRE Requirements and Fees
The MPRE is a 2-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam assessing knowledge of professional conduct. You must pass with a score of 86 or higher to be admitted to the California Bar. Registration is available through the NCBE.
Learn More
First-Year Law Students Examination (Baby Bar)
The First-Year Law Students' Examination (commonly known as the "Baby Bar") is a test required for certain law students in California, typically those studying at unaccredited law schools, registered correspondence or distance-learning programs, or those pursuing legal studies in a law office or judge’s chambers.
The exam covers contracts, criminal law, and torts and is intended to assess a student’s grasp of fundamental legal principles after completing their first year of study. Passing the Baby Bar is required for these students to continue their legal education and receive credit for further law study.
Post-Admission Continuing Legal Education
All active California State Bar licensees must complete 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every 3 years. Requirements include 12.5 participatory hours, 4 hours of legal ethics, 2 hours on eliminating bias (including 1 hour on implicit bias), and 1 hour on competence (substance abuse or mental health). Licensees must report their compliance to the State Bar, and some may qualify for reduced hours based on exemptions or inactive status.
The State Bar of California Contact Details
You can contact the State Bar of California “Contact Center” between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday.
| California State Bar Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Contact Center | 800-843-9053 |
| If calling from out of state | 415-538-200 |
California Bar Exam Testing Locations
When you apply to take the California Bar Exam, you must select one of the many testing centers across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the California Bar Exam held?
The California Bar Exam is offered bi-annually, in February and July.
How hard is the bar exam in California?
The California Bar Exam has consistently had some of the lowest pass rates in the U.S. The large candidate pool in California likely contributes to these low pass rates, but California also has had a notoriously high minimum passing score.
How long is the California Bar Exam?
The California bar exam spans 2 days, each consisting of 6 testing hours.
What are California Bar Exam application deadlines and fees?
Applications for the February 2025 California Bar Exam close on January 1, 2025. July deadlines are TBA. The general application fee is $800 (see details).
Can anyone take the California Bar Exam?
Most applicants have graduated from an ABA-approved law school. However, there are alternate pathways to eligibility.
How many times can I take the California Bar Exam?
There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the California Bar Exam.
How long should I study for the California Bar Exam?
It takes about 400 hours to study for the California Bar Exam. Examinees should spend half of this time studying the law and memorizing outlines and the other half on practice questions and tests. Some students will study more, some less. It depends heavily on their educational background, their personal lives, and how well they optimize their bar exam study schedule.
What states does California have reciprocity with?
California does not offer reciprocity with any other states.
How do I become a licensed attorney in California?
The typical path to becoming a licensed attorney in California is as follows: earn an undergraduate degree, pass the LSAT, earn a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, be deemed of good moral character and fitness, pass the MPRE, pass the bar exam, and be approved for admission to the bar.
Can you practice law without a law degree in California?
Yes. You can practice law without a law degree by completing 4 years of legal study under a judge or attorney or attending an unaccredited law school, but you must still pass the California Bar Exam and meet other requirements.
How can I request special accommodations for the California Bar Exam?
Testing accommodations for the California Bar Exam are available to applicants with disabilities to ensure equal access, with individualized modifications provided as needed. Applicants are encouraged to submit accommodation requests well in advance.
