What is the MEE®?
The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®) tests your ability to identify legal issues, apply established legal principles, and communicate your analysis clearly and concisely in writing. Unlike the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®), which uses multiple-choice questions, the MEE requires written responses: 6 essays in 3 hours, each scored on a 0 to 6 scale.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) develops and administers the MEE across all participating jurisdictions on the last Tuesday of February and July, coinciding with the first day of the Legacy UBE. The MEE contributes 30% of your total score (120 of 400 points) for Legacy UBE states, whereas non-UBE jurisdictions that administer the MEE may weigh it differently.
The MEE evaluates 3 core competencies graders are looking for in every essay: issue identification, rule application, and structured legal analysis. A well-organized response that directly addresses the legal question will consistently outperform a longer, less focused one.
Note: Starting with the July 2026 Legacy UBE administration, the MEE will no longer test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, or Secured Transactions as part of the NextGen UBE transition.
What is MEE Format and Exam Structure?
The MEE consists of 6 essay questions answered over 3 hours, giving you 30 minutes per question. Each question is self-contained: a fact pattern followed by specific questions you must answer in writing.
Essays are graded independently on a 0 to 6 scale by attorney graders trained by NCBE. Your final MEE score is not a simple average of those 6 scores, but they are combined and scaled. For the full grading breakdown, see our MEE Scoring page.
The MEE tests 8 subjects, with questions testing either a single subject or a combination of subjects in 1 fact pattern. Here's a list of subjects for your reference, and for subtopic breakdown and historical frequency by subject, see our MEE subjects and topics page.
| Civil Procedure | Evidence |
| Contracts | Real Property |
| Constitutional Law | Torts |
| Criminal Law and Procedure | Business Associations |
Which Jurisdiction Accepts the MEE?
The MEE is administered by all Legacy UBE jurisdictions, along with a few non-UBE states. Conversely, certain jurisdictions opt for state-specific examinations rather than the MEE. As the NCBE transitions toward the NextGen bar exam, individual states will phase out the MEE in alignment with their specific implementation schedules. Always confirm your jurisdiction's current requirements directly with your state's board of bar examiners or the NCBE before registering.
| MEE Administered Jurisdictions | MEE Not Administered Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | California, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Virgin Islands, Washington |
How to Register for the MEE and Request Accommodations
The MEE is not registered independently. You register for the bar exam as a whole through your jurisdiction's bar admissions authority, which determines your eligibility, deadlines, and fees.
Here's how the process works:
- Create an NCBE account at ncbex.org:
You will use this account to complete required NCBE components of the application, including the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®) score reporting and character and fitness materials.
- Apply through your jurisdiction's bar admissions authority:
Each jurisdiction sets its own application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and fees. Check your jurisdiction's board of bar examiners website for exact dates.
- Request accommodations early if applicable:
Candidates with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may request testing accommodations such as extended time, alternative exam formats, or Braille and large-print materials. Accommodation requests are submitted through your jurisdiction's bar authority, not through NCBE. Start this process well in advance of your application deadline, as approval can take several weeks.
MEE Test Day Policies: What to Know
Each jurisdiction provides specific guidelines on permitted and prohibited items. Here is a list of all prohibited items, including, but not limited to:
If you are caught possessing an illegal item, you most likely will be expelled from the bar exam with your scores voided. To learn more about MEE prohibitions in terms of materials and behavior, read the NCBE’s MEE Test Day Policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you re-take the MEE?
The number of allowable attempts varies by jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions allow between 2 and 6 attempts before imposing additional requirements such as retaking the bar exam preparation course or appearing before a character and fitness board. Check your jurisdiction’s board of bar examiners for the exact retake policy.
Can you fail the MEE and still pass the bar exam?
Yes. The MEE accounts for 30% of your total UBE score. A strong performance on the MBE and the MPT can compensate for a weaker MEE score, provided your combined total clears your jurisdiction’s passing threshold.
Do I need to apply state law to answer MEE Questions?
No. The MEE is administered as part of the UBE, which tests majority law principles rather than the specific laws of any individual state. You are not expected to know or apply state-specific rules in your responses.
How does NextGen UBE affect the MEE?
Starting with the July 2026 administration, jurisdictions transitioning to the NextGen UBE Uniform Bar Examination, no longer administer the MEE as a standalone component. The 6-essay, 3-hour format and the MEE’s 30% UBE weighting remain in place in all Legacy UBE jurisdictions until their scheduled transition date. See our NextGen Bar Exam page for the full jurisdiction transition timeline.
