The South Dakota Bar Exam
Structure, Topics, Dates, Cost, Scores, and Eligibility
The South Dakota Bar Exam is made up of the 3 Uniform Bar Examination (UBE®) components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®), and the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®). However, South Dakota is not a UBE state because it also has a state-specific Indian Law Question (ILQ) following its unique MEE. The article provides more information about the SD Bar Exam, including dates, deadlines, fees, applications, results, and more.
South Dakota Bar Exam Structure
The UBE is divided into 2 days, each with 6 testing hours. The writing portion (MPT/MEE/ILQ) is administered on day 1, and the MBE on day 2. While the South Dakota Bar Exam follows the UBE structure, it includes 1 essay question on Indian Law following a 5 question MEE. While the schedule below is for the UBE, the SD Bar Exam will follow the same structure, just swapping 1 MEE question for 1 Indian law question.
South Dakota Bar Exam Dates, Requirements, and Scheduling
You can't pass an exam that you don't take. Mark the dates and deadlines shown below on your calendar and review the eligibility requirements below. Save yourself some stress by collecting the proper documentation and submitting your application early.
Exam dates
The South Dakota Bar Exam falls on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. It's important to file for your application on or before the timely filing deadline, as South Dakota has no late filing periods. You cannot sit for the exam if you do not submit your application in time.
| Filing Periods | February 25-26, 2025 | July 29-30, 2025 | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Elapsed | May 1, 2025 | $450 |
Requirements
To sit for the South Dakota Bar Exam, you must have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) with a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB). You must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®) within 28 months prior to your exam. You do not have to be approved for Character and Fitness before you take the exam. However, you must apply for a Character and Fitness Investigation through The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®). These investigations are ongoing, and the Board will make its determination after you pass the bar exam.
Scheduling
To sit for the South Dakota Bar Exam, you must register with the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners, fill out your application, and obtain an NCBE number by creating an NCBE account. You must also:
- Arrange to have a Dean Certificate of Study sent to the Board
- Submit a photo of yourself taken within the last 6 months
- Submit fingerprint cards with fully rolled fingerprints printed by local law enforcement (email [email protected] for cards)
- Submit special accommodations and laptop testing forms (if applicable)
- Review the Board's Application with Examination Checklist
Master legal rules with in-depth answer explanations that include visual illustrations and charts.
South Dakota Bar Exam Cost and Fees
South Dakota has a relatively simple fee schedule. There are no late fees because late applications are not accepted, and the cost for repeat takers is the same for first-time takers. See the fee schedule below for details.
| Application Fees | |||
|
Bar Exam Application |
$450 | ||
|
Admission w/o Examination Application |
$650 | ||
|
Fingerprints |
$43.25 | ||
|
Character and Fitness Report |
$150 (same jurisdiction) $250 (different jurisdiction |
||
|
Laptop Fee |
$100 | ||
Payment policies
The Board accepts money orders, cashier's checks, and credit card payments. Personal checks are not accepted. If you fail to appear for your examination, you can apply your fee to the next SD Bar Exam administration.
Cost-saving options
Attending law school and sitting for the bar exam is expensive. Fortunately, there are cost-saving options for eligible candidates. For example, The University of South Dakota awards undergraduates $9.5 million in scholarships each year.
Most of the scholarships above are for current or soon-to-be law students. Try browsing the AccessLex Institute Law School Scholarship Databank for options better suited to you. You can also check out the American Bar Association's (ABA) website, which offers 100+ opportunities and programs for young lawyers and law students. Even if you can't obtain a scholarship, you can do some basic things to save money while preparing for the bar exam:
- Join a study group and split the cost of bar exam preparation materials among group members.
- Research free or low-cost study online study materials like past bar exam questions and answers to supplement commercial study aids.
- Some bar exam prep companies offer discounts or promotions to students who register early or refer friends to their program.
South Dakota Bar Exam Subjects and Topics
The SD Bar Exam tests a candidate's legal knowledge, analytical skills, and competence to practice law. It covers a range of subjects, from Constitutional Law and Contracts to Criminal Law and Evidence. The SD Bar Exam is unique in including a single question on Indian Law. Candidates will be assessed by their ability to apply legal principles, draft legal documents, and effectively solve problems to ensure they can competently represent clients and complete entry-level legal tasks.
Testable subjects on the MEE
The MEE requires candidates to identify legal issues, apply relevant legal principles, and demonstrate their ability to analyze fact patterns and compose well-reasoned, organized, and concise written responses. The UBE MEE consists of 6 essay questions. However, South Dakota's version consists of 5 essay questions on general and South Dakota principles of Law. A typical MEE will test the following subjects:
Some subjects may be tested together. Others may not be tested at all. There may also be state-specific questions since South Dakota is not a UBE state. Check out our MEE Study Guide for details on planning your studies and determining what's essential so you use your time efficiently. Also, check out our MEE Subject Matter Outline for in-depth explanations of MEE subjects and sub-topics.
Indian law essay question
Rather than having 6 MEE questions, the SD Bar Exam consists of 5 MEE questions and 1 Indian Law question. This question tests an examinee's knowledge of the basic principles of federal Indian law: civil and criminal jurisdiction, the Indian Civil Rights Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It does not test tribal or customary laws.
Testable subjects on the MBE
The MBE contains 200 multiple-choice questions divided evenly over 7 subjects. You'll notice that 7 x 25 does not equal 200. That's because 25 MBE questions are unscored questions that the NCBE field tests for future exams. There is no way to identify which questions are scored or unscored, so it's best to imagine that they are all just as important. MBE subjects are as follows:
MPT: Testable items
The MPT is designed to test an examinee's "lawyering skills" using only the materials provided. These tasks are conducted in a closed-universe, fictional jurisdiction called "Franklin." The laws of the real world do not apply, so your critical thinking skills and understanding of fundamental legal principles are key. You'll receive faux reference material, which you'll use to solve two tasks, each graded on a scale from 0 to 6.
South Dakota MPRE Requirements
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®) is a 2-hour, 60-multiple-choice question exam that assesses an examinee's knowledge of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. You can register through the NCBE. A passing MPRE score in South Dakota must be earned within 28 months before the next scheduled exam.
South Dakota MPRE minimum passing score
South Dakota has an MPRE minimum passing score of 85, among the highest of all jurisdictions. Candidates are responsible for requesting that the NBCE send a copy of their MPRE score report to the Board. Scores are only valid if transferred directly from the MPRE testing authority.
South Dakota Bar Exam Scoring, Results, and Pass Rates
The MBE employs scaled scoring to ensure fairness across exam versions. Scaled scoring accounts for the fact that one exam administration may be more or less difficult than another administration. For example, February's exam may be more difficult than July's. It wouldn't be fair if you failed because you just happened to receive a harder exam version. To solve this, your raw scores are transformed into scaled scores through an equating statistical method. The MPT, MEE, and Indian law questions are each scored together. See below for grading details.
South Dakota bar exam scoring/grading
The Board grades the South Dakota Bar Exam in two sections, which are then combined. Passing standards are as follows:
- MPT, MEE, Indian Law — A general average of 75% or higher
- MBE — A scaled score of 133. You may receive up to 3 additional points on the MBE based on your score on the other section—80-84% (1 point), 85-89% (2 points), 90%+ (3 points)
If you fail one section of the exam, you can retake that section, or both sections, of the exam. However, a passing score on one portion of the exam is only valid for 2 years, and if you elect to retake both, you must pass both.
South Dakota bar exam results and pass rates
You'll notice that The South Dakota Bar Exam's repeater pass rates are substantially lower than the first-timer pass rates. This discrepancy between first-timer and repeater pass rates is common across all jurisdictions. This phenomenon is likely due to the fact that many who fail their first bar exam don't change how they study.
| Exam | Overall Pass Rate | First-Timer Pass Rate | Repeater Pass Rate | Results Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | 74% | 80% | 43% | September 6 |
| Feb. 2024 | 48% | 63% | 27% | April 8 |
Here are the annual pass rates for the South Dakota Bar Exam since 2017, divided into first-time examinees and repeaters:
| Exam | First Timers | Repeaters | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No Of Candidates |
Pass Rate | No. Of Candidates |
Pass Rate | No. Of Candidates |
Pass Rate |
| 2022 | 82 | 79% | 30 | 27% | 112 | 65% |
| 2021 | 71 | 70% | 24 | 71% | 95 | 71% |
| 2020 | 64 | 70% | 21 | 33% | 85 | 61% |
| 2019 | 76 | 82% | 28 | 57% | 104 | 75% |
| 2018 | 72 | 78% | 45 | 20% | 117 | 56% |
| 2017 | 66 | 68% | 49 | 45% | 115 | 58% |
South Dakota Bar Exam results are typically released 6-8 weeks following an exam administration. Results were released on April 8, 2024, and September 6, 2024, for the February and July 2024 exams, respectively.
South Dakota Bar Exam Reciprocity
South Dakota bases reciprocity on other states' requirements for SD attorneys applying for admission without examination (Admission on Motion). If a state has additional requirements for SD attorneys, the Board will impose similar additional requirements for attorneys seeking admission to the South Dakota Bar from that state.
To gain admission to the South Dakota Bar without examination, you must fulfill the same requirements as a candidate applying via examination and provide documentation showing that you have actively practiced law for 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding your application. "Active practice" includes:
- Sole practitioner
- Member of a law firm, professional corporation, or association
- Judge in a court of record
- Attorney for any local or state governmental entity
- Inside counsel for a corporation, agency, association, or trust department
- Attorney with the federal government or a federal governmental agency, including service as a member of the Judge Advocate General Department of the military
See the Board's checklist for Application without Examination Checklist. You must submit your application and all supporting documents to the following address:
| Address |
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners |
What Makes the South Dakota Bar Exam Unique?
The South Dakota Bar Exam follows the general UBE format but includes an essay question on Indian law. Therefore, rather than 6 MEE questions, the exam requires 5 MEE questions and 1 Indian law question.
South Dakota bar exam for foreigners
Applicants who have graduated from a foreign law school may sit for the South Dakota Bar Exam if "good cause is shown": they have passed the bar exam in another state and are in good standing in that state.
Final Takeaways
The difference between those who fail the South Dakota Bar Examination and those who pass is the right study plan. A quality full bar review course will help improve your score, whether it's your first, second, or even third time taking the South Dakota Bar Exam.
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Contact details of the South Dakota state bar
If you wish to contact the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners with inquiries regarding the SD Bar Exam, please see the details below.
| Medium | Info |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | (605) 773-4898 |
| Fax | (605) 773-8479 |
| [email protected] | |
| Mailing Address |
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners 500 E. Capitol Ave. Pierre, SD 57501 |
South Dakota Bar Exam FAQs
How long Is the bar exam in South Dakota?
Can anyone take the bar exam in South Dakota?
How hard is the South Dakota bar exam?
What are South Dakota bar exam application deadlines and fees?
How many times can I take the South Dakota bar exam?
How much does it cost to retake the South Dakota Bar Exam?
Does South Dakota offer reciprocity with any jurisdiction?
South Dakota offers reciprocity with jurisdictions that have substantially similar requirements for its attorneys. See the reciprocity section for details.