The North Carolina Bar Exam | The Ultimate Guide 2025

Get ready for the 2025 North Carolina Bar Exam. Learn about exam dates, costs, scores, pass rates, results, requirements, and subjects.
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NC Bar exam dates, cost, structure, fees and pass rates

The North Carolina Bar Exam adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE®) in 2019. The UBE consists of 3 components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®), and the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®).

North Carolina Bar Exam Structure

The UBE spans the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July, with 6 hours of testing daily.

North Carolina Bar Exam Structure
Tuesday Wednesday
Morning
(3-hour session)		 2 MPTs 100 MBE multiple-choice questions
Afternoon
(3-hour session)		 6 essay questions 100 MBE multiple-choice questions
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North Carolina Bar Exam Subjects and Topics

The North Carolina Bar Exam evaluates your understanding of foundational legal principles, practical lawyering skills, and Indian and federal law through the following 3 components.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The MPT assesses your ability to carry out practical legal tasks in a simulated environment. You’ll complete 2 90-minute tasks set in a fictional jurisdiction known as "Franklin," which operates under its own legal framework — distinct from U.S. and North Carolina laws. 

Each task provides comprehensive documents, including relevant and irrelevant information. Success requires critical thinking and a solid grasp of essential legal principles.

MPT 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

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Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)

The MEE consists of 6 essay questions. Each question involves 1 or more of the subjects listed below. Some subjects may be paired together, and others could be omitted. While it's impossible to know which subjects the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) will choose for any given exam version, some have been tested more frequently than others historically. 

For example, Civil Procedure has appeared on nearly every MEE in the past decade, while Criminal Law has only appeared a few times. However, subjects that occur less frequently on their own may be paired with others.

MEE Subjects
Business Associations Evidence
Civil Procedure Family Law
Conflicts of Law Real Property
Constitutional Law Secured Transactions
Contracts Torts
Criminal Law & Procedure Trusts & Estates

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Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

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

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UWorld MBE Sample Questions

Quality speaks for itself. Try some of our free multiple-choice sample questions below.

Select a Question sample.

Select a Question sample.

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?

  1. No, because the court has diversity jurisdiction over the case.
  2. No, because the husband waived a subject-matter jurisdiction challenge by appearing in the case.
  3. Yes, because state courts have exclusive jurisdiction over this type of action.
  4. Yes, because the wife did not establish a domicile in State B.
Submit Next Question

Explanation:

Federal diversity jurisdiction exceptions

Federal courts cannot exercise diversity jurisdiction over cases involving:

  • probate matters (eg, authenticating wills, administering estates) or
  • domestic relations (eg, issuing divorce, alimony, or child-custody decrees)

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.

*The probate and domestic-relations exceptions exist because states have a strong interest in these substantive areas and are more qualified to deal with the constant judicial involvement these types of cases require.

(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?

  1. Congress may enact statutes for the general welfare.
  2. Congress may regulate the prices of all domestic purchases and sales of goods.
  3. The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate the interstate transportation of prescription drugs.
  4. The purchases and sales of prescription drugs in the United States substantially impact interstate commerce in the aggregate.
Submit Next Question

Explanation:

Commerce clause challenge

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?

  1. 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.
  2. No, because the contract primarily calls for services, and the landscaper's breach is therefore subject to the two-year statute of limitations.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
Submit Next Question
Factors for determining contract's predominant purpose

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?

  1. No, because fraud in factum did not negate the woman's consent.
  2. No, because fraud in the inducement did not negate the woman's consent.
  3. Yes, because the woman's consent was obtained by fraud in factum.
  4. Yes, because the woman's consent was obtained by fraud in the inducement.
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Explanation:

Consent to sexual intercourse obtained by fraud
Type of fraud Definition Effect
In factum
  • Fraud pertains to nature of act—eg, doctor convinces patient that sexual act is part of medical exam
  • Victim is unaware that he/she is consenting to sexual intercourse
Negates victim's consent
In inducement
  • Fraud pertains to what victim knows is an act of sexual intercourse—eg, defendant promises marriage in exchange for sex
  • Victim is aware that he/she is consenting to sexual intercourse
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).

*At common law, rape was defined as (1) unlawful sexual intercourse (2) with a female who is not the defendant's wife (3) against her will by force or threat of force.

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?

  1. The plaintiff's attorney failed to provide all significant information on direct examination.
  2. The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reiterate the necessary elements of the claim.
  3. The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reply to all matters raised on cross-examination.
  4. The plaintiff's attorney seeks to reply to significant new matters raised on cross-examination.
Submit Next Question

Explanation:

Sequence and scope of witness examination

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?

  1. No, because the woman actually possessed only the surface estate that had previously been severed from the mineral estate.
  2. No, because the woman did not actually possess the mineral estate until she signed the lease of the mineral rights.
  3. Yes, because the neighbor failed to record the warranty deed conveying the mineral estate.
  4. Yes, because the woman adversely possessed both the surface estate and the mineral estate for the statutory period.
Submit Next Question

Explanation:

Adverse possession of a mineral state

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?

  1. No, because the teenager did not make contact with the classmate.
  2. No, because the teenager did not purposefully try to harm or touch the classmate.
  3. Yes, because the teenager acted with the requisite intent.
  4. Yes, because the teenager's conduct was extreme and outrageous.
Submit

Explanation:

Two types of intent

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.

Bluebook Citations :
  • 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 below. Their practice questions might parody the exam, but ours consistently meet or exceed exam-level difficulty. Their limited explanations address the right 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?

  1. For the ex-boyfriend, because he plans to live on the land.
  2. For the ex-boyfriend, because he paid for the son’s interest in the land.
  3. For the son, because he has the right of survivorship.
  4. For the son, because he has the sole position of the land.
Submit

Explanation:

Correct answer: B

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North Carolina Bar Exam Requirements

To sit for the North Carolina Bar Exam, you must meet specific educational and certification requirements depending on whether you’re a law school student, a foreign-educated lawyer, or seeking admission without examination.

Law School Students

To be eligible for the North Carolina Bar Exam, you must meet the educational requirements outlined in the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in the State of North Carolina.

  • You must have graduated with a Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a law school approved by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar.
  • Most ABA-accredited law schools meet this requirement, but approval must come from the North Carolina State Bar, not just the ABA.
  • The degree must be conferred prior to the date of the bar exam.

Foreign Lawyers and Students 

If you graduated from a foreign law school not accredited by the ABA, you may not directly qualify to take the North Carolina Bar Exam based solely on your foreign legal education. However, under specific conditions, you may become eligible:

  • Admission in Another U.S. Jurisdiction: Foreign-educated applicants must first be admitted to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction before applying to take the North Carolina Bar Exam.
  • You must be a member in good standing of that jurisdiction’s bar.
  • Good Cause Petition: You may petition to take the exam by demonstrating good cause, which typically includes prior U.S. bar admission and active legal practice.
  • Additional Education: Earning an LL.M. or other graduate law degree from an ABA-approved law school does not independently qualify a foreign-educated applicant to sit for the North Carolina Bar Exam.

Admission on Motion (Reciprocity) 

To gain admission to the North Carolina Bar without examination (Admission on Motion), you must meet the same requirements as examination candidates and demonstrate active law practice for 4 of the past 6 years. Active practice includes roles such as:

  • Sole practitioner or member of a law firm
  • Judge in a court of record
  • Attorney for local, state, or federal government, including JAG service
  • In-house counsel for a corporation or agency

Reciprocity is based on other states' requirements for North Carolina attorneys. If your state imposes additional requirements on North Carolina attorneys, you will need to meet similar requirements. Submit your application and supporting documents to the Board of Bar Examiners. 

UBE Score Transfer

To be eligible for UBE admission in North Carolina, you must:

  • Graduate with a JD or equivalent from an ABA-approved law school.
    • Apply for a waiver if you have been admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction or completed a foreign legal degree plus an ABA-accredited LL.M., and secure this waiver before filing your Notice of Intent.
  • Obtain a UBE score of 270 or higher within the past 3 years.
  • Obtain an MPRE score of 80 or higher.
  • Complete a Character Questionnaire with the necessary documents.

Scheduling

To sit for the North Carolina Bar Exam, follow these general steps:

  1. Create an account with the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners and obtain your NCBE number.
  2. Complete and submit the bar exam application through your online account.
  3. Have your law school submit a Dean’s Certificate and official transcript.
  4. Submit a passport-style photo and fingerprint cards completed by law enforcement.
  5. If applicable, submit forms for special accommodations or laptop testing.
  6. Review the application checklist to ensure all documents and fees are submitted on time.
Address

Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina
5510 Six Forks Rd., Ste. 300

Raleigh, NC 27609
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North Carolina Bar Exam Deadlines, Fees, and Cost-Saving Options

Submit your North Carolina Bar Exam application early to give yourself time to gather all necessary documents and avoid late fees. See key deadlines, fees, and payment options below.

Exam Dates and Deadlines

Filing Deadline Feb. 27-28, 2025 July 30-31, 2025
Timely Deadline NA/lapsed January 7, 2025
Late Deadline NA/lapsed March 4, 2025
Final Deadline NA/lapsed NA

Fees

North Carolina Bar Exam Fees
Status Fee
First-Time Applicant $850
Attorney Applicant $1,650
Re-Applicant (Repeater) $400
MBE Transfer Fee $25
MPRE Transfer Fee $25
Laptop Usage (optional) $125

Payment Policies 

The Board accepts payments via money orders, cashier’s checks, or credit cards. Personal checks are not accepted. If you are unable to attend the exam, your payment may be credited toward the next exam administration.

Cost-Saving Options

Scholarships and grants are available to help North Carolina law students and graduates with legal education and bar exam costs.

For more information about any of these programs, you may email [email protected].

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North Carolina Bar Exam Scoring and Grading

North Carolina’s minimum passing score is 270. Since the UBE is divided into 2 equally weighted sections — writing (MPT/MEE/IQL) and the MBE — you should aim for a 135 on each section.

However, you don’t need to score 135 on each section to pass. An exceptional MBE score can balance a subpar score in the writing section. What matters is that the combined total of your 2 scores is 270 or higher.

Component Weights:

  • MBE: 50%
  • MEE: 30%
  • MPT: 20%

North Carolina Bar Exam Results and Pass Rates

As is common with bar exams across the U.S., the North Carolina Bar Exam's pass rate for repeaters is considerably lower than for those taking it for the first time. This is likely because many repeat takers don't modify their study habits.

Exam Overall
Pass Rate		 First-Timer
Pass Rate		 Repeater
Pass Rate		 Results
Release Date
July 2024 74% 81% 41% September 4
February 2024 55% 74% 34% April 3
Exam First-Timers Repeaters Overall
Year No. Of Candidates Pass Rate No. Of Candidates Pass Rate No. Of Candidates Pass Rate
2024 948 79% 361 37% 1309 68%
2023 861 74% 340 29% 1201 61%
2022 900 72% 283 33% 1183 63%
2021 958 80% 294 36% 1252 70%
2020 786 84% 284 35% 1070 71%
2019 892 80% 411 40% 1303 69%
2018 695 65% 507 22% 1202 47%
2017 970 65% 669 34% 1639 52%

Other North Carolina Bar Requirements

To become licensed and maintain your status to practice law in North Carolina, you must meet additional requirements beyond passing the bar exam. These include passing the MPRE and fulfilling ongoing Continuing Legal Education (CLE) obligations.

MPRE Requirements and Fees

The MPRE is a 2-hour exam with 60 multiple-choice questions designed to test your understanding of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. In North Carolina, you must earn a minimum score of 80, achieved no earlier than 24 months before and no later than 12 months after taking the North Carolina Bar Exam. Registration is completed through the NCBE.

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Post-Admission Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

North Carolina requires attorneys to complete 12 hours of CLE each year, including:

  • 2 hours in professional responsibility or ethics.
  • 1 hour in technology training.
  • Additional hours in approved legal education topics.

The North Carolina State Bar oversees compliance, and attorneys must report their CLE annually to remain in good standing.

North Carolina Board of Bar Examiners Contact Information

The Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Method Contact
Address 5510 Six Forks Rd., Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27609
Fax 919-848-4277
Phone 919-848-4229
General Public Inquiry [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

No. Applicants must have a JD from a “reputable and qualified law school” that requires 3 years of full-time study for graduation or an ABA-approved law school to take the Bar Exam in North Carolina
The North Carolina Bar Exam is offered biannually in February and July.
The North Carolina Bar Exam is administered over 2 days, with 2 separate 3-hour sessions held each day.
The NC Bar Exam is about as challenging as those administered in other UBE jurisdictions.
The timely filing deadline for the February 2025 North Carolina Bar Exam has lapsed. For the July 2025 exam, the timely filing deadline is January 7, 2025, and the late filing deadline is March 4, 2025. Applications submitted after the timely deadline will incur additional fees. The application fee is $850 for timely filing and $1,100 for late filing.
The North Carolina UBE Bar Exam is scored on a 400-point scale, with a minimum passing score of 270 or greater, equating to 135 on the MBE’s 200-point scale. Both MPT questions are worth 20% total, the MEE 30%, and the MBE 50%.
North Carolina imposes no set limits on the number of times you can take the NC State Bar Exam, so if you fail the exam on your first try, you can come up with a better game plan to perform better and pass on your next attempt.
The North Carolina Bar Exam requires 400 hours of study. While many examinees begin studying 8-10 before their exam, starting 4-6 months out will reduce burnout and increase retention. The amount of time you ultimately need depends on your educational background and how you optimize your time.
You must pass the UBE and the MPRE, meet character and fitness standards, and take an oath to become a licensed attorney in North Carolina.
No, you cannot practice law in North Carolina without a law degree.
To register for special testing accommodations in North Carolina, you must submit a petition for special accommodations along with disability-specific forms prior to the bar exam application filing deadline.

References

  1. North Carolina Board of Law Examiners. (n.d.). Rules governing admission to the practice of law in the State of North Carolina. Retrieved on March 25, 2025 from https://www.ncble.org/rules-governing-admission-to-the-practice-of-law-nc
  2. National Conference of Bar Examiners. (n.d.). Comprehensive guide to bar admission requirements: Chart 4 – Foreign legal education. Retrieved on March 25, 2025 from https://reports.ncbex.org/comp-guide/charts/chart-4/
  3. North Carolina Board of Law Examiners. (n.d.). Registration instructions. Retrieved on March 25, 2025 from https://www.ncble.org/registration-instructions
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