Arkansas Bar Exam Information

The next two-day Arkansas Bar exam is due to take place on July 21st and 22nd, 2023, although this date may be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The exam will be held at the Robinson Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, and costs $1,000 to sit or $100 for admission on motion.

Exam Dates:Feb 21-22 & Jul 25-26, 2023
Exam Type:Two-day exam consisting of essays and multiple-choice questions
Location:Robinson Center, Little Rock, AR
Application Fee:$1,000
On-Motion Application Fee:$100
Filing Deadline:April 1, 2020
Late Filing Deadline:No late filling allowed
Late Fee:N/A

When is the 2023 Arkansas Bar Exam?

The Arkansas Bar exam takes place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July each year. Therefore, the 2023 dates are as follows:

  • February 21-22, 2023
  • Jul 25-26, 2023

Visit the Arkansas Bar Exam website for updated information.

Where is the Arkansas Bar Exam Located?

The Arkansas bar exam is held in Little Rock, Arkansas. Applicants will be notified of the exact location preceding each exam.

How much does the Arkansas Bar Exam cost?

The Arkansas Bar exam costs $1,000, which can be paid via a cashier’s check or money order to the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The check or money order must be negotiable for 6 months from the date of issue.

2023 filing deadlines:

  • February exam: November 15, 2022
  • July exam: April 1, 2023

No late filing extensions are permitted.

An on-motion application fee of $100 applies.

What subjects are tested on the Arkansas Bar Exam?

The Arkansas Bar exam will test the following fields:

MBE Subjects:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts/Sales
  • Criminal Law/Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Federal Civil Procedure
  • Real Property
  • Torts

MEE/Arkansas Essay Subjects:

  • Business Associations (Agency and Partnership, Corporations and Limited Liability Companies)
  • Conflict of Laws
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (including Article 2 and Revised Article 1 of the UCC)
  • Criminal Law & Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Federal Civil Procedure
  • Family Law
  • Real Property
  • Torts
  • Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates, Trusts and Future Interests)
  • Uniform Commercial Code (Secured Transactions)

What is the format of the Arkansas Bar Exam like?

The Arkansas Bar exam is a two-day exam that includes both essay and multiple-choice questions.

Day 1:

Morning: two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions

Afternoon: six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions

Day 2:

Morning: 100 multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions

Afternoon: 100 multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions

What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the Arkansas Bar exam?

Admission into the Arkansas Bar exam requires a scaled MPRE score of 85 as a prerequisite.

How is the Arkansas Bar Exam Graded?

The Arkansas Bar exam is weighted as follows:

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

The applicant must achieve a scaled score of at least 270 to pass the exam.

When are the Arkansas Bar scores released?

Test results are usually released approximately four weeks after the exam.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

An applicant may retain a scaled MBE score of 135 or higher from an immediately preceding Arkansas Bar exam.

An applicant may transfer an immediately preceding scaled MBE score of 135 or higher from another jurisdiction.

What is the Arkansas Reciprocity Agreement like?

Admission on motion is permitted under the following circumstances:

  • The applicant must be a member of a reciprocating state bar who has engaged in the practice for law in good standing for 5 of the previous 7 years.
  • The applicant must have graduated from an accredited ABA law school.

How can I contact the Arkansas State Bar?

The Arkansas Judiciary can be contacted at the following:

120 Justice Building
625 Marshall
Little Rock, AR 72201

Telephone: (501) 374-1855
Website: http://courts.state.ar.us/opp/bar_admission.cfm

The Clerk’s Office can be reached by telephone on 501-682-6849.

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