Maryland Bar Exam Information

Administered over the course of two full days, the Maryland Bar Exam is held twice a year and consists of three sections spanning federal and Maryland specific law. In order to qualify for the Maryland Bar Exam, applicants must have graduated with a JD or equivalent from a law school with ABA certification. Maryland also requires a score of at least 85 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) before registering for the State Bar Exam.

Exam Dates:Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023
Exam Type:2-day UBE exam
Location:Baltimore Convention Center
Application Fee:$400+$350 Character Questionnaire Fee
On-Motion Application Fee:$1200
Filing Deadline:Dec 20, 2022
Late Filing Deadline:Dec 20, 2022
Late Fee:N/A

When is the 2023 Maryland Bar Exam?

The 2023 Maryland Bar Exam is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 21St, and Wednesday, Feb 22nd.  Up-to-the-minute scheduling information can be found on the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners’ homepage.

In order to register for the exam, applicants must file their Notice of Intent and accompanying paperwork with the State Board of Law Examiners by Dec 20th.

Where is the Maryland Bar Exam Located?

The 2023 Maryland Bar exam will be held in the Baltimore Convention Center, located at One West Pratt Street in Baltimore. Parking near the facility can be difficult, so we recommend using the venue’s online parking locator before driving to the test to avoid delays.

How much does the Maryland Bar Exam cost?

There is an examination fee of $400 to take the Maryland bar exam. Applicants must submit a letter of intent prior to Dec 20th, 2023 in order to participate. They must also include a completed character questionnaire with the notice. The fee for this questionnaire is an additional $350.

What subjects are tested on the Maryland Bar Exam?

Subjects tested on the Maryland Bar Exam include contracts, MD civil procedure, commercial transactions, constitutional law, corporations, family law, partnerships, professional responsibility, criminal law and procedure, agency, evidence, real property, and torts.

What is the format of the Maryland Bar Exam?

The exam takes place over two days. On day one, applicants complete ten drafted essay questions from the state of Maryland as well as one 90-minute question from the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Day 2 is a 200-question multiple-choice exam called the Multistate Bar Exam.

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

Applicants who are currently admitted to a bar association in another US state or territory must have scored 85 or greater on the MPRE at any point in order to qualify for the Maryland Bar Exam. Applicants who are not currently members of another association must have scored an 85 or greater on the MPRE in the past three years.

How is the Maryland Bar Exam Graded?

The multiple-choice MBE accounts for 50% of the score on the Maryland Bar Exam. 30% of the score is determined by the Multistate Performance Test. The essay section on Maryland law makes up the final 20% of the score.

When are the Maryland Bar scores released?

Results for the exam are expected to be released within the first two weeks of November 2020.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

Maryland only accepts MBE scores from other states from exams administered in the same year.

What is the Maryland Reciprocity Agreement like?

Out-of-state attorneys who have practiced law for at least 5 of the last 10 years are eligible for a scaled-down version of the Maryland Bar Exam if they have an intent to practice law in Maryland. This exam only consists of essay questions specific to Maryland law.

How can I contact the Maryland State Bar Association?

The Maryland State Bar Association can be contacted using the simple form on their website located at https://www.msba.org/contact/

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