Louisiana Bar Exam Information

The Louisiana Bar Exam is set to take place over three days in July in the metro area of New Orleans.

Applications cost $875 and must be submitted before February 1, or by May 15 with an additional late filing fee of $750.

Exam Dates:Feb 13, 15 & 17, 2023
Exam Type:Three-day exam with multiple choice and long form questions
Location:Kenner, LA
Application Fee:$875
On-Motion Application Fee:Not permitted
Filing Deadline:November 1, 2022
Late Filing Deadline:December 15, 2022
Late Fee:$750

When is the 2023 Louisiana Bar Exam?

The three-day Louisiana Bar Exam occurs twice each year during February and July.

The next Louisiana Bar Exam is currently scheduled to take place over three days: the 13th, 15th, and 17th of Feb 2023. Keep an eye on the Louisiana Supreme Court website for updated information.

The July 2023 test is scheduled to take place on July 24th, 16th, and 28th.

Where is the Louisiana Bar Exam Located?

The July 2023 Louisiana Bar Exam will take place at the Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center in Kenner, which is in the New Orleans metro area.

The convention center is 10 minutes’ drive from the New Orleans International Airport and 20 to 30 minutes from the city center.

The Hilton Garden Inn is the closest accommodation, which is located adjacent to the convention center. Several other options are available within a five-minute drive.

The Pontchartrain Center has a 942-space car park called the West Parking Lot, which includes complimentary public parking.

How much does the Louisiana Bar Exam cost?

First time applicants, re-applicants, and in-house counsel pay a fee of $875 to sit the Louisiana Bar Exam. Additional third-party fees such as NCBE fees may apply.

Failure to apply for the exam by the deadline will incur a $750 late filing fee.

What subjects are tested on the Louisiana Bar Exam?

The following subjects are tested on the Louisiana Bar Exam:

Code Subject Essays:

  • Civil Code I (Persons, Community Property, Property, and Acquisitive Prescription)
  • Civil Code II (Successions, Donations, and Trusts)
  • Civil Code III (Liberative Prescription, Obligations, Contracts, Security Rights, Sales, Leases and other Civil Code Book III topics)
  • Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure
  • Torts

Non-Code Subject Essays:

  • Business Entities and Negotiable Instruments
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law, Procedure and Evidence
  • Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure

What is the format of the Louisiana Bar Exam like?

The Louisiana Bar Exam consists of nine separate long-form questions over three days.

Day 1:

  • Civil Code I
  • Civil Code II
  • Civil Code III

Day 2:

  • Code of Civil Procedure
  • Torts
  • Business Entities

Day 3:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Procedure & Evidence
  • Federal Jurisdiction & Procedure

Applicants required to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) will need to do so separately through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The MPRE is not included in the Louisiana Bar Exam.

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

A minimum scaled score of 80 on the MPRE is required for the Louisiana Bar Exam.

How is the Louisiana Bar Exam Graded?

A total score of 70%, or 650 out of 900 possible points, is required to pass the Louisiana Bar Exam.

Part 1 to 5 (Code I, Code II, Code III, La. Code of Civil Procedure and Torts) are “Code” exams, while 6 through 9 (Business Entities and Negotiable Instruments, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure) are “Non-Code.”

All subjects are worth 100 raw points, and Code subjects are worth twice the score as Non-Code subjects.

The Committee on Bar Admissions has created an exam calculator to help participants determine the minimum passing grade.

When are the Louisiana Bar scores released?

The Feb 2023 exam results will be posted by mail to applicants on Fri, April 21, 2023, and released on the Supreme Court of Louisiana website the following day.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

The Louisiana Bar Exam does not use the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). Therefore, MBE score transfers are not permitted.

What is the Louisiana Reciprocity Agreement like?

All applicants must sit the Louisiana Bar Exam because Louisiana does not allow on motion applications.

How can I contact the Louisiana State Bar?

Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions
2800 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Suite 310
Metairie, LA 70002
Telephone: (504) 836-2420 or (800) 314-1530
Website: www.lascba.org

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