New Mexico Bar Exam Information
The two-day UBE exam consists of multiple-choice and essay questions and incorporates the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).
The final application deadline is May 2, 2022.
| Exam Dates: | Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023 |
| Exam Type: | Two-day UBE exam with multiple-choice and long-form questions |
| Location: | Albuquerque, NM |
| Application Fee: | $500 (applicants within one year of law school graduation) $1,000 (applicants more than one year after law school graduation) |
| On-Motion Application Fee: | N/A |
| Filing Deadline: | September 20, 2022 |
| Late Filing Deadline: | April 2, 2022 / May 02, 2022 |
| Late Fee: | $200 / $400 |
When is the 2023 New Mexico Bar Exam?
The Feb 2023 New Mexico Bar Exam has been scheduled for Feb 21st and 22nd. Visit the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners website for updated information.
Where is the New Mexico Bar Exam Located?
The New Mexico Bar Exam will be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, located at 401 2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
Parking is available at the Convention Center garage (Martin Luther King Blvd & Broadway) for $6-$10 per vehicle per day. Overflow parking is available at the Civic Plaza garage (Marquette & 3rd St.).
The closest hotel to the convention center is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Albuquerque, which has rooms from approximately $200 per night.
How much does the New Mexico Bar Exam cost?
All fees and deadlines remain unchanged despite the postponement of the exam.
Applicants who graduated from a law school within 12 months of applying for admission pay a fee of $500. The fee increases to $1,000 for applicants who graduated from law school more than 12 months ago.
Applications received between September 20, 2022, and April 2, 2023, will incur an additional late fee of $200. Applications received between April 2, 2023, and May 2, 2023, will incur an additional late fee of $400. No applications will be accepted from May 3, 2023.
See the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners website for full details on the application requirements.
What subjects are tested on the New Mexico Bar Exam?
MBE Subjects:
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
New Mexico Essay Subjects:
- Administrative Law
- Business Associations (Agency & Partnerships; Corporations)
- New Mexico Community Property
- Equity
- Family Law
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Indian Law
- Secured Transactions
- Trusts
- Wills & Estates
- Plus all MBE subjects
Multistate Performance Test:
“Closed universe” practical problem using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.
What is the format of the New Mexico Bar Exam like?
The New Mexico Bar Exam follows a two-day UBE format:
Day 1:
Morning: six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions
Afternoon: two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions
Day 2:
Morning: one hundred multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)
Afternoon: one hundred multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)
What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the New Mexico Bar exam?
New Mexico requires a minimum scaled MPRE score of 80 for admission.
How is the New Mexico Bar Exam Graded?
The New Mexico Bar Exam is weighted as follows:
- MEE = 30%
- MPT = 20%
- MBE = 50%
These scores are combined, and the applicant must receive an average scaled score of 260 to pass the exam.
When are the New Mexico Bar scores released?
New Mexico usually releases bar exam results approximately two months after the exam.
Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
New Mexico will accept MBE scores from a concurrent exam in a foreign jurisdiction if that jurisdiction agrees to forward the scores to New Mexico upon receipt to ensure the results are not delayed.
New Mexico will not accept MBE scores from a previous exam.
What is the New Mexico Reciprocity Agreement like?
New Mexico does not permit admission on motion, so all applicants must sit the exam.
How can I contact the New Mexico State Bar?
Board of Bar Examiners
9420 Indian School Road, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87112
Telephone: (505) 271-9706
Fax: (505) 271-9768
Email: info@nmexam.org
Website: http://www.nmexam.org/
Useful Links
- Board of Bar Examiners: administers the New Mexico Bar Exam
- The National Conference of Board Examiners: conducts the Universal Bar Exam
The New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners has compiled a list of useful resources for minority groups