Ohio Bar Exam Information
The Ohio Bar Exam is currently scheduled to take place on Feb 21-22, 2023. The two-day exam follows the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) format and includes essays and multiple-choice questions.
| Exam Dates: | Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023 |
| Exam Type: | Two-day UBE with multiple choice and long-form questions |
| Location: | Wilmington, Ohio |
| Application Fee: | $358 |
| On-Motion Application Fee: | $1,500 |
| Filing Deadline: | Nov 1, 2022 |
| Late Filing Deadline: | Dec 10, 2022 |
| Late Fee: | $100 |
When is the 2023 Ohio Bar Exam?
The Ohio Bar Exam usually takes place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July, with the next exam scheduled for Feb 21-22, 2023. See the Office of Bar Admissions website for updated information.
Where is the Ohio Bar Exam Located?
The Ohio Bar Exam is administered at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio or at Roberts Centre 123 Gano Road Wilmington, Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court posts the location on its Bar Examination website.
How much does the Ohio Bar Exam cost?
In Ohio, an Application to Register as a Candidate for Admission to the Practice of Law fee of $75 must be paid by November 15 in the second year of law school. If the fee is paid after this date, the amount increases to $275.
Both students and attorneys pay $358 to sit the exam, whether it’s a first-time or repeat application.
Late applications made between Nov 1 and Dec 10 normally attract a $100 late fee.
Laptops may be used in the exam for a fee of $121.
An NCBE character report and other administrative fees may apply.
What subjects are tested on the Ohio Bar Exam?
MBE Subjects:
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
Ohio Essay Subjects:
- Business Associations (Agency, Corporations, Partnerships)
- Commercial Transactions (Commercial Paper & Secured Transactions)
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Ohio Civil Procedure
- Ohio Legal Ethics
- Real/Personal Property
- Torts
- Wills
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 Ohio Bar Exam like?
Ohio used to follow a 2.5-day format covering the MEE, MPT, MBE, and relevant Ohio-specific components.
However, as of July 2020, Ohio now uses the standard 2-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) questions
- Afternoon: one hundred multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions
The Ohio component is administered separately to the Bar exam and is required for admission into the bar. A passing score of 80 is required for entry.
What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the Ohio Bar exam?
Ohio requires a minimum scaled MPRE score of 85.
How is the Ohio Bar Exam Graded?
The MEE and MPT essay scores are scaled to the MBE multiple-choice questions. The exam is weighted as follows:
- MBE 50%
- MPT 20%
- MEE 30%
Scores from all sections are combined, and a grade of 270 or higher is required to pass the exam.
When are the Ohio Bar scores released?
The results of the Ohio Bar Exam are usually released in early November for the July exam and early May for the February exam.
Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
Ohio will not allow the applicant to transfer an MBE score from another jurisdiction.
What is the Ohio Reciprocity Agreement like?
Ohio will allow admission on motion if the applicant:
- Meets the general admission requirements
- Graduated from an ABA-accredited law school
- Has been admitted into another jurisdiction through its bar exam
- Has been practicing law full time for 5 of the last 10 years
- Intends to actively practice law in Ohio
- Has not previously failed the Ohio Bar exam
How can I contact the Ohio State Bar?
Bar Admissions Office
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3431
Telephone: (614) 387-9340
Email: baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov
Website: www.sconet.state.oh.us
Useful Links
- The Office of Bar Admissions administers the Ohio Bar Exam
- The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest legal authority in the state
- The National Conference of Bar Examiners develops the Universal Bar Exam and administers the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).