Mississippi Bar Exam Information

The Mississippi Bar Association’s mission is “to serve the public good by promoting excellence in the [legal] profession.” One important part of fulfilling that mission is administering the bar exam to recent law school graduates to ensure they are competent to practice law in the state. In order to be licensed in Mississippi, lawyers must meet a variety of requirements and then achieve a passing score on the Universal Bar Exam. Keep reading for more details.

Exam Dates:Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023
Exam Type:Two-day Universal Bar Exam
Location:Jackson, MS
Application Fee:$850
On-Motion Application Fee:$1,500
Filing Deadline:Sept 1st, 2022
Late Filing Deadline:Nov 1st, 2022
Late Fee:$200

When is the 2023 Mississippi Bar Exam?

The first Mississippi Bar Exam of 2023 is scheduled to take place during the final week of February. Recent law school graduates in Mississippi should be sure to check the State of Mississippi Judiciary home page for current scheduling information.

Over the course of the two-day exam, applicants are subject to all three sections of the Universal Bar Exam (UBE). This includes a 200 question multiple-choice exam called the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), A Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions.

Where is the Mississippi Bar Exam located?

Applicants will be assigned a testing location in Jackson, MS after completing their online application and being cleared to sit for the exam.

How much does the Mississippi Bar Exam cost?

There is an $850 fee required to apply for the Mississippi Bar Exam for applications filed before February 1st. Applications made after the deadline will incur a $200 late fee. The fee for filing an application for admission without examination is $1500.

What subjects are tested on the Mississippi Bar Exam?

Subjects that appear on the UBE include, but are not limited to, family law, conflict of laws, contract law, trusts and estates, business associations, real property, torts, criminal law, constitutional law and evidence, criminal procedure, and civil procedure.

What is the format of the Mississippi Bar Exam?

The Mississippi Bar Association has fully adopted the Universal Bar Exam created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the Mississippi Bar Exam?

A scaled score of 75 or greater is required for applicants wishing to sit for the Mississippi Bar Exam.

How is the Mississippi Bar Exam graded?

The Universal Bar Exam is graded as follows. 50% of the total score is determined by the MPE score. 30% of the score is determined by the MEE. The remaining 20% of the score comes from the results of the MPT questions.

When are the Mississippi Bar scores released?

The Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions releases scores approximately two months after the testing date on this page. Applicants will receive the exact date their scores will be made available after completing the exam.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

Applicants who have already taken the MBE or other portions of the Universal Bar Exam may have their scores transferred from another jurisdiction. In order to do this, there is a reported fee of $25.

What is the Mississippi Reciprocity Agreement like?

The Mississippi Bar Association offers reciprocal membership to attorneys who have practiced law in certain jurisdictions for at least 5 of the last 7 years. A list of states that have reciprocity agreements with Mississippi can be found here. MPRE requirements for on motion applications vary by state.

How can I contact the Mississippi State Bar?

The Mississippi State Bar Clerk’s Office can be reached during business hours by calling 601-359-3694. They can also be reached by mail at the following address:
P O Box 249
Jackson, MS 39205

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