North Carolina Bar Exam Information
In order to be admitted to the North Carolina Bar association, applicants must achieve a passing score on the two-day Universal Bar Exam. The North Carolina Bar Exam is administered over the course of two days, twice a year.
| Exam Dates: | Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023 |
| Exam Type: | Two-day UBE Exam |
| Location: | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Application Fee: | $850 |
| On-Motion Application Fee: | $1,650 |
| Filing Deadline: | Oct 4th, 2022 |
| Late Filing Deadline: | Nov 1st, 2022 |
| Late Fee: | $250 |
When is the 2023 North Carolina Bar Exam?
The 2023 North Carolina Bar Exam will take place Tuesday, Feb 21st and Wednesday, Feb 22nd. Up to date information can be found at the Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina website.
In order to register for the exam, applicants must submit their application along with the other requirements needed by no later than October 4th, 2022, otherwise applicants will be charged a late fee of $250 if the application is received October 5th through Nov 1st, 2022.
Where is the North Carolina Bar Exam Located?
The Feb 2023 North Carolina Bar Exam locations have yet to be announced.
How much does the North Carolina Bar Exam cost?
Non-licensed applicants are required to pay a fee of $850 for application, and $1,100 if the application is received between the dates of Oct 5 through Nov 1, 2022. A licensed attorney applying for the Bar Exam is required to pay $1,650, and will have to pay $1,900 if the application is received during the late payment period.
What subjects are tested on the North Carolina Bar Exam?
Subjects tested on the multiple-choice multistate bar exam include constitutional law, contracts, criminal law procedure, evidence, federal civil procedure, real property, and torts. Additional possible subjects in the essay portion of the exam include business associations, family law, trusts, and estates.
What is the format of the North Carolina Bar Exam like?
The North Carolina Bar Exam takes place over the course of two days, twice a year during the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.
On day one, applicants complete 12 essay questions (30 minutes each). On day two, applicants take the Multistate Bar Exam, which consists of 200 multiple choice questions.
What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the North Carolina Bar Exam?
Applicants must receive an 80 or higher on the MPRE in order to be qualified for the North Carolina Bar Exam.
How is the North Carolina Bar Exam Graded?
The North Carolina Bar Exam is graded by combining the MBE (weighted 40%) and the essay (weighted 60%) scores in order to determine if applicant has achieved a passing score of 350.
When are the North Carolina Bar Exam scores released?
The results are typically released in late March for the February exam, and late August for the July exam.
Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
No. North Carolina does not currently accept MBE scores from another jurisdiction.
What is the North Carolina Reciprocity Agreement like?
Attorneys must have been engaged in the full-time practice of law as the attorney’s principal means of livelihood in a reciprocal jurisdiction for at least four of the past six years. The attorney’s home jurisdiction must admit North Carolina attorneys without requiring the bar exam, but the attorney’s home jurisdiction may still require the MPRE. Attorneys must have been physically practicing in the reciprocal jurisdiction.
How can I contact the North Carolina State Bar?
The North Carolina Board of Law Examiners can be contacted by email at info @ncble.org, by phone at (919) 848-4229, and by mail at:
North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
5510 Six Forks Rd., Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27609