Oregon Bar Exam Information
The Oregon Bar Exam is administered over two days, twice a year. The exam consists of three different sections pertaining to federal as well as Oregon state specific law. In order to qualify for the Oregon Bar, applicants must have graduated from an ABA-approved law school and have been practicing in law for at least 3-5 years immediately prior to taking the Oregon Bar Exam.
| Exam Dates: | Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023 |
| Exam Type: | 2-day UBE Exam |
| Location: | Portland, OR |
| Application Fee: | $750 |
| On-Motion Application Fee: | $1,175 |
| Filing Deadline: | November 15th, 2022 |
| Late Filing Deadline: | December 15th, 2022 |
| Late Fee: | $350 |
When is the 2023 Oregon Bar Exam?
The Oregon Bar Exam will be on February 21st and 22nd, 2023, and July 25th and 26th, 2023. Up to date information can be found on the Oregon State Bar Admissions webpage.
In order to qualify for the Bar Exam, applicants must send their applications no later than December 15th, 2022.
Where is the Oregon Bar Exam Located?
The February 2023 Bar exam will take place at a location in the Portland Metropolitan area, or may spread further south in to the Willamette Valley, as far south as Salem. Details will be updated here.
How much does the Oregon Bar Exam cost?
Applicants who are not an attorney in any other jurisdiction are required to pay $750 for the application. Applicants who have been an attorney in a different jurisdiction are required to pay $1,175 for the exam. Any late applications will result in a fee of $350.
What subjects are tested on the Oregon Bar Exam?
MBE Subjects:
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
Oregon 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 Oregon Bar Exam like?
The Oregon State Bar exam is administered over the course of two days. The first day consists of the written portion of the exam, including 6 essay questions and the Multistate Performance Test questions. The second day consists of the 200 multiple choice Multistate Bar Exam questions.
What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the Oregon exam?
The minimum MPRE score is an 85 in order to qualify for the Oregon Bar Exam.
How is the Oregon Exam Graded?
The essays are weighted 25% of the total exam score and the MPTs are weighted 25% of the total exam score. The MBE is weighted 50% of the total exam score. The scaled score on the essay examination is combined with the standardized score on the MBE and the score on the MPT for one passing score.
When are the Oregon Bar scores released?
Results are generally released about 5-6 weeks after the exam.
Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
The Oregon State Bar accepts MBE scores from other jurisdictions as long as they are no older than 7 years old and meet the score requirement.
What is the Oregon Reciprocity Agreement like?
Attorneys must have passed a bar exam in a reciprocal jurisdiction and have been lawfully engaged in the practice of law for at least five of the last seven years. Oregon also has special reciprocity with Alaska, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. If an attorney is licensed in one of these jurisdictions, the duration requirement is shortened to three of the five years preceding the application for admission.
How can I contact the Oregon State Bar?
The Oregon State bar can be contacted by email to info@osbar.org, by phone call to (503) 620-0222, and by mail address to:
P.O. Box 231935
Tigard, OR
97281-1935