Rhode Island Bar Exam Information

Rhode Island uses the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) which includes essays and multiple-choice questions. The exam is comprised of three components: a Multistate Performance Test (MPT), a Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and a Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

Exam Dates:Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023
Exam Type:Two-day UBE with multiple choice and long-form questions
Location:Providence, RI
Application Fee:$975
On-Motion Application Fee:N/A
Filing Deadline:May 1, 2022
Late Filing Deadline:No late filing is permitted
Late Fee:N/A

When is the 2023 Rhode Island Bar Exam?

The Rhode Island Bar Exam is usually scheduled to take place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Visit the Supreme Court of Rhode Island website for updated information.

Where is the Rhode Island Bar Exam Located?

The Rhode Island bar exam takes place in Providence. The exact location will be released shortly before the exam.

How much does the Rhode Island Bar Exam cost?

A petition for admission or reapplication costs $975, while deferrals cost $300. Admission must be received by the to-be-announced filing deadline, and no late filing is permitted.

The following fees may apply:

  • $25 MBE Transfer Fee
  • $500 NCBE Character Report Fee

What subjects are tested on the Rhode Island Bar Exam?

MBE Subjects:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts/Sales
  • Criminal Law/Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Real Property
  • Torts

Rhode Island Essay Subjects:

  • Agency
  • Commercial Paper
  • Conflict of Laws
  • Corporations
  • Creditors’ Rights
  • Domestic Relations
  • Equity
  • Partnerships
  • RI Practice & Procedure
  • Secured Transactions
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Federal Jurisdiction
  • 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 Rhode Island Bar Exam like?

The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Bar exam?

Rhode Island requires a minimum scaled MPRE score of 80 obtained within two years for admission.

How is the Rhode Island Bar Exam Graded?

The Rhode Island Bar Exam is weighted as follows:

  • MBE = 50%
  • MPT = 20%
  • MEE = 30%

The applicant must achieve a scaled score of 130 on the MBE and a combined score of 276 to pass the exam.

When are the Rhode Island Bar scores released?

Rhode Island usually releases the July scores in late October. However, the release of the results may be delayed due to the postponement of the exam.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

Applicants may transfer a scaled MBE score if taken from a concurrent exam.

What is the Rhode Island Reciprocity Agreement like?

Rhode Island does not accept admission on motion. Therefore, all applicants must sit the exam.

However, Rhode Island only requires the MEE and MPT portions of the exam for attorneys who have practiced law for 5 out of the 10 years immediately preceding the application. A scaled score of 138 is required to pass.

How can I contact the Rhode Island State Bar?

Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners

Clerk, Supreme Court
Providence County Courthouse
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: (401) 222-4233
Email: riBarexam@courts.ri.gov
Website: www.courts.ri.gov

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