South Carolina Bar Exam Information
The next South Carolina Bar Exam is currently scheduled to take place on Feb 21-22, 2023.
The two-day exam follows the Universal Bar Exam (UBE) format and 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).
The first filing deadline for the July exam is August 31, and the final deadline is September 30.
| Exam Dates: | Feb 21-22, 2023 & July 25-26 2023 |
| Exam Type: | Two-day UBE with multiple choice and long-form questions |
| Location: | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC |
| Application Fee: | $1,000 |
| On-Motion Application Fee: | Not permitted |
| Filing Deadline: | August 31, 2022 |
| Late Filing Deadline: | September 30, 2022 |
| Late Fee: | $500 |
When is the 2023 South Carolina Bar Exam?
The South Carolina Bar Exam usually takes place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July, with the next exam scheduled for February 21-22, 2022. Visit the Supreme Court of South Carolina website for updated information.
Where is the South Carolina Bar Exam Located?
The South Carolina Bar Exam is usually held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, located at 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The location of the February 2023 exam is yet to be confirmed, so visit the Supreme Court of South Carolina website for updated information.
Free parking at the CMCC parking lot adjacent to the convention center is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Other options are available in the vicinity. See the CMCC website for more information on parking and directions.
How much does the South Carolina Bar Exam cost?
Both first time and repeat non-attorney examinees will pay a fee of $1,000 while practicing attorneys pay the same $1,000 fee plus an additional $750.
The first filing deadline for the Feb 2023 exam is August 31, and the final filing deadline is September 30. Any applications received between August 31 and September 30 incur an additional $500 late fee.
Laptops may be used in the exam for a fee of $125.50 (optional).
NCBE character report and other administrative fees may apply.
What subjects are tested on the South Carolina Bar Exam?
MBE Subjects:
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
South Carolina Essay Subjects:
- Business Law
- Civil Procedure
- Commercial Law
- Domestic Relations
- Equity
- Insurance
- Wills
- Trusts & Estates
What is the format of the South Carolina Bar Exam like?
The South Carolina 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) questions
- Afternoon: one hundred multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions
What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the South Carolina Bar exam?
South Carolina requires a minimum scaled MPRE score of 77 to be obtained within four years of admission.
How is the South Carolina 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 266 or higher is required to pass the exam.
When are the South Carolina Bar scores released?
South Carolina usually releases the results of the February exam in late April and the results of the July exam in late October.
Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
South Carolina will allow the applicant to transfer an MBE scaled score from a concurrent exam only.
What is the South Carolina Reciprocity Agreement like?
South Carolina does not accept admission on motion, so all applicants are required to sit the exam.
In special situations, an application made by the dean or a tenured professor of the University of South Carolina may be considered. Contact the Supreme Court of South Carolina for more information.
How can I contact the South Carolina State Bar?
South Carolina Board of Law Examiners
South Carolina Bar Examiners
Supreme Court of South Carolina
P.O. Box 11330
Columbia, SC 29211
Telephone: (803) 734-1080
Website: www.sccourts.org
Useful Links
- South Carolina Bar Examiners administers the South Carolina Bar Exam
- The National Conference of Bar Examiners develops the Universal Bar Exam and administers the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).