Delaware Bar Exam details

A typical Delaware Bar Exam is a 2-day bar exam.

Beginning in February 2024, Delaware will begin administering bar exams in both February and July. Delaware Bar Exam information is subject to change without notice. Please verify with the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners.

Please also reference the NCBE Covid-19 updates page for NCBE updates and individual jurisdiction announcements.

Day 1

  • Four 45-minute Delaware Essay Exam questions and two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions

Day 2

  • Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM)

MBE

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

Delaware Essay Subjects

  • Business Entities (Delaware Corporations, LLCs and Limited Partnerships) 
  • Criminal Law (including Delaware Criminal Code)
  • Equity
  • Partnerships
  • Procedure (State and Federal)
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Plus all MBE subjects

MPT

  • “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.

MPRE

  • A scaled score of 85 is required on the MPRE.

Click here to learn more about the MPRE.

The scaled written score is weighted 50% and the scaled MBE score is weighted 50%. A total scaled score of 143 (out of 200) or higher is required to pass the Delaware Bar Exam.

Acceptance of MBE Score

Delaware does not accept an MBE score from an exam taken in another jurisdiction.

Admission on Motion

Delaware does not provide for admission on motion. Examination is required of all applicants.

Clerkship Requirement

To become licensed in Delaware, all applicants must complete a 12-week (40 hours/week) clerkship in Delaware, under the supervision of a qualified Delaware attorney who must certify the clerkship has been completed.

The clerkship period does not need to be continuous and applicants can initiate the clerkship process while they are still enrolled in law school.

A checklist of mandatory legal activities and tasks to be completed during the clerkship is available from the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners website.

State and Federal background checks

Students must undergo both a state and federal background check, which should be started as early as possible, as they can take up to 90 days to complete.

We compile all of the information that you need to know about the dates, format, subjects tested, deadlines, fees and more - for each U.S. state - in the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest.

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