Passing the New York Bar Exam is the final hurdle before you can practice law in one of the world’s most influential legal and financial centers. But what does it take to conquer this exam?
With more than 1.4 million alumni, BARBRI has perfected the formula for bar exam success. In fact, students who follow BARBRI’s proven process score 19 points higher on the bar in Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdictions like New York than those who don’t use BARBRI.
This guide provides everything you need to know about the New York Bar Exam, from the exam’s format, subjects, and key dates to the registration process and study strategies that work. So, channel your Suits and get ready to excel!
Watch Suits Video: An aspiring lawyer who never even went to law school
Understanding the New York Bar Exam
New York has the largest number of examinees tested each year within any U.S. jurisdiction. The state also boasts the largest number of licensed attorneys: more than 350,000. New York currently administers the UBE, a standardized test created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Beginning in July 2028, however, it will administer the NextGen UBE.
If you take the bar exam in New York, your UBE score is portable, meaning it can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. The exam is held over two days, on the last consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.
The New York Bar Exam Format
The NY Bar Exam consists of three parts:
Day 1
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Multistate Performance Test (MPT): Two 90-minute tasks designed to simulate real-world legal assignments.
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Multistate Essay Examination (MEE): Six 30-minute essay questions covering a range of legal subjects.
Day 2
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Multistate Bar Examination (MBE): A 200-question, multiple-choice exam split into two 3-hour sessions.
Scoring
Your final score is a weighted combination of the three sections:
- MPT: 20%
- MEE: 30%
- MBE: 50%
To pass the New York Bar Exam, you need a total scaled score of 266 out of 400.
Subjects Tested
If you plan to take the NY Bar Exam, you will want to be prepared to answer a variety of essay (MPT/MEE) questions. While the NCBE can test any of the MBE subjects on the essays, the following are also fair game:
- Business Associations (Agency and Partnership, Corporations, and LLCs)
- Conflict of Laws
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
- Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates, Trusts and Future Interests)
- Secured Transactions
Effective with the July 2026 bar exam, the following subjects will no longer be tested on the MEE: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions.
The multiple-choice MBE section is challenging. It covers seven core subjects:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
The key isn’t just to study these vast subjects but to know what aspects are most frequently tested and how they are tested. BARBRI’s expert lectures, practice questions, and simulated exams are specifically designed to prepare you for the breadth and depth of these topics while focusing your efforts where they matter most.
To learn more about the scope of questions included in each topic, visit the New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) website.
Registration + Requirements
Registration needs to be completed between October 1 and October 31 for the February exam cycle and between March 1 and March 31 for the July exam cycle. Registering for the NY Bar Exam involves several steps with the New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE).
- Create a BOLE account through which you will submit all your applications
- Submit your application
- Pay required fees by the deadline
- Think of your bar prep course as an insurance policy on this investment. Passing the first time with BARBRI saves you the time and expense of a retake.
Always check the BOLE website for the most current deadlines and instructions.
Meeting the Requirements
To sit for the New York Bar Exam, you must have a qualifying law degree. This typically means a Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-approved law school. Graduates of foreign law schools may also be eligible if they meet specific criteria, often requiring an LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved school.
International Law Graduates + Lawyers: New York operates a relatively open policy in permitting foreign law graduates or lawyers to sit the bar exam and does not impose restrictions to admission on grounds of nationality or residence.
Learn more about U.S. bar exam eligibility and requirements for foreign law graduates, lawyers, and U.S. LL.M. students.
Other methods of qualifying for New York bar examination include:
- Law Office Study/Clerkship: A combination of law school study at an ABA approved law school and law office study.
- Unapproved Law School Study: Graduation from an unapproved law school in the U.S. with a Juris Doctor degree and practice in a jurisdiction where you have been admitted for 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding application to sit for the NY Bar.
- Pro Bono Scholars Program: In your final year of a Juris Doctor degree program at an ABA-approved law school, you may qualify to sit for the February bar exam in return for devoting your last semester of study to performing pro bono legal services through an approved through an approved externship program, law school clinic, legal services provider, law firm or corporation.
Additional Requirements for Admission to the New York State Bar
In addition to passing the UBE, New York requires applicants to complete state-specific components for bar admission:
- New York Law Course (NYLC): An online, on-demand course covering important aspects of New York law.
- New York Law Exam (NYLE): A 50-question, two-hour, open-book online test on the material from the NYLC.
- 50 Hours of Pro Bono Work: You will need to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono work in the U.S. or abroad, before or after taking the New York Bar Exam. These service hours must be law related, helping to improve access to justice for low-income and disadvantaged individuals or providing relevant government services.
Passage of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is also required for admission. Finally, the Skills Competency Requirement and Character and Fitness requirements must be met.
How Hard is the New York Bar Exam?
The NY Bar Exam is demanding. It requires dedicated study and a comprehensive understanding of a vast amount of law. The overall pass rate in 2024 for first-time takers was 77%.
It’s an encouraging number but your success isn’t determined by how “hard” the exam is. It’s about how well you prepare. A great study plan is structured, comprehensive, and adaptive. This is where BARBRI’s Personal Study Plan becomes one of your greatest assets.
BARBRI is the only bar prep that allows you to create a customized study calendar that tells you exactly what to do and when to do it, adjusting based on your performance in real-time to target your unique areas for improvement.
How to Pass the New York Bar Exam: Insider Tips
- Focus on Application, Not Just Memorization: Knowing the law is only half the battle. You must be able to apply it to the fact patterns in MEE, MPT, and MBE questions. BARBRI’s curriculum emphasizes this skill from day one.
- Master the MBE: The MBE is 50% of your score. Dedicate significant time to practicing with BARBRI’s multiple-choice question bank of more than 3,000 questions written by attorneys for practice and final exam prep with licensed NCBE questions.
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Use the BARBRI Simulated Exam to experience the pressure and timing of the real exam. The Pass Predictor report provided after the Simulated Exam helps you analyze your performance and provides invaluable data to guide the remainder of your study.
- Don’t Neglect the Written Components: Many students over-focus on the MBE. The MEE and MPT are worth a combined 50%. Practice outlining essays and completing performance tests under timed conditions. Our expert attorney graders and unlimited essay grading provide the expert feedback you need to excel.
- Trust the Process: BARBRI provides a detailed, day-by-day study plan that you don’t have to second guess. Complete the assignments, watch the lectures, and do the practice questions. We've done the research so you can focus on learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Take the NY Bar Without Going to Law School in New York?
Yes and no. You can be admitted into the New York State Bar without sitting an examination as a candidate “in motion,” assuming you have practiced and/or studied in another jurisdiction. If this is not the case, you can choose to complete one year of law school in combination with three years of law office study, but you will not be able to omit law school entirely.
What Does the Admission Process All Entail?
After you take and pass the UBE, NYLE, NYLC, and MPRE or satisfy the educational requirements for Admission on Motion/Reciprocity, the State Board of Law Examiners will issue you a Notice of Certification.
Will New York Adopt the NextGen Bar Exam?
Yes, beginning with the July 2028 UBE. Learn more on the NCBE website.
Can I Work Full-Time While Studying?
Most successful takers treat bar prep as a full-time job, studying 40-50 hours per week for 8-10 weeks. If your schedule requires more flexibility, BARBRI offers options to help you achieve your goals.
Still have questions? Get more answers.
An Unmatched Arsenal of New York Bar Exam Prep Resources
BARBRI is the #1 bar prep course in the nation for a reason. We've gotten to the top by providing the most trusted, most innovative, and most personalized experience that includes:
- Unrivaled Question Bank: Access a massive bank of MBE questions. Our system shows you not just the right answer to MBE questions, but why it's the right answer.
- Essay Grading: This is a game-changer. You can submit essays for grading by our team of trained attorney-graders. You receive detailed feedback, so you learn exactly how to write a passing essay for New York.
- Most Accurate Pass Predictor: See your rankings by subject compared to other students prepping for the bar exam. Our Pass Predictor is the most accurate because BARBRI has more students studying for the bar each year than all other bar prep programs.
- Expert-Led Short Video Lectures: Learn from the most respected legal scholars in the country. Our professors are not just experts in the law; they are experts at teaching for the bar exam because they’ve been in your shoes.
And that’s just a start. Learn more about BARBRI Bar Review and download the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest. We've compiled all the information you need to know about the New York Bar Exam—and each U.S. state bar exam—in one convenient place.
Connect with a BARBRI bar exam expert to discuss your specific situation. We're here to help you create the right bar prep plan.
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BARBRI is the best in the industry! The lecturers and books were succinct and taught exactly what I needed to focus on. If you trust their process and do the work you will pass the Bar on the first try like I did.”