The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a critical step on your path to becoming a licensed attorney. It’s a requirement for bar admission in almost every U.S. jurisdiction as a test of your understanding of legal ethics and professional conduct. While you might see it as a smaller hurdle before the bar exam, the MPRE's complexity is designed to make you think like a practicing attorney facing real-world ethical dilemmas.
This guide will walk you through what you need to know about the MPRE, from its format and registration details to scoring and proven strategies for achieving a passing score.
Understanding the MPRE
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) administers the MPRE to measure understanding of established standards related to the professional conduct of lawyers. The exam evaluates your ability to apply ethical rules in nuanced situations that influence everything from court appearances and client representation to matters of disqualification, malpractice, and professional censure.
For most jurisdictions, you must pass the MPRE before being admitted to the bar, though you do not necessarily need to take it before sitting for the bar exam itself.
Note: The MPRE is not required for admission to the bar in Wisconsin or Puerto Rico. Plus, Connecticut and New Jersey accept successful completion of a law school course on professional responsibility in lieu of a passing score on the MPRE. For jurisdiction-specific requirements, the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest is an invaluable resource.
What to Expect on Exam Day
The MPRE is a two-hour, multiple-choice exam consisting of 60 questions. Only 50 of the questions are scored. The remaining 10 unscored questions are used by the NCBE to vet questions for future exams.
The MPRE is taken online at a Pearson VUE testing center. On arrival, you will be assigned a computer, an erasable note board or scrap paper, and a marker. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early with two forms of approved identification.
What is Tested on the MPRE
The exam covers the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, and key court decisions and procedural rules. The NCBE provides a subject matter outline with the following percentages of topics that may appear on the exam:
- Lawyers’ duties to the public and the legal system (2-4%)
- Judicial conduct (2-8%)
- Transactions and communications with persons other than clients (2-8%)
- Safekeeping funds and other property (2-8%)
- Communications about legal services (4-8%)
- Different roles of the lawyer (4-10%)
- Client confidentiality (6-12%)
- Competence, legal malpractice, and other civil liability (6-12%)
- Regulation of the legal profession (6-12%)
- The client-lawyer relationship (10-16%)
- Litigation and other forms of advocacy (10-16%)
- Conflicts of interest (12-18%)
When you’re ready to start studying, the comprehensive online BARBRI MPRE Prep course is extremely popular for its detail, current and timely materials, and overall organization that models the nation’s #1 bar review course.
MPRE Registration, Dates + Fees
The MPRE is administered three times each year in March, August, and November. There are several steps in the MPRE registration process, and it pays to complete them as soon as possible. It’s important to note that registration deadlines are strictly adhered to by the NCBE.
During registration, you will receive an NCBE Number (if you don’t already have one), which you will also use when you apply for the bar exam. You can designate a jurisdiction to receive your score automatically, saving you time and a potential fee later.
MPRE Scores and Passing Requirements
Each U.S. state and jurisdiction determines its own MPRE passing score and these are subject to change. The free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest is your perfect guide for specific passing scores and other bar exam details.
MPRE scores are scaled and range from 50 to 150. Scaling is a statistical process that adjusts your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly) to account for differences in difficulty between exam versions. This ensures fairness across all test administrations.
Because of the scaling process, it’s not possible to know the exact number of correct answers needed to achieve a specific score. Scores are usually released within five weeks of the exam and are only available in your NCBE account for a limited time, so be sure to save a copy.
How to Prepare for the MPRE
Success on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam requires a combination of deep familiarity with the ethical rules (as well as the exceptions to those rules) and a strategic approach to the multiple-choice format. While some students find the MPRE less daunting than the bar exam, underestimating it is a common mistake. This is why taking the free BARBRI MPRE Prep course is a critical part of your preparation.
When Should You Take the MPRE?
Many law students find it beneficial to take their Professional Responsibility course and the MPRE during their 2L year. If this is not feasible, consider taking the exam in the summer between your 2L and 3L years or early in your 3L year. This schedule allows ample time to retake the exam if you don’t attain the score you need to pass. A good benchmark for study time is around 25-30 hours over three weeks.
Strategies for Answering MPRE Questions
With only two minutes per question, a solid strategy is essential. One effective method is to read the call of the question—the prompt at the end of the fact pattern—and the answer choices before reading the full scenario. This approach helps you identify the legal issue being tested and focus on the most relevant facts.
Let's break it down:
- Read the Prompt: Understand what is being asked. Is it about a lawyer's duty of candor, a conflict of interest, or something else?
- Analyze the Answer Choices: Look for statements of law. You may be able to eliminate options that are legally incorrect. For example, a lawyer's duty to disclose adverse authority is limited to controlling authority, not all adverse authority.
- Read the Fact Pattern: With the legal issue in mind, read the scenario carefully. Identify the key players and actions, paying close attention to the attorney whose conduct is in question.
- Select the Best Answer: Re-evaluate the answer choices based on the facts. The correct answer will apply the correct legal rule to the specific facts of the scenario.
Remember to practice with timed tests. Simulating exam conditions is the best way to build the stamina and efficiency needed to complete all 60 questions within the two-hour time limit of the MPRE.
Pass with Confidence + BARBRI
While your law school courses provide a foundation, they may not cover all the nuances tested on the MPRE. The exam is designed to be tricky, testing your ability to navigate ethical gray areas. A failed MPRE can delay your legal career, so smart preparation is non-negotiable.
Once you’ve conquered the MPRE, continue your preparation journey with BARBRI’s comprehensive bar review built to help you feel confident and prepared going into the bar exam. We’re here to guide you step-by-step through your legal learning journey.
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