Here’s what you’re up against when taking the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam:
- 60 multiple-choice questions
- Ten of them will go unscored
- Two hours to complete the exam
While nowhere near as long or as demanding as the bar exam, the MPRE is definitely in a category of its own.
It can be complex and tricky. All by design. The MPRE is meant to task you with thinking like a lawyer when ethical situations aren’t so clear cut. Even though it has the reputation as being “easy” and “not a big deal,” you’ll definitely want to study. Do not take the MPRE for granted. It’s one of the requirements for bar admission in every U.S. state and jurisdiction except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. (Connecticut and New Jersey will accept the successful completion of a professional responsibility law school course in lieu of a passing MPRE score.)
Comparing “apples to oranges”
Many students opt to take the MPRE after completing their law school’s Professional Responsibility (PR) class. This is fine, however, do not rely solely on your PR class notes as a way to streamline your MPRE prep. The MPRE tests on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, whereas some law school courses may focus on state-specific rules of professional conduct or teach a combination (ABA and state). Plus, the hypos you encounter in PR class are likely to be quite different than the scenarios presented in the MPRE questions.
You need to devote the study time
If you can swing a few days off work or school to study for the MPRE, do it. Taking a legal ethics or PR class in law school won’t guarantee a passing score. Consider the free BARBRI MPRE review course, which covers everything about ethics, is highly organized and always current on legal ethics information.
