MPRE Guide

MPRE GUIDE Multistate Professional responsibility Exam 2019

Table of Contents

Topic 1: What Is the MPRE?

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Topic 2: When Should I Take the MPRE?

4

Topic 3: How to Register for the MPRE

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Topic 4: MPRE Passing Scores by State

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Topic 5: How Is the MPRE Graded?

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Topic 6: How to Study for the MPRE

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Topic 7: MPRE Topic Frequency Chart

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Topic 8: Key Words and Phrases on the MPRE

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Topic 9: How to Answer an MPRE Question

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Topic 10: Where to Find Real MPRE Questions

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Topic 11: MPRE Cheat Sheet

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Topic 12: What Will Happen on MPRE Test Day?

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Topic 13: Five MPRE Test Day Tips to Boost Your Score 30

Topic 14: An Overview of JD Advising MPRE Services 32



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TOPIC 1: what is the mpre?

Many law students come to us and explain that they have heard about the MPRE and know they have to take it, but wonder "what is the MPRE?" The MPRE is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. In this section, we answer commonly asked questions about the MPRE.

What is the MPRE? The MPRE tests the established ethical rules that lawyers must abide by. These often are referred to as the Model Rules but they are formally known as the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The rules that are tested are these model rules. They are not any particular state's rules. Rather, they are what the American Bar Association views as the best version of ethics rules. The MPRE also will test case law, rules, and legal opinions that reect majority law.

When is the MPRE administered? The exam is administered three times a year: in March, August, and November.

How many questions are on the MPRE? The MPRE consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that are to be completed in two hours. Fifty of the questions are scored and 10 are experimental questions. These experimental questions are not scored and do not count toward your total score.

Does my jurisdiction require that I pass the MPRE? Almost all jurisdictions--except Wisconsin, Maryland, and Puerto Rico-- require a passing MPRE score to be sworn in to practice as an attorney. Other jurisdictions--such as Connecticut and New Jersey--do not require a passing MPRE score if the applicant successfully completed a professional responsibility course at their law school. Please make sure to check with your jurisdiction for the updated requirements.

What score do I need to pass the MPRE? The MPRE is scored on a scale of 50 to 150. Jurisdictions require a score of 75 to 86 to pass, depending on the jurisdiction. For example, in order to be sworn in as an attorney to practice in Michigan, you need to score an 85 or higher on the MPRE. Whereas in Georgia, you only need the score of a 75 to pass. If you are wondering what score your state requires, please see topic 4, which lists each state's MPRE requirements by jurisdiction.

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TOPIC 1: what is the mpre?

In order to score a 75, you need to answer approximately 28 out of 50 questions correctly. To score an 85, you need to answer approximately 30 questions correctly out of 50.

How long does it take to get MPRE results? It takes about a month to get MPRE results! The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) will upload results to your le online. To see MPRE results release dates and read more about how long it takes to get MPRE results, visit our website.

When should I take the MPRE? Many law schools require that their students successfully complete a professional responsibility course before graduating. We recommend that if you take a professional responsibility course, you should take the next available MPRE. This is benecial because you will not have to study twice. And, the majority of the material will be fresh in your mind! Thus, your MPRE prep will be minimal in comparison to if you take the exam at a di erent time.

Furthermore, it is better to take the MPRE earlier rather than later. There are many reasons for this--e.g., some states will not let you take the bar exam without a passing MPRE score, other states only allow you to take the bar exam once without passing the MPRE. It is best to get it over with and out of the way. We discuss this further in topic 2.



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TOPIC 2: When should i take the mpre?

Are you wondering when to take the MPRE? In this section, we tell you when the MPRE is o ered and when we recommend that you take it.

When is the MPRE o ered? The MPRE is o ered three times a year:

? March ? August ? November

The 2019 MPRE dates are as follows:

? Saturday, March 23, 2019 ? Saturday, August 10, 2019 ? Saturday, November 9, 2019

When should I take the MPRE? There is not one best time to sit for the MPRE. All MPRE exams are weighted equally in terms of diculty. Thus, there is not one exam that is easier to pass compared to another.

With that said, the best time to take the MPRE will be when you have time to adequately prepare for it. We generally recommend that you do the following things before taking the MPRE:

? First, take the professional responsibility course o ered at your law school. Many schools o er (and even require) a professional responsibility course as part of the regular curriculum. Even if the professional responsibility course at your school focuses on state-specic rules rather than the ABA Model Rules, it still will likely provide a thorough background of the information you need to know for the MPRE. Further, you may nd that your state models its rules on the ABA Model Rules (as many states do).

? Second, take an MPRE exam course. Many bar review courses provide a free MPRE course and free MPRE books if you sign up for their bar review course. If you are interested in private one-on-one tutoring for the MPRE, please contact us. Or, if you would like to learn about JD Advising's free course, you can nd more information on our website.

? Third, make sure you have a dedicated time to study for the MPRE. Do not push it o until a week before or the weekend before the exam. Start early.

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