Arkansas Bar Exam

Arkansas Bar Examiners

Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners
2100 Riverfront Dr., Suite 110
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 374-1855

Bar Exam Format

The Arkansas bar exam has the written portions on Tuesday and the multiple choice portion on Wednesday.

Day 1

On the first day, the law examiners administer two MPT questions during the three-hour morning session.  The law examiners administer the six MEE questions during the three-hour afternoon session.

Day 2

On the second day, the law examiners administer 100 MBE questions during the 3-hour morning session, and 100 more during the 3-hour afternoon session.

Reciprocity

Under certain circumstances, Arkansas permits admission by motion based on reciprocity.  Arkansas limits such admission to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions that fulfill all applicable requirements.

Subjects/Topics

The essay portion of the Arkansas bar exam may test these subjects:

  • Agency;
  • Article 9 of the U.C.C. – Secured Transactions;
  • Conflict of Laws;
  • Constitutional Law;
  • Contracts (including Article 2 of the U.C.C. – Sales);
  • Corporations;
  • Criminal Law (including Criminal Procedure);
  • Decedents’ Estates;
  • Evidence Law;
  • Family Law;
  • Federal Civil Procedure;
  • Limited Liability Companies;
  • Partnerships;
  • Real Property;
  • Torts; and
  • Trusts and Future Interests.

Bar Exam Dates

The Arkansas bar exam is held in February and July. The exam is usually on the last Wednesday and prior Tuesday of each month.

2024

  • February 27-28, 2024
  • July 30-31, 2024

Exam Results

Generally, the Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners must certify the Arkansas bar exam grades to the Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Court within 45 days after the exam.  Typically, the law examiners grade the exam and report its results within five weeks after the exam.

Scoring/Grading

A passing score on the Arkansas bar exam is 135 on a 200-point scale.  The Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”) is weighted 20%, the Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) is weighted 30%, and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”) is weighted 50%.

Pass Rate/Stats

Arkansas bar exam pass rates range from 58% to 75% for total takers, 71% to 85% for the first-time takers, and 11% to 54% for the repeat takers.