DC Bar Exam

DC Bar Examiners

Committee on Admissions
D.C. Court of Appeals
430 E Street NW, Room 123
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 879-2710

Bar Exam Format

The District of Columbia bar exam is the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”), which includes the written parts on Tuesday and the multiple choice part on Wednesday.

Day 1

On day one, the committee administers two MPT questions during the three-hour morning session.  The committee administers the six MEE questions during the three-hour afternoon session.

Day 2

On day 2, the committee administers 100 MBE questions during the 3-hour morning session, and 100 more during the 3-hour afternoon session.

Reciprocity

Under specific circumstances, the District of Columbia allows an applicant to obtain admission by motion (without examination) by fulfilling every applicable requirement. The District of Columbia permits admission on a transferred UBE score of 266 within 5 years of when the score was attained.

Subjects/Topics

The essay component of the District of Columbia bar exam can cover 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 DC 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

Commonly, the Committee on Admissions reports the District of Columbia bar exam results between 9 and 10 weeks after the exam.  The committee must provide written notice of the results to all takers.  The committee must provide all passers with written notice of their MBE score.

Scoring/Grading

A passing score on the District of Columbia bar exam is 266 or 133 on a 200-point scale.  For the District of Columbia bar exam, the MPT is weighted 20%, the MEE is weighted 30%, and the MBE is weighted 50%.

Pass Rate/Stats

Typically, the District of Columbia bar exam pass rates fall between 33% and 58% for total takers, 52% and 91% for the first-time takers, and 11% and 52% for the repeat takers.