Rhode Island Bar Exam
Rhode Island Bar Examiners
Rhode Island Supreme Court
Board of Bar Examiners
Frank Licht Judicial Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-4233
Bar Exam Format
The Rhode Island bar exam has its written portions on Tuesday and the multiple choice portion on Wednesday.
Day 1
On the first day, the board of bar examiners administers 3, 30-minute local essay questions and 1, 90-minute MPT in the 3-hour morning session. The board of bar examiners administers 6, 30-minute MEE questions in the 3-hour afternoon session.
Day 2
On the second day, the board of bar examiners administers 100 MBE questions in the 3-hour morning session, and 100 more in the 3-hour afternoon session.
Reciprocity
Rhode Island does not provide for admission on motion.
Subjects/Topics
The Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) questions on the Rhode Island 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.
The local essay questions on the Rhode Island bar exam, which the Board of Bar Examiners compose, must test those of the following subjects that are not included in the MEE for that exam:
- Agency;
- Civil Practice;
- Conflict of Laws;
- Corporation;
- Creditors Rights;
- Equity;
- Domestic Relations;
- Partnership;
- Probate;
- Trusts;
- U.C.C.; and
- Wills.
Bar Exam Dates
The Rhode Island 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 board of bar examiners releases the Rhode Island bar exam results about 10 weeks after the exam. After each bar exam, the board of bar examiners will post a list of passing applicants, on their website.
Scoring/Grading
To pass the Rhode Island bar exam, an examinee must receive a scaled score on the MBE of at least 130 and a combined total score of at least 276 (i.e., 138 on a 200-point scale). If the examinee receives a scaled score on the MBE below 130, then the board of bar examiners will not read the examinee’s written answers. The board of bar examiners weighs the essay questions 41%, the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”) 9%, and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”) 50%.
Pass Rate/Stats
The Rhode Island bar exam pass rates range from 54% to 82% for total takers, 58% to 84% for the first-time takers, and 8% to 100% for the repeat takers.