MPRE: The Bar Pt I
I’m two months away from 3L but…it’s time to start studying again.
I know. I know.
But it’s not for law school - this guy is real life. I’m taking the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (aka the MPRE, aka First Part of the Bar) in August and it’s time to start learning the rules.
WHAT IS THE MPRE?
The MPRE is exactly how it sounds - an exam that tests your knowledge and understanding of the standards governing the professional conduct of lawyers. It’s a 2-hour, 60-question, multiple choice exam administered a few times a year, and is required by every American jurisdiction except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico.
(What’s going on with those two? Couldn’t tell you. They’re still bound by the same ethics as all other jurisdictions, so…we just trust them, I guess)
Each question is based on a hypothetical scenario and has one right answer; you get one point per correct response and aren’t penalized for wrong responses. Like the LSAT, 10 of the 60 questions are experimental and don’t count towards your score. Also like the LSAT, you don’t know which ones! Finally, the overall score is ‘scaled’ according to the exam’s difficulty (there’s a complicated formula for this, I’m sure - it just means I can’t know my score based on the correct answers alone.)
IS IT STATE-SPECIFIC, LIKE THE BAR?
Yes and no. The test is the same for everyone and the MPRE is always scored between 50 and 150 points. However, different jurisdictions have different minimum passing scores. California and Utah set the highest bar (no pun intended) at a required 86 points, while a number of states require a low of 75 points (including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and DC). Since I plan to take the Minnesota bar exam, I’m registered for the Minnesota MPRE and need an 85 to pass.
Luckily, I don’t have to take the actual exam in Minnesota. I’m scheduled to test in a Pearson center that’s just a half mile away! I think the test is digital but I’m not entirely sure; I DO know that I get a whiteboard and a marker during the exam and nothing else. Interesting.
SO LIKE…WHAT IF YOU FAIL?
Pretty simple - you just re-take it until you pass! Kind of like the real bar exam. But some states do require a passing MPRE score before you take the actual bar, so it’s a good idea to build in extra attempts.
That’s partly why I’m taking my MPRE in August 2021, but I’ll obviously do my best to pass. First-time MPRE scores are a decent indicator of first-time bar passage rates, so I want to knock this out of the park. But I chose the August test date largely because my 3L fall is going to be VERY busy, and I don’t need this looming over me.
WHAT’S THE PREP LIKE?
Studying for the MPRE is (fortunately) far less intensive than studying for the bar itself. Since the material covered is limited to two sets of rules - the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Judicial Code of Conduct - Google assures me that I can master the material in just a few weeks. In fact, most law students prep in just two, but I plan to buckle down for the entire month of July. I’m not a big fan of “cramming” and 11/10 prefer to be overprepared than under.
To prep, I need to actually read the rules themselves (there are 58 Model Rules alone) and memorize their key elements and exceptions. Then I need to test my newfound knowledge on old MPRE questions, using a plethora of free resources on the internet. This seems pretty straightforward, but Mr. Google told me the MPRE loves to test exceptions so it’s hard to pass by relying on your gut and personal ethics. Fair enough.
WHEN DO YOU FIND OUT YOUR SCORE?
MPRE scores are usually released within five weeks of the test date, so I should know my score by mid-September. That should give me plenty of time to sign up for the next exam in November if I need it! Otherwise, the passing score is sent right to the Minnesota bar as a precursor for my
THEN THE BAR EXAM IS NEXT?
After graduation, yes. (That’s a personal choice; I do have a friend taking the bar in February because he doesn’t want to graduate and then study MORE. I applaud him for it but I don’t think I could handle that on top of regular courses). Like I said, the MPRE is Pt I - the Big Tamale happens about a year from now, in July 2022. But the MPRE seems like a good ‘appetizer’ round, so hopefully all goes well and I get a little boost before tackling the real thing!
