Once upon a time, the decision of where to sit for the bar exam was pretty simple. You want to practice in New York? Take the New York bar. You want to practice in Massachusetts? Take the Massachusetts bar. (If you were really on top of things, you could sometimes do two exams in one timeframe, if you sat for the state essay day in State 1, took the MBE day in one of the two states, and took a third day of essays in State 2. But this was a pretty limited option and only worked for certain jurisdictions, depending on timing. Mostly, you just sat where you intended to practice, for better or worse.)
Then the UBE – the Uniform Bar Exam – came along. As more and more states have adopted it (41 and counting, currently), the options have expanded. You can now sit for the two-day exam once and use that score around the country. But, not every state has joined the party. California, for example, insists on going its own way, along with a few other holdouts.
Sidenote: California, at the moment, is going way off the rails and has hired Kaplan to write new questions for the 2025 exams, a set of developments you can learn more about here:
- Breaking: CA Bar Exam Shakeup
- Update 1: CA Bar Exam Shakeup
- Update 2: CA Bar Exam Shakeup
- Update 3: CA Bar Exam Shakeup
- Update 4: CA Bar Exam Shakeup
So, overall, the question of where to sit for the bar is both simpler and more complex. If you want to be admitted in any UBE jurisdiction, you can take it in any UBE state. Which seems simple enough, except that all the states have their own requirements and pass scores. Some even vary in terms of friendliness to accommodation requests, and that sort of thing. (Some are rumored to grade more easily, but I personally doubt that’s the case.) Unless you have a good reason to do otherwise, it probably makes sense just to take the UBE in a jurisdiction where you’d like to be admitted, and it’s convenient for you.
This assumes, of course, that you’re a typical US-JD student. If you have a foreign law degree and want to sit for the U.S. bar, that’s a whole other question. One we explore here. The options are more limited, but you do have options, generally speaking.
If you’re sitting in a non-UBE jurisdiction, be sure you have a good reason! These locations also don’t tend to have a lot of reciprocity with other states (if any), but – if the bright lights of Hollywood are calling your name – California it is.
This month, we’ll have a Quick Tips podcast episode exploring this question in more detail, along with a two-part series really diving into the California bar exam, with a former bar grader, who is now a Bar Exam Toolbox tutor. We’re really excited about this one, and hope you enjoy it!
Got questions about where (or when) to take the bar exam? Reach out. We’re always happy to help!
Ready to pass the bar exam? Get the support and accountability you need with personalized one-on-one bar exam tutoring or one of our economical courses and workshops. We’re here to help!
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