Law Research Guide: Bar Exam Preparation Resources

Annual Compilation of Bar Examination Questions and Answers in print (Treatise Collection KF 303.A52). The Institute for Bar Review Study previously published the questions and official or sample answers to the essays from Alaska, Connecticut and Michigan (pre-1992 issues may have essays from other states, such as Nebraska or Pennsylvania). It has ceased publication in 2013.

Florida Bar Exams are available in Word or PDF format on the library's web page. (Network Login Required) The page includes the essay part of the exams from 1970-2009 as well as a list of topics included on the Florida bar exam. (Also available in print - Reserve Collection KFF81 .F5)

Florida Bar/Bri Bar Review (Reserve Collection KFF81 .F556 2004) outlines the Florida portion of the course.

Multistate Bar Exam: Practice Exams: 2022 Edition by Themis Bar Review LLC., print version

Multistate Practice Questions: July 2023/February 2024 by BARBRI, print version

Simulated MBE (MSE): July 2023/February 2024 by BARBRI, print version

Florida Board of Bar Examiners Study Guide includes essay questions from the previous bar exams going back to August 2004, and sample multiple-choice questions. It is available for free in PDF format on the Board of Bar Examiners' website. 

Hein's State Bar Examinations reproduces the questions of all states in microfiche format (Microfiche Collection, Cabinet #8). There are two microfiche reader/printers on the second floor of the library and one microfiche reader with laser printer on the first floor.

Acing the Bar Exam by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus

The Bar Exam in a Nutshell by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus also in print 

The Essential Rules for Bar Exam Success by Steven I. Friedland & Jeffrey Scott Shapiro also in print

If I Don't Pass the Bar I'll Die: 73 Ways to Keep Stress and Worry from Affecting Your Performance on the Bar Exam by Rosemay LaPuma

Bar Exam Success: A Comprehensive Guide by Sara J. Berman

The Zen of Passing the Bar Exam by Chad Noreuil in print

Clearing the Last Hurdle: Mapping Success on the Bar Exam by Wanda M. Temm also in print

MBE and MEE

Ultimate Guide to the UBE (Uniform Bar Exam Redesigned) by Melissa Hale, Antonia Miceli, Tania Shah 

Lecture handouts for MBE-MEE by BARBRI in print (Reserve Collection, KF303.L43 2019)

MBE Decoded-Multistate Bar Exam by Mary Basick & Tina Schindler, also in print 

A Short and Happy Guide to the Bar Exam's Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus & Irene McDermott Crisci, also in print

A Short & Happy Guide to Conquering the MBE by Donald L. Doernberg & Cynthia A. Pope 

Strategies and Tactics for the MBE and Strategies & Tactics for the MBE 2 by Steven Emanuel

Strategies & Tactics for the Finz Multistate Method by Steven Finz & Alex Ruskell 

MBE Flashcards CriticalPass by CriticalPass in print (Reserve Collection, KF 303.M44 2022)

MPT

A Short and Happy Guide to the MPT by Katherine Silver Kelly

Multistate Performance Test Workbook July 2022/February 2023 by BARBRI in print 

Bar Exam MPT Preparation & Experiential Learning for Law Students: Interactive Performance Test Training by Sara J. Berman in print 

The Questions & Answers Series, from Carolina Academic Press, has multiple choice and short answer questions. Answers are also included.  They can be found in print in the library or as e-books in the LexisNexis Digital Library. Relevant bar exam subjects:

• Questions & Answers: Business Associations by Douglas M. Branson, Seth C. Oranburg & John Towers Rice, print version
• Questions & Answers: Civil Procedure by William V. Dorsaneo III, Elizabeth G. Thornberg  & Brooke D. Coleman, print version
• Questions & Answers: Constitutional Law by Paul E. McGreal, Linda S. Eads & Charles W. Rhodes, print version
• Questions & Answers: Contracts by Scott J. Burnham, print version
• Questions & Answers: Criminal Law by Paul Marcus, print version
• Questions & Answers: Criminal Procedure: Police Investigation by Wayne A. Logan, print version
• Questions & Answers: Criminal Procedure: Prosecution & Adjudication by Wayne A. Logan, print version
• Questions & Answers: Evidence by Paul C. Giannelli, print version
• Questions & Answers: Family Law by Mark Strasser, print version 
• Questions & Answers: The First Amendment by Russell L. Weaver & William D. Araiza, print version 
• Questions & Answers: Professional Responsibility by Patrick Emery Longan, print version 
• Questions & Answers: Property by John Copeland Nagle & Donald J. Kochan, print version
• Questions & Answers: Secured Transactions by Bruce A. Markell & Timothy Zinnecker, print version
• Questions & Answers: Torts by Anita Bernstein, print version
• Questions & Answers: Wills, Trusts & Estates by Thomas M. Featherstone & Victoria J. Haneman, print version

The Exam Pro Series, available through West Academic Study Aids and in print at the law library, contains a series of true-false and multiple-choice questions with answers provided to guide students toward learning a subject. Relevant to bar exam subjects:

• Civil Procedure by Linda S. Mullenix, print version
• Criminal Law by John Burkoff & Nancy M. Burkoff, print version
• Criminal Procedure by Mary M. Cheh, print version
• Evidence (Essay) by Michael H. Graham, print version 
• Evidence (Objective) by Michael H. Graham, print version
• Property by Peter T. Wendel, print version
• Torts by John H. Bauman & Ronald W. Eades, print version
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates by Patricia A. Cain & E. Gary Spitko, print version

The Examples & Explanations Series, published by Wolters Kluwer, has a summary of a topic followed by examples (hypos) and explanations of how the law is applied. You can find these in print in the law library or online through the Aspen Learning Library subscription. Relevant to bar exam subjects:

• Agency, Partnerships, and LLCs: Examples and Explanations by Daniel S. Kleinberger, print version 
• Civil Procedure: Examples and Explanations by Joseph W. Glannon, print version 
• Constitutional Law-Individual Rights: Examples and Explanations by Allan Ides & Christopher N. May, print version 
• Constitutional Law-National Power and Federalism: Examples and Explanations by Christopher N. May, Allan Ides & Simona Grassi
• Contracts: Examples and Explanations by Brian A. Blum, print version
• Corporations: Examples and Explanations by Alan R. Palmiter, print version
• Criminal Law: Examples and Explanations by Shima Baradaran Baughman, print version
• Criminal Procedure: The Constitution and the Police by Robert M. Bloom & Mark S. Brodin, print version
• Criminal Procedure II: From Bail to Jail by Richard G. Singer & Kenneth A. Williams, print version
• Evidence: Examples and Explanations by Arthur Best, print version
• Family Law: Examples and Explanations by Robert Oliphant & Nancy Ver Steegh, print version
• Federal Courts: Examples and Explanations by Laura E. Little, print version
• The Glannon Guide to Civil Procedure: Learning Civil Procedure through Multiple-Choice Questions and Analysis by Joseph W. Glannon, print version
• The Law of Torts: Examples and Explanations by Joseph W. Glannon, print version
• Payment Systems: Examples and Explanations by James Brook, print version
• Property: Examples and Explanations by Barlow Burke & Joseph Anthony Snoe, print version
• Sales and Leases: Examples and Explanations by James Brook & Scott J. Burnham, print version
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates: Examples and Explanations by Gerry W. Beyer, print version

The Black Letter Series, published by West, includes brief summaries of the subjects and review questions and scenarios to help understand the subjects. Relevant to bar exam subjects:

• Basic Criminal Procedure by Stephen A. Saltzburg, Daniel J. Capra & Angela J. Davis 
• Civil Procedure by Kevin M. Clermont 
• Constitutional Law by Jerome A. Barron, C. Thomas Dienes & Renee Knake Jefferson 
• Contracts by John D. Calamari & Joseph M. Perillo, print version
• Corporations by Robert W. Hamilton & Richard A. Booth 
• Criminal Law by Joshua Dressler
• Evidence by Christopher B. Mueller & Laird C. Kirkpatrick 
• Property by Roger Bernhardt & Ann M. Burkhart
• Torts by Edward J. Kionka 

University of Miami Taking the Bar:  The law school has put together information regarding graduation requirements and applying for bar exams. Any questions related to the Bar Exam should be directed to the Associate Dean for Lawyering Excellence & Bar Success.

Findlaw: Findlaw provides a list of the major bar preparation and MPRE preparation companies as well as their advice for selecting a company. FindLaw also provides information about specialty bar courses, such as courses for the patent bar. In addition, the website compiles links for state bar organizations and state boards of bar examiners.

National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE): NCBE develops multistate tests, such as the Multistate Bar Examination, the Multistate Performance Test and others. From the NCBE site, a researcher can locate dates and general information on these tests as well as other material, such as recent bar passage statistics, and links and addresses for the Board of Bar Examiners in each state

NCBE for the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions:  The NCBE and American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar created the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. It provides charts describing admission requirements for each state. These include, but are not limited to, application dates, tests required, admission on motion, grading and fees. The Directory section of this publication provides contact information and web sites for each jurisdiction's bar admission agencies. The NCBE strongly recommends checking the directory and jurisdiction specific websites in addition to reviewing their guide. The Comprehensive Guide to Bar admissions is also available in print in the law library.

From the NCBE, the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) The MBE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, 175 of which are scored. The 175 scored questions on the MBE are distributed as follows: Civil Procedure (25), Constitutional Law (25), Contracts (25), Criminal Law and Procedure (25), Evidence (25), Real Property (25), and Torts (25). (More Detail)

From the NCBE, the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is a series of six 30-minute essay questions. Areas that may be covering include Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts & Estates, Article 9 of the UCC. (See changes for July 2026)

From the NCBE, the Multistate Performance Test is two 90-minute items, consisting of a File with case documents.  The MPT examines the ability to select relevant facts, analyze and apply the law, identify ethical issues, and effectively communicate the information within the time constraints.

From the NCBE, the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam will first be offered in July 2026, and will test foundational concepts and principles (business associations, civil procedure, constitutional law, contract law, criminal law, evidence, real property, torts) as well as foundational lawyering skills (legal research, legal writing, issue spotting and analysis, investigation and evaluation, client counseling and advising, negotiation and dispute resolution, client relationship and management). (Check for adopting jurisdictions, Florida plans to adopt in July 2028.) 

From the Florida Board of Bar Examiners: The Florida part of the Bar Examination consists of three hours spent answering essay questions and three hours of 100 multiple-choice questions. Florida Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and Florida Rules of Judicial Administration are one segment. The remaining five segments, each of which will embrace no more than three subjects, are selected from the following subjects, including their equitable aspects: Florida Constitutional Law, Federal Constitutional Law, Trusts, Business Entities, Real Property, Evidence, Torts, Wills & Administration of Estates, Criminal Law and Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Contracts, Articles 3 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, Family Law, and Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Professionalism. The second part of the Florida Bar is the MBE. (See NextGen Bar information.)