Taking the MPRE soon and not sure where to start? We’ve compiled our top three tips to help you pass the MPRE on the first try Read on to see how you can be sure to conquer the MPRE on exam day!
What Is the MPRE?
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is an exam designed to measure your understanding of professional conduct rules that lawyers must follow.
The MPRE is generally administered three times per year in March, August, and October or November. The test itself is relatively short and includes 60 multiple-choice questions. Students have two hours to complete the exam. Although the test contains 60 questions in total, 10 questions are “experimental” and do not count toward your final score.
Many jurisdictions require you to have a passing MPRE score before you can become a licensed attorney, so it’s important to take the MPRE seriously.
Let’s discuss some of our favorite tips to pass the MPRE.
Tip #1: Create a study plan
Creating a study plan is arguably the most important piece of advice you’ll come across when preparing for the MPRE. Not every rule on the MPRE is tested equally. This means you need to figure out what rules are most likely to appear. Rules appearing more frequently account for a larger number of points! So, while you should not ignore any area of law, it makes sense to focus on highly tested topics to maximize the number of points you might receive.
Here is a breakdown of the most common topics by how frequently they appear on the MPRE:
- Conflicts of interest: 12% to 18% of test questions; 6 to 9 questions
- Litigation and other forms of advocacy: 10% to 16% of test questions; 5 to 8 questions
- The client-lawyer relationship: 10% to 16% of test questions; 5 to 8 questions
- Competence, legal malpractice, and other civil liability: 6% to 12% of test questions; 3 to 6 questions
- Client confidentiality: 6% to 12% of test questions; 3 to 6 questions
- Regulation of the legal profession: 6% to 12% of test questions; 3 to 6 questions
- Different roles of the lawyer: 4% to 10% of test questions; 2 to 5 questions
- Communications about legal services: 4% to 10% of test questions; 2 to 5 questions
- Safekeeping funds and other property: 2% to 8% of test questions; 1 to 4 questions
- Transactions and communications with persons other than clients: 2% to 8% of test questions; 1 to 4 questions
- Judicial conduct: 2% to 8% of test questions; 1 to 4 questions
- Lawyer’s duties to the public and the legal system: 2% to 4% of test questions; 1 to 2 questions
Now that you have an idea of what subjects are more popular than others, it’s time to get studying!
Tip #2: Recognize key words and phrases
Time and time again, examinees will answer questions incorrectly on the MPRE despite knowing the underlying rule. The primary reason: not reading the question carefully and closely. Learning to recognize key words and phrases will ensure you get to the correct answer.
For example, look at the two versions of the question below:
- Is the lawyer subject to discipline?
- Is the lawyer subject to civil liability?
While at first glance these questions may appear similar, in reality they are asking two very different things. To prove whether a lawyer is subject to discipline, you need to examine whether they violated any ethical duty or ABA rule. To prove civil liability, you need to prove duty, breach, causation (proximate and actual), and harm.
See the difference?
Tip #3: Take legal ethics/professional responsibility in law school before the MPRE
Most law schools require students to take some sort of legal responsibility or ethics class in order to graduate. Not only is this class usually mandatory, but it a great way to start preparing for the MPRE! These classes introduce you to the basics of legal ethics and professional responsibility, allowing you to become familiar with key concepts and ideas. Taking these classes prior to the MPRE will make preparing for it much easier.
Also, be sure to sign up for an MPRE prep course! Most bar review courses offer free MPRE courses to any law student who might be interested. These courses come with outlines, practice questions, and lectures to help you prepare for the MPRE.
