We have compiled summer exam dates, deadlines, registration fees and essay subjects for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Plus, we have included the Summer 2010 bar pass rate for first-time takers who graduated from an ABA-approved law school
Essay code key:
Admin = Administrative Law
BA = Business Associations
BusO = Business organizations
Civ = Civil Procedure
Con = Constitutional Law
Confl = Conflict of Laws
Corp = Coporations
CP = Commercial Paper
Crim = Criminal Law and Procedure
DomRel = Domestic Relations
EV = Evidence
Fam = Family
K = Contracts
PP = Personal Property
PR = Professional Responsibility
REM = Remedies
RP = Real Property
SecTran = Secured Transactions
Tax = Taxation
Tr&E = Trusts and Estates
To = Torts
UCC = Uniform Commercial Code
West
Alaska
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-26, 2012
Final Deadline: June 15, 2012
Cost: $800
Link to Application: https://www.alaskabar.org/servlet/content/219.html#Application%20and%20Instructions
Essay Subjects: BusO, Civ, Con (State and Federal), K (incl. Chapter 2 of the UCC), Cr L&P, Ev, Fa, RP, To (incl. Products Liability)
Arizona
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 30, 2012
Cost: $580
Link to Application: https://elicense02.az.gov/app/azsc/
Essay Subjects: CIV, Con (Az and Fed), Community Property, K, Corp, Partnerships & Other BusO, Cr L&P, Constitutional Aspects, Ev, PR, RP, Studying for the Bar Exam, To, Trusts & Wills, UCC
California
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-26, 2012
Final Deadline: June 15, 2012
Cost: $614.00
Link to Application: http://www.calbarxap.com/Default.asp
Essay Subjects: BA, Cr L&P, Rem, CIV, Ev, To, Community Property, PR, Tr&E, Trusts & Future Interests, Con , RP, Wills, Wills & Estates, K/Sales
Colorado
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $485.00
Link to Application:
https://www.coloradosupremecourt.com/BLE/Application/OnlineApp/OnlineAppHome.asp
Essay Subjects: BA, Conf, Fa, Fed Civ, TR&E, and UCC
Hawaii
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: See website
Link to Application:
http://www.courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/bar_application.html
Essay Subjects: Agency & Partnership, Corp and LLCs, Conf, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ethics, Ev, Fa, Federal Civ, RP, T, Tr&E (Decedents’ Estates and Trusts & Future Interests), UCC (Sales (Article 2), Negotiable Instruments (Article 3) and, SecTran (Article 9))
Idaho
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 16, 2012
Cost: $500.00
Link to Application:
http://isb.idaho.gov/pdf/admissions/web_be_application.pdf
Essay Subjects: Fed Civ, Conf, Con, K, BusO (Agency & Partnership, Corp and Limited Liability Companies), UCC (Articles II, III, and IX), Fa, Cr L&P, Ev, RP, To, and Tr&E (Decedent’s Estates and Trusts; Future Interests)
Montana
Bar Exam Dates: July 23-25, 2012
Final Deadline: March 1, 2012
Cost: $150
Link to Application:
http://www.montanabar.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=10#Request
Essay Subjects:
K, T, CIV, Ev, Trusts, probate and wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and estates; Crim law (substantive and procedural), BusO, RP, UCC as adopted in Montana (excluding Articles 5, 7, and 8); DomRel, Agency, Workers’ Compensation, PR (incl. the Rules of PR and the norms of professional conduct), Con, (Federal and State); and Income (Federal), Estate, and Gift (Federal and State) Tax.
Nevada
Bar Exam Dates: July 23 – 26, 2012
Final Deadline: May 15, 2012
Cost: $700
Link to Application:
http://www.nvbar.org/content/application-packets
Essay Subjects: Agency and Partnership; Community Property; Conf; Con; K; Corp; Cr L&P; Ev; Persons and DomRel; RP; Rem; To; UCC (Articles 2,3 and 9); WT&E
New Mexico
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 and 25, 2012
Final Deadline: June 5, 2012
Cost: $450
Link to Application: http://www.nmexam.org/application_forms.html
Essay Subjects: Con, K/Sales, Cr L&P, Ev, RP, To
Oregon
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 30, 2012
Cost: $625
Link to Application:
http://www.osbar.org/_docs/admissions/ExamApplication.pdf
Essay Subjects: Admin (Oregon and Federal Law), Agency, Civ (Ore. & Fed), Con, K, Corp, Cr L&P, Ev (Ore. & Fed), Federal Income Tax, Legal Ethics (Ore. rules only), Partnerships, Property, Sales (UCC Article 2), SecTran (UCC Articles 1 & 9), To, TR&E, Wills
Utah
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $550
Link to Application:
http://www.utahbar.org/admissions/index_admissions.html
Essay Subjects: Admin, BA, Civ, Con, K, Creditor/Debtor, Cr L&P, Ethics, Ev, Fa, RP, To, UCC (Articles 2, 3, 4 & 9), Wills/Estate Planning/Trusts (incl. tax aspects)
Washington
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 26, 2012
Final Deadline: March 26, 2012
Cost: $585
Link to Application:
http://www.wsba.org/Licensing-and-Lawyer-Conduct/Admissions/Bar-Exam-Admissions/Application-and-Exam-Information
Essay Subjects: Admin, BusO, Commercial Transactions, Con, K, Crim, Fa, Indian Law/Tribal Sovereign Immunity, Real and Personal Property, T, Trial Procedure (Civil and Criminal), Wash. State Rules of Professional Conduct, Wills, Probates, and Trusts
Wyoming
Bar Exam Dates: July 25-26, 2012
Final Deadline: March 1, 2012
Cost: $600
Link to Application:
http://www.wyomingbar.org/admissions/index.html
Essay Subjects: Admin, Business Organization, CIV, Commercial Paper, K, Cr L&P, DomRel, Ev, Mortgages, Oil and Gas, Property, SecTran, T, TR&E, Water Law
Midwest
Illinois
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $700
Link to Application:
https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/displayregister.action
Essay Subjects: Admin, agency and partnership, BusO, commercial paper, conflict of law, criminal procedure, equity, Fa, fed Tax, Illinois Civ, SecTran, surety ship, WT&E
Indiana
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $250
Link to Application: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/ble/2371.htm
Essay Subjects: Admin, BusO, Commercial Law, Indiana Con, F Law, Pleading and Practice, Personal Property, Tax, WT&E
Iowa
Bar Exam Dates: July 23 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $325.00
Link to Application:
http://www.iowacourtsonline.org/Professional_Regulation/Bar_Admission__Practice_Rules/Bar_Exam_Schedule_Fees__Applications/
Essay Subjects: BA, Conf, Con (Federal), K (incl UCC), Cr L&P, Ev (based on the Federal Rules of Ev), Fa, Fed Civ, RP, T, TR&E, UCC
Kansas
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 15, 2012
Cost: $400
Link to Application: http://www.kscourts.org/appellate-clerk/Board-of-Law-Examiners/PDF/ApplicationByWrittenExamination.pdf
Essay Subjects: personal property, DomRel and Fa, noncorporate BusO, agency and employment, UCC and commercial transactions, Ethics, K, Corp, RP, Con, Cr L&P, Kansas and fed Civ, To, wills, trusts and administration, Conf, and Ev
Michigan
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: March 1, 2012
Cost: $340
Link to Application:
http://www.michbar.org/professional/step2.cfm#current
Essay Subjects: Agency, Commercial Paper, Conf, Corp, Creditors’ Rights, Equity, Mich. Rules of Professional Conduct, DomRel, Insurance (no-fault), Partnerships, Personal Property, Practice and Procedure (State and Federal), Sales, SecTran, Wills & Trusts, Workers’ Comp., plus all MBE subjects
Minnesota
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $500
Link to Application:
http://www.ble.state.mn.us/application/instructions-on-completing-applications.aspx
Essay Subjects: BA (partnerships, proprietorships, and Corp, incl. limited liability companies), Civ, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ethics and PR, Ev, Fa, Federal Individual Income Tax, RP, To, UCC (Art. 1,2) WT&E
Missouri
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 31, 2012
Cost: $910
Link to Application:
https://www.mble.org/confirmselectapplication.action?id=1
Essay Subjects: Admin, Agency (Agency & Partnerships), BA, Conf, F Law, Federal CIV, TR&E, and Uniform Commercial Code
Nebraska
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $515.00
Link to Application: http://www.nebar.com/
Essay Subjects: Agency, Commercial Paper, Conf, Corp, F Law, Federal CIV, Partnerships, Sales, SecTran, Trusts & Future Interests, Wills
Ohio
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 26, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2012
Cost: $354
Link to Application:
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/AttySvcs/admissions/admissionApps/default.asp
Essay Subjects: K (Common Law and Sales of Goods), T, Property (Real and Personal), Cr L&P, Con (incl. First Amendment), Ev, Civ, BA (Corp, Agency or Partnership), Commercial Law (Commercial Paper or SecTran), Wills, Ethics
Oklahoma
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 2, 2012
Cost: $1,050
Link to Application: http://www.okbbe.com/applications.aspx
Essay Subjects: Admin, Agency, Commercial Paper, Conf, Consumer Law, Corp, Creditors’ Rights (incl. Bankruptcy), F Law, Federal Estate & Gift Tax, Partnerships, Pleading & Practice (Federal & Oklahoma), PR, Rem, SecTran, Trusts, U.C.C., Wills & Estates
North Dakota
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: March 1, 2012
Cost: $775
Link to Application:
http://ncbex.org/character-and-fitness-electronic-application/
Essay Subjects: Agency and Partnership, Commercial Paper, Conf, Corp, Decedents’ Estates, F Law, Federal CIV, Sales, SecTran, Trusts and Future Interests, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ev, RP, and T
South Dakota
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: See website
Cost: See website
Link to Application: http://www.sdjudicial.com/barexam/application.aspx
Essay Subjects: Agency, Commercial Paper, Conf, Corp, Fa, Fed Civ, Partnerships, Sales, SecTran, Wills, Trusts & Future Interests
Wisconsin
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: June 1, 2012
Cost: $450
Link to Application:
http://www.wicourts.gov/services/attorney/barexam.htm
Essay Subjects: BusO, Ev, F Law, CIV, PR, Commercial Law, Property, CON (Federal), K, Cr L&P, To, Tr&E
Northeast
Connecticut
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: See website
Cost: $600
Link to Application: http://www.jud.ct.gov/cbec/checklist.htm
Essay Subjects: Associations, CIV (Pleading and Practice and Jurisdiction of Courts), Corp, Fa (DomRel), Partnerships, PR (Ethics and Legal Responsibilities of the Profession), Sales, SecTran, Sole Proprietorships, Tax (Federal), Trusts & Estates, plus the six MBE subjects
Delaware
Bar Exam Dates: July 23-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 15, 2012
Cost: $700
Link to Application: https://www.bbede.org/Security/SignIn.aspx
Essay Subjects: Agency (Agency & Partnerships), Creditors’ Rights, Criminal Law/Procedure, Estates, Partnerships, Trusts & Estates, Trusts & Future Interests, UCC, Wills, Wills & Estates, K/Sales, Ev, RP, T
District of Columbia
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25. 2012
Final Deadline: May 3
Cost: $100
Link to Application: http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/index.jsp
Essay Subjects: Admin, Agency (Agency & Partnerships), BA, Civ, Con, Corp, Decedents’ Estates & Wills, Estates, Ev, F Law (DomRel), PR, RP, Tax, T, UCC, Wills & Estates, Trusts & Future Interests
Maine
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 20, 2012
Cost: $450
Link to Application:
http://www.mainebarexaminers.org/index.php?section=2
Essay Subjects: Civ, commercial paper/payment systems, Conf, Corp (and partnerships), F law, PR, Rem, SecTran, Tax, and trusts & estates, as well as the six topics covered on the multi-state examination
Maryland
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 21, 2012
Cost: $225
Link to Application:
http://www.courts.state.md.us/ble/onlineapplication.html
Essay Subjects: Agency, Partnerships, Associations, Commercial Law, F Law, Maryland CIV, PR
Massachusetts
Bar Exam Dates: July 25 – 26, 2012
Final Deadline: See website
Cost: $815.00
Link to Application:
http://www.sjccountyclerk.com/admissionbyexam.html
Essay Subjects: Agency, Federal Rules of CIV, BusO, Massachusetts Rules of CIV, Con, PR, K, RP (incl. Mortgages), Criminal Law T, Descent & Distribution of Estates Trusts, DomRel, Unfair or Deceptive Practices (G.L.c. 93A), Ev (incl. Federal Rules), UCC(articles 1-9), Federal Jurisdiction, Wills
New Hampshire
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $275.00
Link to Application:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/nhbar/appform.pdf
Essay Subjects: BA (Agency and Partnership; Corp and Limited Liability Companies), Conf, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ev, F Law, Federal CIV, RP, T, TR&E (Decedents’ Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and UCC(Commercial Paper (Negotiable Instruments); SecTran)
New Jersey
Bar Exam Dates: July 27-28
Final Deadline: May 15, 2012
Cost: $475
Link to Application:
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/supreme_doc/njbarexams/
Essay Subjects: Con, Contract/Sales, Criminal Law/Procedure, Ev, RP, T
New York
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 30, 2012
Cost: The application fee for candidates qualifying for the bar examination under Court of Appeals Rule 520.3 (ABA approved law schools), 520.4 (law office study), and 520.5 (unapproved law schools) is $250. The application fee for candidates qualifying for the bar examination under Rule 520.6 (study of law in a foreign country) is $750.
Link to Application: http://www.nybarexam.org/forms/forms.htm
Essay Subjects: Con, K, Cr L&P, Ev, RP, and T
Pennsylvania
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 30, 2012
Cost: $500.00
Link to Application: https://pabarapplication.org/OBA/Login.aspx
Essay Subjects: BusO, Employment Discrimination, PR, CIV, Ev, RP, Criminal Law, F Law, T, Conf, Federal Con, U.C.C., Art. II – Sales, K, Federal Income Taxes, Wills, Trusts and Decedents’ Estates
Rhode Island
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $450.00
Link to Application:
http://www.courts.ri.gov/AttorneyResources/baradmission/pages/Admission%20on%20Examination.aspx
Essay Subjects: Agency, Commercial Paper, Conf, Corp, Creditors’ Rights, DomRel, Equity, Partnerships, Rhode Island Practice & Procedure, SecTran, Trusts, Wills
Vermont
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $240.00
Link to Application:
http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/LC/d-BBELibrary/OnlineAppInst.pdf
Essay Subjects: Admin, bankruptcy, BusO, CIV, commercial law (incl. the Uniform Commercial Code), Vermont and federal Con, K, Cr L&P, equity, ethics, Ev, F law (incl. juvenile law), general practice skills, personal and RP (incl. foreclosure), T, Tax, TR&E, wills and probate
West Virginia
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 1, 2012
Cost: $375
Link to Application:
http://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/Bd-of-Law/bar-application.html
Essay Subjects: BA (Agency & Partnership & Corp & LLCs), Conf, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ev, F Law, Federal CIV, RP, T, TR&E (Decedents’ Estates & Trusts & Future Interests), UCC(Negotiable Instruments (Art. 3) & SecTran (Art. 9))
Southeast
Alabama
Bar Exam Dates: July 23-25, 2012
Final Deadline: February 1, 2012
Cost: $475
Link to Application:
https://www.alabamainteractive.org/alabar_exam/welcome.action
Essay Subjects: BA, Conf, Con, Fa (DomRel), Decedents’ Estates & Wills, Trusts & Future Interests, plus all MBE subjects incl. Fed Civ
Arkansas
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 2, 2012
Cost: $400
Link to Application:
https://courts.arkansas.gov/opp/bar_admission.cfm
Essay Subjects: Agency, Arkansas Conf, Commercial Paper, Corp, Equity, DomRel (F Law), Federal CIV, Partnerships, SecTran, Wills, Estates & Trusts, K, Cr L&P, Con, Ev, RP, and T
Florida
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: June 15, 2012
Cost: $400
Link to Application: http://www.floridabarexam.org/
Essay Subjects: Florida Con, Federal Con, Trusts, Business Entities, RP, Ev, T, Wills & Administration of Estates, Criminal Law, K, F Law, Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar
Georgia
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: June 1, 2012
Cost: $350
Link to Application:
http://www.gabaradmissions.org/pages/informationexam.php
Essay Subjects: BusO, Con, K, incl. UCC Article 2 sales, Cr L&P, Ev, F law, practice and procedure (Georgia and federal), professional ethics (PR), property, Rem, T, trusts (wills, trusts, and estates), UCC Articles 2 (sales), 3 (negotiable instruments), and 9 (SecTran), wills and estates
Kentucky
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: February 1, 2012
Cost: $625 (Non-Attorney) & $675 (Attorney)
Link to Application:
http://www.kyoba.org/apps%20and%20forms/apps%20and%20forms/applications%20main%20page.htm
Essay Subjects: BA, Conf, F Law, Federal CIV, TR&E, and Uniform Commercial Code
Louisiana
Bar Exam Dates: July 23, 25, 27 2012
Final Deadline: May 15, 2012
Cost: $575
Link to Application:
http://www.lascba.org/candidate/InstructFirstTime.cfm
Essay Subjects: Civil Code I, Civil Code II, Civil Code III, Louisiana Code of Civ, To, Business entities and negotiable instruments, Con, Cr L&P, and Ev, Federal jurisdiction and procedure
Mississippi
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 1, 2011
Cost: $550
Link to Application:
http://courts.ms.gov/baradmissions/baradmissions_barapplication_update.html
Essay Subjects: BA (partnerships, proprietorships, Corp, incl. limited liability companies), CIV, Con, K, Cr L&P, Ethics and PR, Ev, Fa, Federal Individual Income Tax, RP, T, UCC (Art. 1,2) WT&E
North Carolina
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: March 6, 2012
Cost: $ 700.00
Link to Application: http://www.ncble.org/
Essay Subjects: BA (incl. Agency, Corp & Partnerships), Civ, Equity, F Law, Legal Ethics, SecTran, U.C.C., Tax, Trusts & Wills (Decedents’ Estates)
South Carolina
Bar Exam Dates: July 23-25, 2012
Final Deadline: January 31, 2012
Cost: $400
Link to Application:
http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/bar/index.cfm
Essay Subjects: Corp, Agency and Partnership, State and Fed Civ, UCC (Articles 2, 3, 4 and 9), Equity, Legal Writing and Research, Wills, Tr&E, Trial Advocacy, DomRel, and Insurance
Tennessee
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 25, 2012
Final Deadline: April 15, 2012
Cost: $300
Link to Application:
http://state.tn.us/lawexaminers/HowToApply.htm
Essay Subjects: Agency, CIV (State & Federal), Commercial Paper & Bulk Transfers, Conf, Corp, DomRel or Personal Status, Partnerships, Personal Property, PR, Restitution & Rem, Sales, SecTran, State Con, Wills & Estates, K, Cr L&P, Con, Ev, RP, and To
Texas
Bar Exam Dates: July 24 – 26, 2012
Final Deadline: March 30, 2012
Cost: See website
Link to Application:
http://www.ble.state.tx.us/applications/GenApp/genapp_main.htm
Essay Subjects: UCC, BA (incl. Corp, agency and partnerships), Fa, wills & administration, RP, trust & guardianship, consumer law
Virginia
Bar Exam Dates: July 24-25, 2012
Final Deadline: May 10, 2012
Cost: $375
Link to Application:
http://www.vbbe.state.va.us/bar/barapps.html
Essay Subjects: Agency, Criminal Law, PR, UCC, Conf, DomRel, Real and Personal Property, Virginia Civil and Criminal, Con, Equity, Sales, Procedure (incl. K Ev Tax appellate practice), BusO, Federal Practice and Procedure, T, Wills and Estate Administration, Creditor’s Rights, Local Government Law, Trusts
