The Alabama Bar Exam adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE®) format and began administering it in July 2011. The UBE was developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) and is divided into three sections—the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®), and the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®). To be accepted to the Alabama Bar, candidates must successfully complete an online course on Alabama law following successful completion of the bar exam.
Bar candidates that may want to eventually practice law in another state benefit from score portability between the 41 jurisdictions that have adopted the UBE. This article provides everything you need regarding AL Bar Exam results, dates, deadlines, requirements, fees, applications, historical passing rates, and more.
The Uniform Bar Exam is administered over two days and consists of a writing section (MPT/MEE) and a multiple-choice section (MBE).
The MBE is weighted at 50% of the UBE, making it the most heavily weighted section of the Alabama Exam. Examinees will have two 3-hour sessions to answer 200 multiple-choice questions.
The MEE is weighted at 30% of the UBE and is administered on day one. Examinees have 3 hours to answer six 30-minute essay questions.
The MPT is weighted at 20% of the UBE and is administered on day one. Examinees are provided faux case files imitating realistic scenarios and a folder with various legal documents, which they must use to respond to assignments.
Pass the MBE with confidence! Master legal rules easier with answer explanations that include visual aids.
Filing your Alabama Bar Exam on time is critical as Alabama does not have a late filing period. You cannot sit for the AL Bar Exam if you miss the application period. Examinee's who fail their exam have ten days from the release of results to apply for the next administration.
Examinees can begin filing their applications for the Alabama Bar exam from September 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, for the 2024 February and July exams, respectively.
| Filing Periods | February 27-28, 2024 | July 30-31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Opens | September 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 |
| Final Filing | October 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 |
To sit for the Alabama bar exam you must have proof that you've met prelegal education requirements and have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), the Association of American Law Schools, or graduated from one of the following Alabama law schools
Individuals who have graduated from a non-ABA-approved law school outside of Alabama may sit for the bar exam if all of the following criteria are met:
Applicants must be deemed of sound character and fitness by the Alabama Committee on Character and Fitness. You may receive your certification of character and fitness and sit for the bar exam at the same time. Furthermore, you may be required to make a personal appearance before the Committee before or after your bar exam appointment.
To schedule your Alabama Bar Exam appointment, you must register with the Alabama State Bar admissions office online. You must also have a number issued by the NCBE or request one and fill out the Character and Fitness Questionnaire. Please see the LSR Paper Items Packet form if you plan to apply for a UBE score transfer.
If you apply to take the Alabama Bar Exam, we recommend submitting your application early, as there are no opportunities for late filing. Alabama requires that law students and others seeking admission to the Alabama State Bar submit a registration of intent to apply within 60 days following the commencement of their law school studies by completing an online application. This registration fee increases the longer students wait (see fee schedule below).
| Application Fees | |||
| Timely First Time Application | $575 | ||
| Timely Re-application Application | $575 | ||
| Other Application Fees | |||
| UBE Score Transfer Applicants | $875 | ||
| Rule III Reciprocity Applicants | $875 | ||
| Law student non-registration fee 60 days | $50 | ||
| Law student non-registration fee 180 days | $100 | ||
| Law student non-registration fee 390 days | $250 | ||
| Character and Fitness Determination Investigation | $575 | ||
| Miscellaneous Fees | |||
| Postponement of Examination | $100 | ||
| Laptop Testing Fee | $107 | ||
| Laptop Testing Late Registration Fee | $50 | ||
Application fees are non-refundable. There are no exceptions. Applicants who withdraw from the bar exam can carry their application fee forward to a new administration but must pay the difference if the fee has increased. Payments are made when you apply for the Alabama Bar Exam online.
After all is said and done, fees for the Alabama Bar Exam reach well over $1,000. Fortunately, there are cost-saving options available for those in need. The Alabama Law Foundation is a charitable organization that makes annual grants and provides scholarships aimed at providing financial aid for law-related education. The following three scholarships are specifically aimed at funding law school:
The AL bar exam tests an examinee's ability to analyze and reason alongside their knowledge and understanding of fundamental legal principles. Furthermore, since Alabama has adopted the UBE, a successful exam score represents one's competency and readiness to practice law in the 40 other participating jurisdictions.
The MEE consists of six essay questions. Each question involves one or more of the subjects listed below. Some subjects may be paired together. Other subjects could be omitted. While it's impossible to know which subjects the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) will choose on any given exam version, some have been tested more frequently than others historically.
For example, Civil Procedure has appeared on nearly every MEE in the past decade, while Criminal Law has only appeared several times. However, subjects that occur less frequently on their own may be paired with others. Our MEE Study Guide and Prep Tips provides all the details you need to focus your studies on what's essential and use your time efficiently.
Check out our MEE Subject Matter Outline for detailed explanations of MEE subjects and sub-topics.
