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Ultimate Guide to Florida State Bar Exam

Your complete guide to Florida Bar Exam prep.

Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Location · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources

*Updated January 2024

Florida State Bar Exam | Basic Information

The Florida Bar was started in 1950. It includes more than 100,000 legal professionals.

Florida is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state. Florida has its own bar exam that uses the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the national multiple-choice test. Florida also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

Florida State Bar Exam Pass Rates

July 2023 (3,385 takers).

View detailed statistics

February 2023 (2,108 takers)

February 2022 (1,788 takers), july 2021 (3,343 takers), florida bar exam format, what’s the format of the florida bar.

The Florida Bar Exam is administered twice each year in Florida (in February and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The Florida bar has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), three essay questions, and 100 multiple-choice questions.

The MBE is a six-hour test and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that test your understanding across seven subjects. Your MBE score comprises 50% of your overall score.

Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects (in addition to  MPRE subjects).

Civil Procedure

Constitutional Law

Criminal Law & Procedure

Florida MBE Review Course

Crushendo’s comprehensive MBE Suite comes with everything you need to crush the MBE portion of the Florida Bar Exam.

• 1,350+ Licensed NCBE MBE Practice Questions
• Audio Attack Outlines
• Lifetime Access

Essay Questions and Multiple-Choice

The Florida essay questions consist of three legal essays. Your essay scores, combined with your score on the Florida multiple-choice, comprises 50% of your total score. Florida bar exam essay topics may include the following:

• Florida Constitutional Law
• Federal Constitutional Law
• Business Entities
• Real Property
• Wills & Administration of Estates
• Criminal Law and Constitutional Criminal Procedure
• Articles 3 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code
• Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar
• Professionalism

Here are helpful practice questions provided by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

The essay questions are followed by 100 multiple-choice questions.

What’s the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination?

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests your understanding of established standards of conduct for lawyers. The MPRE is administered three times each year (in March, August, and November). The test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and is two hours long. Check out this MPRE Tips video !

Upcoming Bar Exam Schedule, Dates, Location

• July 30–31, 2024
• February 25–26, 2025

Florida Bar Exam Application

Are you interested in taking the Florida State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Florida bar exam.

Other Requirements

The Florida Bar application fee for most takers is $600 if you file an early application. The fee is $1,000 for those who do not complete early registration or lawyers who have been admitted for less than a year.

*Visit the Florida State Bar’s website for more information.

If you desire to take the bar exam in February , you should submit your application by November 15  to avoid late fees. If you file between November 15 and December 16 , there is a $325 late fee. If you file between December 16 and January 15, there is a $625 late fee. January 15 is the final deadline.

If you desire to take the bar exam in July , you should submit your application by May 1 to avoid late fees. If you file between May 1 and June 1 , there is a $325 late fee. If you file between June 1 and June 15, there is a $625 late fee. June 15 is the final deadline.

In addition to passing the Florida bar exam with a score of at least 272 out of 400, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Florida, including:

• Score 80  or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
• Certificate from Committee of Character and Fitness
• Be a graduate of an ABA approved law school

Florida State Bar Admissions Office

Physical address:

Florida Board of Bar Examiners 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750

Phone number: (850) 487-1292

Florida Bar Exam: What to Bring

What to bring

• Your current driver’s license or picture ID

Important notes

• You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions.
• Pens and pencils are provided to examinees
• Laptop testers should not bring their laptop in a case or bag

Prohibited items

• Any item that can connect to the internet
• Any item that can record audio or video
• Calculators
• Food or drink
• Scratch papers
• Study materials

Florida Bar Exam Scores and Grading

A passing score for the bar in Florida is 270/400 . Scores of the three tests comprising the bar are weighted as follows:

• MBE = 50% of your total score
• Florida Bar = 50%  of your total score

*A passing score for the MPRE in Florida is 80 /150 .

Florida Bar Exam Results

View recent bar pass lists:

• February 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

When are my Florida Bar Exam results released?

Florida Bar Exam results are usually posted six to nine weeks after the exam date.

Can I see my Florida Bar Exam score?

If you passed the Florida Bar Exam, you won’t be able to see your score. If you failed the exam, you will receive your written examination back.

Can I appeal to have my Florida Bar Exam re-graded?

No. If your essay score is close to passing, it will be automatically re-graded. After scores have been released, there is no appeals process. You can ask to have your multiple-choice scores hand-graded for no extra cost.

How many times can I take the Florida Bar Exam?

You can take the Florida Bar without limit.

Florida Bar Exam Reciprocity

There is no reciprocity between Florida and any other jurisdiction.

Law Schools in Florida

Here’s a list of law schools in Florida.

Ave Maria School of Law

• Founded: 1999
• Located:  Naples, FL
• Enrollment:  about 270
• Tuition Cost:  $43,206 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  56%
• ABA Accredited:  Yes
• Website: avemarialaw.edu

Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (Barry University)

• Founded:  1999
• Located:  Orlando, FL
• Enrollment:  about 650
• Tuition Cost:  $39,900 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  57%
• Website:  barry.edu/law

Florida A&M University School of Law

• Founded:  1949
• Located:  Tallahassee, FL
• Enrollment:  about 600
• Tuition Cost:  $33,077 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  58%
• Website:  law.famu.edu

Florida Coastal School of Law

• Founded:  1996
• Located:  Jacksonville, FL
• Enrollment:  about 200
• Tuition Cost: $39,900 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  72%
• Website:  fcsl.edu

Fredric C. Levin College of Law (University of Florida)

• Founded:  1909
• Located:  Gainesville, FL
• Enrollment:  about 900
• Tuition Cost: $38,040 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  71%
• Website:  law.ufl.edu

University of Miami School of Law

• Founded: 1925
• Located:  Coral Gables, FL
• Enrollment:  about 1,100
• Tuition Cost: $54,134 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  78%
• Website:  law.miami.edu

Florida International University College of Law

• Founded:  2000
• Located:  Miami, FL
• Enrollment:  about 475
• Tuition Cost:  $36,050 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  95%
• Website:  law.fiu.edu

Florida State University College of Law

• Founded:  1966
• Tuition Cost:  $40,655 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  87%
• Website: law.fsu.edu

Shepard Broad College of Law (Nova Southeastern University)

• Founded:  1974
• Located:  Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Enrollment:  about 625
• Tuition Cost:  $42,790 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  65%
• Website:  law.nova.edu

Stetson University College of Law

• Founded:  1900
• Located:  Gulfport, FL
• Enrollment:  about 850
• Tuition Cost:  $44,964 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  77%
• Website:  stetson.edu/portal/law

St. Thomas University College of Law

• Founded:  1984
• Located:  Miami Gardens, FL
• Enrollment:  about 575
• Tuition Cost: $42,190 View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  67%
• Website:  stu.edu/law

Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Western Michigan University)

• Founded:  1972
• Located:  Tampa Bay, FL (multiple campuses)
• Enrollment:  about 1270
• Tuition Cost: $1,750 per credit hour View tuition breakdown
• Bar Passage Rate:  36%
• Website: cooley.edu/locations/tampa-bay

Helpful Groups

Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:

• Girl Attorney – FL (291 members)
• Central Florida Attorney Referrals (915 members)
• Central Florida Personal Injury Network (785 members)
• Florida Solo/Small Firm Lawyers (981 members)
• Florida Legal Network (193 members)
• Florida Women Lawyers of Color (113 members)
• South Florida Lawyer Network (322 members)
• Ask a Florida Divorce Lawyer (231 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law Alumni (492 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Immigration Law Society (39 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law Federalist Society (66 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2022 (131 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2021 (126 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2020 (157 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2019 (140 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2018 (142 members)
• Ave Maria School of Law – Class of 2017 (143 members)
• Barry University School of Law – Alumni Referral Circle (765 members)
• Barry University School of Law Alumni (172 members)
• Texas A&M University School of Law Student Connection (1,238 members)
• FAMU Law Graduates (1,103 members)
• Class of 2023 University of Miami School of Law (178 members)
• Class of 2022 University of Miami School of Law (368 members)
• Class of 2021 University of Miami School of Law (398 members)
• FIU Law Student Bar Association (1,263 members)
• FIU College of Law Alumni (1,093 members)
• FIU Law Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (279 members)
• FIU College of Law Alumni Association (Official) (276 members)
• FSU Law Admitted Students (212 members)
• FIU Law Class of 2022 (185 members)
• FIU Law Class of 2021 (184 members)
• FIU Law Class of 2020 (196 members)
• FSU Law Students (1,301 members)
• FSU Law Alumni (101 members)
• FSU College of Law Outlines, Professors, more! (504 members)
• FSU Law Class of 2022 (139 members)
• FSU Law Class of 2021 (209 members)
• NSU Law Alumni (697 members)
• Law & Mooting Society Society (NSULMS) Department of Law, NSU (407 members)
• NSU Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) (157 members)
• NSU Law 2020 Entering JD Class (55 members)
• NSU Law 2019 Entering JD Class (164 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2023 (Part Time) (28 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2022 (346 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2022 (Part-Time) (71 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2021 (419 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2021 (Part Time) (43 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2020 (435 members)
• Stetson Law Class of 2019 Official Group! (375 members)
• Stetson College of Law Class of 2017 (328 members)
• Black Law Students Association at Stetson University (30 members)
• St. Thomas Law Class of 2022 (177 members)

Other Resources

More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Florida State bar exam:

• Florida Jurisdiction Information
• Florida State Bar Association
• Florida Supreme Court
• National Conference of Bar Examiners
• American Bar Association
• Bar Prep Tips & Tricks YouTube Videos
• Awesome Law School “Lectures”
• Best Law School Audio Outlines
• Shop Crushendo

Florida Bar Exam details

A typical florida bar exam is a 2-day exam.

Florida Bar Exam information is subject to change without notice. Please verify with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners .

Please also reference the  NCBE Covid-19 updates page  for NCBE updates and individual jurisdiction announcements.

Bar exam details

• Three essay questions (AM)
• 100 multiple-choice questions (PM)
• Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM)

Subjects tested

• Constitutional Law
• Contracts/Sales
• Criminal Law/Procedure
• Federal Civil Procedure
• Real Property

Florida Essay Subjects

Equitable aspects of all subjects tested

• Articles 3 & 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code
• Business Entities
• Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar
• Criminal Law
• Constitutional Criminal Procedure
• Federal Constitutional Law
• Florida Constitutional Law
• Florida Rules of Civil Procedure
• Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure
• Florida Rules of Judicial Administration
• Professionalism
• Wills & Administration of Estates.
• A scaled score of 80 is required. MPRE scores are accepted only if the MPRE and the general bar exam are taken within 25 months of each other.

Click here to learn more about the MPRE .

MBE and Florida essay/multiple-choice scores are each weighted 50% in order to determine if applicant has achieved a passing score. An average scaled score of 136 will be required.

If applicant only takes one part of the exam, then a score of 136 or higher must be achieved on that part.

Reciprocity

Acceptance of mbe score.

Applicants may transfer an MBE scaled score of at least 136 achieved in another jurisdiction if taken within 25 months prior to the next scheduled exam.

Admission on Motion

Florida does not provide for admission on motion. Examination is required of all applicants.

BARBRI Bar Exam Digest

We compile all of the information that you need to know about the dates, format, subjects tested, deadlines, fees and more - for each U.S. state - in the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest.

Download the Digest ›

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Candidates with a J.D. from a U.S. law school looking for the quickest, most efficient & effective course to pass any U.S. state bar exam

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Law Research Guide: Bar Exam Preparation Resources

Annual Compilation of Bar Examination Questions and Answers  in print (Treatise Collection KF 303.A52). Each year the Institute for Bar Review Study publishes 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). The law library has these issues from 1969-2011, and they may be checked out of the library for two weeks.

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.

Florida Board of Bar Examiners Study Guide  includes essay questions from the last six bar exams with sample answers and sample multiple-choice questions with the correct answers. It is available for free in PDF format on the  Board of Bar Examiners' website  or in print format for $25 from the Board.

Hein's State Bar Examinations  reproduces the questions of all states in microfiche format (Microfiche Collection, Cabinet #12). There are two microfiche reader/printers on the second floor of the library and one microfiche reader with laser printer on the first floor.

Multi-State Flash Cards  (Reserve Collection KF303.M85 2003) (PMBR)

Multi-State Workbook  (Reserve Collection KF388.M88) (2005) (PMBR)

Sample MBE III  (Reserve Collection KF303.S253 2002) published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, has 200 actual multiple choice questions used in the July 1998 MBE.

Unlock the MBE Critical Pass  (Reserve Collection KF303 .U65 2011).

The Zen of Passing the Bar Exam  by Chad Noreuil (Reserve Collection KF303 .N673 2011).

• Bar Prep Workbook  by Steven I. Friedland (Reserve Collection KF303. F753 2010)

The Bar Exam in a Nutshell  by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhous (Reserve Collection KF303.D37 2009)

The Essential Rules for Bar Exam Success  by Steven I. Friedland & Jeffrey Scott Shapiro (Treatise Collection KF303 .F75 2008)

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 (Reserve Collection KF303 .L3 2008)

Pass the Bar  by Denise Riebe (Reserve Collection KF303.R54 2006).

Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays  by Mary Campbell Gallagher (Reserve Collection KF303 .G35 2006).

Linda Chan,  Bar Exam Insider  (monthly bar exam advice)

Strategies and Tactics for the MBE: Multistate Bar Exam , by Kimm Walton and Steve Emanuel, published by Aspen, provides sample questions and answers, as well as advice (Reserve Collection KF303 .W345 2003).

The Bar Exam: Why Students Fail , Edna Wells Handy, 11  National Bar Association Magazine  17 (December 1997) (Requires Westlaw password to view) includes strategies for success.

You Can Pass Any Bar Exam  by Edna Wells Handy (Treatise Collection KF 303.H36 1997).

Carolyn Nygren,  Legal Learning for Bar Candidates - Bar Exam  ( Findlaw )

The  Questions & Answers  Series, published by Lexis, has multiple choice and short answer questions. Answers are also included. The law library currently has:

• Questions & Answers: Business Associations  by Douglas M. Branson (Treatise Collection KF1355.Z9 B7 2004)
• Questions & Answers: Civil Procedure  by William V. Dorsaneo III and Elizabeth G. Thornberg (Reserve Collection KF8841.Z9 D67 2007)
• Questions & Answers: Constitutional Law  by Paul E. McGreal and Linda S. Eads (D201 KF4550.Z9 M44 2007)
• Questions & Answers: Contracts  by Keith A. Rowley (Treatise Collection KF801.Z9 R69 2006)
• Questions & Answers: Criminal Law  by Emily Marcus Levine and Paul Marcus (Treatise Collection KF9219.Z9 L48 2003)
• Questions & Answers: Criminal Procedure  (police practices and prosecution) by Lewis R. Katz and Neil P. Cohen (Reserve Collection KF9619.5.Z9 K38 2009)
• Questions & Answers: Evidence  by David P. Leonard (Treatise Collection KF8935.Z9 L46 2003)
• Questions & Answers: Family Law  by Mark Strasser (Treatise Collection KF505.Z9 S77 2003)
• Questions & Answers: The First Amendment  by Russell L. Weaver and William D. Araiza (Treatise Collection KF4770.Z9 W42 2005)
• Questions & Answers: Professional Responsibility  by Patrick Emery Longan (Treatise Collection KF306.Z9 L66 2003)
• Questions & Answers: Property  by John Copeland Nagle (Treatise Collection KF570.Z9 N3454 2003)
• Questions & Answers: Secured Transactions  by Bruce A. Markell (Treatise Collection KF1050.Z9 M37 2003)
• Questions & Answers: Torts  by Anita Bernstein (Reserve Collection KF1250.Z9 B47 2004)
• Questions & Answers: Wills, Trusts & Estates  by Thomas M. Featherstone (Reserve Collection KF755.Z9 F36 2008)

The  Exam Pro Series , published by West, contains a series of true-false and multiple choice questions with answers provided to guide students toward learning a subject. The law library currently has:

• Civil Procedure  by Linda S. Mullenix (Reserve Collection KF8841 .M78 2007)
• Criminal Law  by John Burkoff (Reserve Collection KF9219.5 .B831 2010)
• Criminal Procedure  by Mary M. Cheh (Reserve Collection KF9619.5 .C44 2005)
• Evidence (Essay)  by Michael H. Graham (Treatise Collection KF8935.Z9 G692 2011)
• Evidence (Objective)  by Michael H. Graham (Reserve Collection KF8935.Z9 G69 2011)
• Professional Responsibility  by Leslie W. Abramson (Reserve Collection KF306 .A27 2010)
• Property  by Peter T. Wendel (Reserve Collection KF570.Z9 W46 2007)
• Torts  by John H. Bauman (Reserve Collection KF1250.Z9 B38 2010)
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates  by E. Gary Spitko (Reserve Collection KF753 .C356 2006)

The  Examples & Explanations  Series, published by Wolters Kluwer, each chapter has a summary of a topic, followed by examples employing that topic and explanations of how the examples would apply the law. The law library currently has:

• Agency, Partnerships, and LLCs: Examples and Explanations  by Daniel S. Kleinberger (Treatise Collection KF1345.Z9 K6 2012)
• Civil Procedure: Examples and Explanations  by Joseph W. Glannon (Reserve Collection KF8840 .G58 2013)
• Constitutional Law-Individual Rights: Examples and Explanations  by Allan Ides and Christopher N. May (Reserve Collection KF4749 .I34 2013)
• Constitutional Law-National Power and Federalism: Examples and Explanations  by Christopher N. May and Allan Ides (Reserve Collection KF4550 .M29 2013)
• Contracts: Examples and Explanations  by Brian A. Blum (Reserve Collection KF801 .B58 2013)
• Corporations: Examples and Explanations  by Alan R. Palmiter (Reserve Collection KF1414.3 .S658 2012)
• Criminal Law: Examples and Explanations  by Richard G. Singer and John Q. La Fond (Reserve Collection KF9219.85 .S56 2013)
• Criminal Procedure: The Constitution and the Police  by Robert M. Bloom and Mark S. Brodin (Reserve Collection KF9630.B578 2013)
• Criminal Procedure II: From Bail to Jaili  by Richard G. Singer (D201 KF9619.39 S56 2012)
• Evidence: Examples and Explanations  by Arthur Best (Reserve Collection KF8935.Z9 B48 2012)
• Family Law: Examples and Explanations  by Robert Oliphant and Nancy Ver Steegh (Reserve Collection KF505.Z9 O43 2013)
• Federal Courts: Examples and Explanations  by Laura E. Little (Reserve Collection KF8719 .L58 2013)
• The Glannon Guide to Civil Procedure: Learning Civil Procedure through Multiple-Choice Questions and Analysis  by Joseph W. Glannon (Reserve Collection KF8841.G59 2013)
• The Law of Torts: Examples and Explanations  by Joseph W. Glannon (Reserve Collection KF1250.Z9 G58 2010)
• Payment Systems: Examples and Explanations  by James Brook (Treatise Collection KF933 .B76 2010)
• Professional Responsibility: Examples and Explanations  by W. Bradley Wendel (Reserve Collection KF306 .W46 2014)
• Property: Examples and Explanations  by Barlow Burke and Joseph Anthony Snoe (Reserve Collection KF560 .B87 2012)
• Sales and Leases: Examples and Explanations  by James Brook (D201 KF915.Z9 B74 2012)
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates: Examples and Explanations  by Gerry W. Beyer (Reserve Collection KF755.Z9 B49 2012)

The  Black Letter  Series, published by West, includes brief summaries of the subjects and review questions and scenarios to help understand the subjects. The law library currently has:

• Basic Criminal Procedure  by Stephen A. Saltzburg, Daniel J. Capra and Angela J. Davis (Reserve Collection KF9619.3 .S25 2005)
• Civil Procedure  by Kevin M. Clermont (Reserve Collection KF8841 .C56 2004)
• Conflict of Laws  by Peter Hay (Treatise Collection KF412 .H39 2005)
• Constitutional Law  by Jerome A. Barron and C. Thomas Dienes (Reserve Collection KF4550 .B28 2003)
• Contracts  by John D. Calamari and Joseph M. Perillo (Reserve Collection KF801.Z9 C27 2004)
• Corporations  by Robert W. Hamilton and Richard A. Booth (Reserve Collection KF1414.3 .H348 2006)
• Criminal Law  by Joshua Dressler (Reserve Collection KF9219.3 .D74 2005)
• Evidence  by Kenneth S. Broun and Walker J. Blakey (Reserve Collection KF8935.Z9 B75 2001)
• Family Law  by Harry D. Krause (Reserve Collection KF505.Z9 K68 2004)
• Professional Responsibility  by Ronald D. Rotunda (Reserve Collection KF306.Z9 R67 2004)
• Property  by Roger Bernhardt and Ann M. Burkhart (Reserve Collection KF570.Z9 B46 2003)
• Torts  by Edward J. Kionka (Reserve KF1250.Z9 K527 2006)
• Wills, Trusts and Future Interests  by Lawrence H. Averill, Jr (Treatise Collection KF753.Z9 A94 2005)

For a compendium of bar exam-related web sites,  Findlaw  has pulled together many links. The Bar Exam section has recent essays for several states. Under Bar Review Courses is a list of the major bar preparation companies as well as specialty bar courses, such as courses for the patent bar. Most of the companies provide online registration and general information about their prep courses. Findlaw also has links for state bar organizations and state boards of bar examiners (in the Bar Results section).

The  National Conference of Bar Examiners  (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. For example, the Bar Exam Statistics portion of the page has over 10 years of bar pass rates for each jurisdiction, so you can find the jurisdiction with the highest percentage passing (Northern Mariana Islands in 2014) and avoid the bar with the lowest pass rate (Palau in 2014). In the Bar Admission Offices section, there are links and addresses for the Board of Bar Examiners in each state and territory.  MPRE Registration  links to the online registration site and provides other useful information about the test.

Another source of information on the bar exam is the NCBE and ABA's  Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements . This guide provides several charts on admission requirements for each state. For instance, there are charts on application dates, tests required, admission on motion, grading, fees and more. Since the information is presented mostly in the chart format, be sure to check the state bar web sites for details. In addition to the NCBE's site, the Directory section of this publication has a list of state bar addresses and web sites.

To actually find the bar application online,  Barexam.org  has links to applications by state. The Florida Bar application (and exam application) can be  located directly here .

Subjects Tested on the Bar Exam

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 covering Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, Torts, Business Associations, Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transaction, and Trusts & Estates.

From the Florida Board of Bar Examiners : The General Bar Examination consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A consists of three hours spent answering essay questions and three hours of 100 multiple-choice questions. Florida Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.330, 2.420, 2.505, and 2.515 comprise 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, Constitutional Criminal Procedure, and Juvenile Delinquency, Contracts, Articles 3 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, Family Law and Dependency, Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Professionalism. Part B is the MBE.

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The Florida Bar Exam: So Much Material, So Little Time

September 24, 2018 By Sean Silverman 4 Comments

All bar exams are difficult and the Florida bar exam tends to be known as one of toughest. I took the Florida bar exam in 2012 and have been teaching it ever since. Throughout my time teaching the exam I’ve come to realize what makes this exam so difficult for so many people. The amount of information that could potentially show up is so overwhelming that it makes preparing for it in the limited time provided nearly impossible if the goal is to go into the exam confident that you’ve prepared enough.

And that’s unlikely to change so the key to preparing for this exam is to strategically break it down into its components and then attack each component individually. The exam consists of three components: Florida specific multiple choice questions, Florida specific essays, and the MBE. Each component requires its own method of preparation and here I’ll focus on two of the three components: Florida multiple choice questions and Florida essays.

1. Florida Multiple Choice Questions

On the first day of the exam you’ll take Part A which consists of 100 Florida specific multiple choice questions and 3 Florida specific essays. The subjects tested on the Florida multiple choice portion have been consistent over the years; you’ll always see Florida Civil Procedure and Florida Criminal Procedure. You’ll also see either Florida Evidence, Florida Wills, or Business Associations (Corporations, Partnerships, etc.). You won’t know which among those last three will show up on your exam, so you’ll need to prepare for all of them. My students often think that they should prepare for this component in a way similar to how they prepare for the MBE. That’s reasonable since these are multiple choice questions, but it’s not what I recommend.

These questions are not designed in the same way as the MBE; they are straight-forward questions testing very fine points. On the MBE, it’s advantageous to work through lots of practice questions so that you can learn the strategies necessary to avoid the traps set out in the questions. In contrast, the Florida multiple choice questions are designed only to test how well you know the very fine points of the subject-matter outlines, so I advise spending most of your time preparing with the outlines rather than working through questions. By working through questions you’ll only be learning the specific concepts that those questions are testing. It’s grueling, but you need to retain as much information from the outlines as possible. The average score on the Florida multiple choice component tends to fall at around 50% of the questions correct; by scoring above that (let’s say 70%) those additional points will carry over to the essays and the math will be very much on your side for passing part A of the exam.

2. Florida Essays

As I alluded to earlier, Florida tests a lot of subjects . Specifically, the following subjects are fair game on the essays: Florida Constitutional Law; Trusts; Family Law, Dependency; Juvenile Delinquency; UCC Article 3; UCC Article 9; Florida Professionalism; and all of the MBE subjects along with the Florida distinctions to each of those subjects. It’s a lot, and it quickly overwhelms. And so it’s important to approach all this material in a systematic way. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners have released both the February and July exams, and these offerings generally go back 10-15 years.

Go ahead and print out all of these exams; then organize them by subject matter. For example, if there are 10 Trusts essays that the Board has tested over the years; remove all 10 Trusts essays from the previous exams so that they are all stacked together. Do the same for every subject so that material is now organized by subject rather than by year. After you’ve studied a given subject in your outlines, take some time to review the essays from previous exams in that subject so that you can see how all these rules you’ve been studying from your outline actually show up in fact patterns on the exams. An added benefit here is that the issues that are tested in any given subject on the exam tend to repeat over time, so if you work your way through enough of the previous exams it’s unlikely you’ll be tested on something you have not previously seen. Of course, it’ll benefit many people to also write out some essays on their own and have someone grade those essays for them to ensure that they are able to apply the law and not just recognize how that law has been applied on previous essays.

I’ve been tutoring the bar exam for some time now. I find it difficult to simplify the advice that goes into passing the exam but my best attempt would be to state the following: The bar exam requires two things of each test taker. The first is that the test taker know the law. The second is that the test taker be able to apply the law that he/she knows. If you take the time to work on learning the law and learning how to apply the law, you will set yourself up very well to succeed with a passing score on the exam!

Sean Silverman runs Silverman Bar Exam Tutoring where he works with students individually to provide them with personalized assistance for the Uniform Bar Exam and the Florida Bar Exam. Sean has written three books to assist students with their preparation for the exam: UBE Essentials, MBE Essentials, and Florida Bar Exam Essentials. In addition, he writes a blog @ http://www.mbetutorial.blogspot.com covering topics tested both on the essay portion of the UBE and on the MBE. Contact Sean @  [email protected]  for more information about his tutoring services.  

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!

About Sean Silverman

Sean Silverman runs Silverman Bar Exam Tutoring where he works with students individually and in small groups to provide them with personalized assistance for the Uniform Bar Exam and the Florida Bar Exam. Sean has written two books to assist students with their preparation for the exam: UBE Essentials and MBE Essentials. In addition, he writes a blog @ http://www.mbetutorial.blogspot.com covering topics tested both on the essay portion of the UBE and on the MBE. Contact Sean @ [email protected] for more information about his tutoring services.

Reader Interactions

Hey, I’m taking the LSAT in January and will need a considerable amount of help.

Hi Saad, Here’s some info we have about the LSAT (we don’t tutor for it): https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/lsat-prep-options-and-advice/

I passed the Maryland bar and want to take the Florida bar. Unfortunately I just missed the reciprocity deadline. Is there any resource that focuses on the differences between two different states bar exam? Thanks

It’s really a personal decision which exam makes sense for you, but we have more information about the Florida bar here and would direct you to Sean Silverman: https://barexamtoolbox.com/florida-bar-exam-tutoring/

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Florida Bar Exam Outlines

Bar exam course samples.

The Florida bar exam outlines for our Florida course cover all testable subjects. The sample Florida bar exam outline pages below are for several of the subjects tested on the Florida Bar Exam. 

• MBE Subjects
• Florida Subjects

• Textbook Name: Topics in Florida Practice Textbook Type: Paperback Requirement: Required Author: Publisher: BARBRI, Inc.   

• 954-559-3770
• [email protected]

• Part A & Part B

Part A & Part B 

***If you are working with a Bar Provider (Kaplan, Barbri, Themis), I will coordinate our sessions and the order of topics we study and practice with your Bar Provider’s schedule.

Part A – Consists of 3 Florida Essays and 100 Florida Mulitple Choice Questions

• Explanation of the most effective organization and presentation for Florida Bar essay answers and why it really matters.

If you have failed the FL Part A, we will review your essay scores and discuss your essay preparation and essay  experience while you were at the Florida Bar exam.

• Guidance creating frameworks for the Florida Bar essays. I will provide clear directions on how to write a framework and why you need them. In addition, I will provide detailed feedback on frameworks that you write. 
• Practice writing out Florida Bar essay answers, for which I provide detailed written feedback, as well as a grading grid for formative assessment of your performance.
• Discuss your performance on each essay and help with strategies to improve your Florida Bar essay scores.
• I will share my essay attack outlines, as well as my essay issue lists for each topic, which will help you know how to approach each essay topic and memorize the rules.

Essays – The following topics are commonly tested (listed in order of frquency tested)

• Florida Constitutional Law
• Professional Conduct (included with another of the topics listed)

Real Property

• Federal Constitutional Law

Criminal Law & Procedure

Florida Multiple Choice Questions

• Explanation of the best way to approach multiple choice questions.
• We will work on the most heavily tested questions first.
• I will share my mini memorization outlines with you.
• I will assign you many questions to practice and I will monitor your Florida Bar multiple choice scores.
• For each topic, we will review a significant number of questions together.
• You will do at least 2 practice tests on the Florida multiple choice questions before the exam.
• We will review your results and strengthen any weaknesses.
• Florida Civil & Criminal Procedure and Judicial Administration (Always 1/3 of the questions)
• Florida Evidence
• Business Entities + Secured Transactions + Commercial Paper
• Wills + Trusts

Part B – Consists of 200 Multiple Choice Questions in the following subjects:

Civil Procedure

Constitutional Law

• Discuss the best way to approach and review multiple choice questions in order to get the best learning outcome and increase your score.

If you have failed a previous Bar Exam, we will review your scores and study methods in order to target the procedures you need to initiate to improve your scores.

• Engage in a diagnostic assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.
• Identify topics within each subject that are heavily tested and begin building your knowledge base.
• Provide my mini-memorization outlines which will help you “own” the information.
• Review assigned multiple questions together to ensure you have mastered the approach.
• Monitor your progress as to both quality and quantity of the practice strategy.
• Determine whether you are meeting the score benchmarks for success and if not, alter the techniques used, or redirect practice to specific topics, and provide additional materials to assist you with mastering the topics.
• Gauge your proficiency prior to the exam by one or more final tests (as needed).
• Enable you to go to the Bar Exam with confidence that you will pass!

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Bar Exam Information

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Test Specifications, Florida-Prepared Portion of the General Bar Examination

• Business Entities
• Chapters 4 & 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar
• Criminal Law and Constitutional Criminal Procedure
• Federal Constitutional Law
• Florida Constitutional Law
• Florida Rules of Civil Procedure
• Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure
• Florida Rules of Judicial Administration
• Professionalism
• Real Property
• Uniform Commercial Code, Articles 3 and 9
• Wills and Administration of Estates

Florida Bar

The Florida Bar Exam is a two-day exam administered by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

Day one of the exam consists of the Florida essays and Florida multiple choice. The essay session is made up of three essay questions to be answered in a three-hour block. The multiple choice section is three hours long and consists of 100 Florida-specific multiple choice questions.

Day two of the exam consists of the MBE, two hundred multiple choice questions administered over two three-hour blocks.

In addition, a student seeking admission to the Florida Bar must take and pass the MPRE as well as pass the Board's character and fitness review.

Past Florida Exams

The Florida Bar Examination Study Guide is updated with the essay questions from the last examination twice annually. The sample multiple-choice questions included in the guide are updated periodically.  

Florida Board of Bar Examiners - Study Guides

First and Second Year

Register as a First or Second Year Student

File the Student Registration by the earliest deadline under  rule 2-23.1(a)  to qualify for the lowest fee; students filing for the first time in the second year of law school must pay the full registration fee of $400. Special Note: Student Registration provides both the Certified LegaI Internship (CLI) clearance requirement, and preliminary processing for admission to The Florida Bar.

2-23.1 Student Registrant Fee . Except as provided below, every law student filing a Registrant Bar Application with the board must file with the completed Registrant Bar Application the fee of $400. For any law student who files a Registrant Bar Application by the deadlines established, discounted early registration fees are available as follows:

a. $100. For those students who commence the study of law in:

• August or September and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following January 15;
• January or February and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following June 15;
• May or June and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following October 15.

b. $350.  For those students who commence the study of law in:

• August or September and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following March 15;
• January or February and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following August 15; or
• May or June and who file a Registrant Bar Application by the following December 15.
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