The state of Hawaii uses all the components of the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) and consists of the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”), but is not itself a UBE state because it also requires an Ethics Exam in addition to the MPRE and it also uses Hawaii state law.
Hawaii Legal Ethics Exam
In addition to the MPRE Hawaii also requires applicants on the first day of the bar exam to pass a 15 question multiple-choice exam. This test specifically tests applicants on the rules of Hawaiis professional responsibility.
MEE (Multi State Essay Exam)
Day one of the Hawaii Bar Exam consists of 6 hours of testing. The first three hours include (7) MEE essays. The MEE essays may include the following:
- Business Associations (Agency and Partnerships; Corporations and LLCs)
- Civil Procedure (Federal)
- Conflict of Laws
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law/Criminal Procedure (Constitutional aspects)
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Real Property
- Secured Transactions (UCC Art. 9)
- Torts
- Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates, Trusts, Future Interests)
MPT (Multi-State Performance Test)
The Hawaii Bar Exam also includes two (2) MPT performance tests which occur in the second half of the first day of the exam after an afternoon lunch period which follows the MEE testing.
MBE (Multiple Choice Bar Exam)
The Hawaii Bar Exam tests (MBE) is conducted on the second day of the two-day test and consists of a 6 hour time period. Each time period is divided in half so you have 100 questions to answer in the first three hours, followed by a lunch break and then 3 more hours to complete the second 100 questions for a total of 200 questions. The Hawaii bar exam test 7 subjects:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
UBE and MBE Score Transfer
The state of Hawaii does not allow transfers.
Bar Exam Testing Schedule
Day 1
- First 2.5 hours = 6 MEE Essays
- .50 hours = Hawaii Bar Exam Ethics Test
- Lunch Break
- Second 3 hours = 2 MPTs
Day 2
- Morning first 3 hours – MBE Part 1 (100 questions)
- Lunch Break
- Afternoon second 3 hours – MBE Part 2 (100 questions)
Exam Dates and Application
Hawaii Bar Exam consists of two days of testing. The testing generally occurs on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. You can find applications for the state bar exam here.
Grading
Hawaii bar exam final scores are based on a scalable score. The minimum score to pass is 268/400. Scores are not appealable.
Hawaii Bar Exam Weighted Scores
| MPT | 20% |
| MEE | 20% |
| MBE | 50% |
| Ethics Exam | 5% |