Michigan Bar Exam

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The state of Michigan bar exam includes an essay portion consisting of Michigan laws as well as the use of  the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”).  The exam takes 2 days.

Michigan Bar Exam Essays:

Michigan requires bar takers to write 15 essays as part of their bar exam. Essay topics are listed below:

  • Conflict of Laws
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (Common Law and Sales/UCC Art. 2)
  • Corporations, Partnership, and Agency
  • Creditor’s Rights (including Mortgages, Garnishments, and Attachments)
  • Criminal Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Equity
  • Evidence
  • Family Law (Domestic Relations)
  • Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Negotiable Instruments/Commercial Paper (UCC Art. 3)
  • Practice and Procedure (Trial and Appellate) (Michigan and Federal)
  • Real and Personal Property
  • Secured Transactions (UCC Art. 9)
  • Torts (including no-fault)
  • Wills and Trusts
  • Workers’ Compensation

MBE (Multiple Choice Bar Exam)

Michigan 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 state of Texas does not accept MBE transferred scores. The Texas bar exam test 7 subjects:

  • Civil Procedure
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
  • Criminal Law & Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Real Property
  • Torts

MBE Score Transfer
Michigan accepts MBE scores from other jurisdictions based on reciprocity (transferring state must accept MBE score from MI).

Bar Exam Testing Schedule

Day 1

  • Morning = 9 Michigan Essays
  • Lunch Break
  • Afternoon = 6 Michigan Essays

Day 2

  • Morning first 3 hours – MBE Part 1 (100 questions)
  • Lunch Break
  • Afternoon second 3 hours – MBE Part 2 (100 questions)

Grading

Each essay question has a 10 possible points for a total of 150 points possible. The MBE is worth 200 points. 4/3 (Total Essay Score) + MBE Scale Score/2 = Combined Scaled Score. A combined scale score of a minimum of 135 is needed to pass the Michigan Bar Exam.

Michigan Bar Exam Weighted Scores

Essays 50%
MBE 50%

Exam Date               Results

Feb. 21-22, 20XX     May. 11, 20XX

July 24-25, 20XX    Oct. 13, 20XX