Career Services: Bar Exam Information

Maine Bar Exam

It's never too early to start thinking about which bar exams you are planning to take. The American Bar Association web site provides information about each state's deadlines and requirements. Printed applications for the application for the Maine Bar can be downloaded from the State of Maine Board of Bar Examiners web site.

Information on Bar Exam in Other States

See the American Bar Association web site.

Additonal information about other State Bar exams is available in the Career Services Office. Come in and review our resources.

Bar Admissions Information on the Internet

The American Bar Association and the National Conference of Bar Examiners have produced a resource on the web to assist you with gathering information about Bar Admission.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

The MPRE 2012 Information Booklet is now available on the National Conference of Bar Examiners website, www.ncbex.org. The Information Booklet can be found on the Bar Admission Services and Multistate Tests pages as well as on the MPRE page. NCBE is no longer providing print copies for distribution. Should you wish fill out a paper application, instructions for obtaining one are provided on the NCBE website.

The examination fee is $70 ($140 for late registration). The examination schedule for 2012 is as follows:

Test Date Application Receipt Deadline Late Application Deadline
March 17, 2012 January 31, 2012 February 16, 2012
August 10, 2012 June 26, 2012 July 12, 2012
November 3, 2012 September 18, 2012 October 4, 2012

In Maine, the examination is held at the University of Maine's Portland Campus.

Bar Loan

If you are interested in obtaining loans for the time when you are studying for the Bar Exam, a local bank, Norway Savings Bank, plans to offer bar loans with favorable terms to Maine Law students planning to take the Maine Bar Exam.

In addition, various national lenders offer Bar Loans; e.g., Sallie Mae Law Loans (salliemae.com/800-984-0190); Citibank (studentloan.com/800-745-5473); Graduate Leverage (graduateleverage.com/888-350-8488).

The CSO and the Law School have not evaluated nor do they endorse any of the particular programs listed above.

Please direct comments and inquiries to lawcareer@usm.maine.edu.