California Bar Exam Information

California Bar Exam Essay Questions

The CA Essay portion of the exam consists of five essay questions. This part is designed to measure an applicant's ability to analyze legal issues arising from fact situations.

Answers are expected to demonstrate the applicant's ability to analyze the facts of the question, to tell the difference between material facts and immaterial facts, and to discern the points of law and fact upon which the question turns. The answer must show knowledge and understanding of the pertinent principles and theories of law, their qualifications and limitations, and their relationships to each other.

The answer should evidence the applicant's ability to apply the law to the given facts and to reason in a logical, lawyer-like manner from the premises adopted to a sound conclusion.

An applicant should not merely show that they remember the legal principles, but should demonstrate their proficiency in using and applying them.

California Performance Test

California does not use the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), but rather drafts its own 90-minute performance test section.

California's performance test question is designed to test an applicant's ability to understand and apply a select number of legal authorities in the context of a factual problem.

The question consists of a file and library with instructions advising the applicant what tasks should be performed.

In addition to measuring an applicant's ability to analyze legal issues, the performance test question requires applicants to:

1. Sift through detailed factual material and separate relevant from irrelevant facts, assess the consistency and reliability of facts, and determine the need for and source of additional facts;
2. Analyze the legal rules and principles applicable to a problem and formulate legal theories from facts that may be only partly known and are being developed;
3. Recognize and resolve ethical issues arising in practical situations;
4. Apply problem-solving skills to diagnose a problem, generate alternative solutions, and develop a plan of action;
5. Communicate effectively, whether advocating, advising a client, eliciting information, or effectuating a legal transaction.

The performance test answer is graded on the applicant's responsiveness to instructions and on the content, thoroughness, organization and persuasiveness of written tasks.

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

The MBE, which is administered on Wednesday, is developed and graded by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).

This portion of the examination is an objective 6-hour examination containing 200 multiple-choice questions, which is divided into two 3-hour sessions during which 100 questions are administered.

The MBE tests 7 subjects: civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law & procedure, evidence, real property, and torts.

See our MBE Prep Course and our MBE Practice Questions for addtional MBE resources (included in all of our comprehensive bar exam review courses).