The Virginia Bar Examination is a two-day exam consisting of the Virginia Essay Portion and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). The bar exam is offered twice yearly, once in February and once in July. The essay portion takes place on the first day, which consists of a three hour time segment to answer the first five essay questions, followed by a three-hour section to answer four essay questions and 10-20 short answer questions. Day two of the exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions.
The Virginia Bar Exam weights the first day, the essay questions, heavily and it accounts for 60 percent of the score. The MBE accounts for 40 percent of the test-takers overall grade. A passing score for the Virginia Bar Exam is 140 or higher. The results become available approximately nine weeks after the exam. To be eligible for the BAR exam, applicants must score an 85 or better on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) within at least two years of applying.
To become a lawyer in Virginia, one must complete an undergraduate college degree, pass the LSAT exam, complete a law school program, and pass the BAR exam and the MPRE. The best way to prepare for the BAR exam in Virginia is by taking a reputable preparation course, such as the one we offer here at Test Max Prep. The questions for the MBE portion of the Virginia BAR Exam cover the following topics: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. The essay questions cover more than 20 topics, including criminal law, taxation, and much more.
The Virginia Bar Exam takes place twice a year, once in February and again in July. The next available test date is February 25-26, 2020. You can contact the Virginia Board Bar Examiners for more information.
2023 Filing Deadlines & Fees
When is the VA Bar Exam in 2023?
|
July 26-27, 2022 |
February 21-22, 2023 |
July 25-26, 2023 |
Application Deadline: |
May 10, 2022 |
Dec 15, 2022 |
TBD |
How Much Does the VA Bar Exam Cost?
Regular Application fee: |
$575 |
Attorney Application fee: |
$575 |
Laptop Computer fee: |
$125 |
What is the VA Bar Exam Schedule Like?
The Virginia Bar Exam is a 2-day exam administered twice a year.
Day |
AM |
PM |
Tue |
5 Essays (3 hours) |
4 Essays/10 Multiple Choice (3 hours) |
Wed |
100 MBE Questions (3 hours) |
100 MBE Questions (3 hours) |
What Subjects Are Tested On The VA Bar Exam?
MBE Subjects
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
Essay Subjects
- Agency
- Conflict of Laws
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Business Organizations
- Creditor's Rights
- Criminal Law
- Domestic Relations
- Equity
- Evidence
- Federal Practice & Procedure
- Local Government Law
- Professional Responsibility
- Real & Personal Property
- Sales
- Taxation
- Torts
- Trusts
- UCC
- VA Civil & Criminal Procedure (incl. appellate practice)
- Wills & Estate Administration
VA Bar Exam Grading & Scoring Process
NCBE scores the MBE component of the exam.
A passing score of 140 is required in Virginia.
- MBE: 40%
- Virginia Essay: 60%
Required MPRE Score: 85
MPRE score must be acheived within 2 calendar years prior to or after passing the Virginia Bar Exam.
Results
Results for the February exam are typically released in late-April.
Results for the July exam are typically released in late-October.
VA Bar Exam Reciprocity
MBE Score Transfer
Virginia does not accept MBE scores transferred from other jurisdictions.
Admission on Motion
Virginia does allow for admission on motion.
Application for Admission on Motion fee: $2,500.00
How do I Contact the VA Bar?