Among the final hurdles for law school graduates is the bar examination, a critical step in qualifying to practice law. Most U.S. states (41 jurisdictions, in fact) have now adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) as their standard exam to qualify for the bar. California, however, is one of a handful of states that continues to use its own state bar exam—in part because of the complexities of California state law that are unique to the state. If you plan to practice law in California, you will need to take the California Bar Exam even if you have already sat for (and passed) the UBE. What makes these two exams different from each other, and how should you prepare?

The Structure and Content

At its core, the California Bar Exam is known for being one of the most challenging bar exams in the country. This reputation stems not only from the breadth of topics covered but also from its unique structure. Both the California Bar Exam and the UBE are administered over two days, and both incorporate the multiple-choice Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) into their formats. But that is where their similarities end.

The UBE consists of three parts: the MBE, the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). For the California Bar, however, the MEE and MPT are replaced by the state's own essay and performance sections, which are considered much more complex and difficult. For example, the essay portion of the UBE consists of six 30-minute essay questions (five hours total), while the California Bar Exam includes five one-hour essay questions (five hours total).

Jurisdictional Differences

One of the practical advantages of the UBE is its universal adoption. While each state has its own scoring requirements for the UBE, a passing score in one UBE state can potentially allow a candidate to practice in another UBE state, subject to each state's specific admission requirements. The California Bar Exam only applies to California licensure; it covers California-specific laws and regulations, which are not tested on the UBE. Thus, if you wish to have a multi-state practice that includes California, you will have to take and pass the California Bar Exam independently of the UBE.

Preparation Strategies for the California Bar Exam

Passing the California Bar Exam requires a focused study plan, especially if one has already taken and passed the UBE. With its unique structure and content, studying specifically for the California Bar Exam can be particularly challenging. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Start early. Begin preparing as soon as possible. The additional topics covered in the California Bar Exam will require more time and effort to learn and retain.

• Familiarize yourself with California-specific laws. Consider taking courses or using study materials tailored specifically for the California Bar Exam.

• Take practice essays and performance tests. As with the UBE and other exams, practice tests for the California Bar Exam are available to help you study.

• Consider tutoring. Considering all that is at stake, a professional tutor can greatly improve your chances of passing the California Bar Exam the first (or second) time.

At Vincent-Pope Tutoring, LLC, we offer quality test preparation services for both the UBE and the California Bar Exam, affording you the best chance of passing these tests so you can embark on your law career. Contact us to learn more.