If you plan to enter the legal profession in the United States, you will need to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) at some point after your first year of law school. This exam is designed to test aspiring attorneys on their knowledge of the rules of professional conduct and ethics that govern the practice of law. It is currently a prerequisite for admission to the bar in all parts of the U.S. except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. Since a lot is riding on passing the MPRE successfully, many law students worry about when to take it for the best chances of passing. Let's talk briefly about what the MPRE covers when it is offered, some optimal times to take the exam, and how best to prepare for it.

What the MPRE Covers

The MPRE is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam that covers topics such as client-lawyer relationship, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, communication with clients and third parties, and regulation of the legal profession. Specifically, it tests your knowledge of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, controlling constitutional decisions, and generally accepted principles established in leading federal and state cases and law.

When Law Students Are Permitted to Take the MPRE

The MPRE is offered three times a year, in March, August, and November. You can take the MPRE any time after completing the equivalent of one full year of law school; however, the majority of law students opt to take it during their second-to-last or last year of law school or just after completing their required legal ethics course.

When Should You Take the MPRE?

In terms of having the best chance of doing well on the test, many in the profession suggest taking the MPRE as soon as possible after completing your required Professional Conduct course, as the information will be freshest in your mind. That said, the ethical principles tested in the MPRE are intended to last your entire law career, so there is more at stake than just getting the answers right. While taking it after completing your PR course is a good idea, you should consider other factors as well, such as:

• How much time you have had to prepare for the exam itself;

• Your comfort level with the material;

• How comfortable you are with your law studies in general (taking the exam too early can lead to unnecessary stress and result in poor performance); and

• The stress you are under due to other commitments, such as studying for your bar exam.

Bear in mind that some states also require applicants to take the MPRE within a certain period before submitting their bar application. This means that your timeline for taking the exam will also be informed by when you plan to apply to the bar. Check with your jurisdiction's board of law examiners to confirm their specific requirements, as some jurisdictions may require that you take the MPRE within two years before submitting your application.

Tips for Preparing for the MPRE

To ensure success on test day, it is important to do adequate preparation in advance. Some general tips to help you prepare:

• Try to devote at least 4-6 hours per week to study and review, at least one month out from the scheduled exam.

• Focus on committing to memory the MPRE Rules of Professional Responsibility, available for download from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) website.

• Take a practice test and review previous exams to gain an understanding of what topics appear commonly on the exam.

• Look up summaries and examples related to each topic covered in your preparation materials online or read through treatises and commentaries on professional responsibility for a more in-depth understanding.

• Consider a personal tutor to help you prepare. An experienced tutor can help you stay on track with your studies, identify areas of weakness and give you important tools and strategies for success.

At Vincent Pope Tutoring, we have a wealth of experience helping law students prepare for the MPRE, as well as the Bar Exam and general law studies. Contact us to learn more.