Anyone interested in knowing what is the meaning of bar test and the bar exam requirements has definitely proven to be somebody that has a resurging love for the court of law, studying law in the university, and becoming a lawyer. Being seriously engaged with studying law in the school can be very academically as much as financially draining, and such persons are usually regarded as intelligent and rich in the legal, intellectual matters of the world.
Identifying what is the meaning of bar test or examination and the bar exam requirements can be the first step to being fully stemmed in the field and the professional journey of becoming a lawyer.
What is the Meaning of Bar Examination?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the bar test is an examination that is usually administered by a jurisdiction’s bar association and which a lawyer must pass prior to admission to the bar of that jurisdiction. The test helps to test the skills and knowledge lawyers need before becoming licensed to practice law. This exam includes three main components:
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Multistate Bar Examination: 200 multiple-choice questions
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Multistate Essay Examination: Six 30-minute essay questions
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Multistate Performance Test: Two 90-minute exams
The process that surrounds sitting the bar examination is taken differently in different countries. For instance in Australia, administering bar exams is the responsibility of the bar association in the particular state or territory concerned. Those interested in pursuing a career at the bar must first be admitted as lawyers in the Supreme Court of their home state or territory.
This generally requires the completion of legal studies which can take up to 8 years depending on the mode of study, the particular degree being completed and the law school. After completing a law degree, law graduates are then usually required to complete a period of training.
After the successful completion of practical legal training, law graduates must then apply to be admitted to the Supreme Court in their state or territory. This ceremony is usually held with the chief justice of the state or territory presiding.
Read Also: Things to Know About MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination)
Also, in the United States of America, bar examinations are duly and professionally administered by agencies of individual states and territories. In almost all U.S. states and territories, the bar examination is one of several requirements for admission to the bar.
In most jurisdictions, the examination is two days long and consists of multiple-choice questions, essay questions, and “performance tests” that model certain kinds of legal writing. The National Conference of Bar Examiners creates several component examinations that are used in varying combinations by all but two jurisdictions, sometimes in combination with locally drafted examination components.
The main exceptions are Louisiana and Puerto Rico, which follow civil law systems unlike other parts of the United States. Generally, earning a degree from a law school is a prerequisite for taking the bar exam. Most law school graduates engage in a regimen of study, also known as bar review between graduating from law school and sitting for the bar.
Requirements before the Bar Examination
Though different countries have different bar examination requirements as explained above, yet the common steps and substances required of prospective candidates are highlighted below for your grasp:
- Obtain an undergraduate degree in any subject (it does not need to be a law degree), or equivalent qualification or apprenticeship
- Pass the required exams
- If you are in the UK, you will have to complete the two-years Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
- Meet character and suitability requirements too
- Then, prepare by dipping yourself in deep study
