Bar Exam Resources

NIU College of Law Supplemental Bar Skills Review

The NIU College of Law offers a Bar Skills Review course to its alumni who will be taking the Illinois Bar Examination in July. The nine-session course offers students the opportunity to hone their essay exam-writing skills and to practice for the Multistate Practice Test. 

MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam) Resources

• Study Aids and Information Guides (.pdf, includes sample questions) - from the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
• MPRE Sample Exam -  from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (requires registration).
• PLI MPRE Lectures -  from the Practicing Law Institute (requires registration). 
• PLI MPRE Practice Exams -  from the Practicing Law Institute (requires registration).
• MPRE Sample Questions VI: on Reserve in Law Library, KF 309 Z9 M676 2002.

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MBE (Multistate Bar Examination) Resources

• Study Aids and Information Guides (also contains sample questions)
• In Law Library:
  • 1975 - 1992 Annual Compilation of Bar Examination Questions. KF 303 I48.
  • Multistate Bar Examination Questions 1992 - 581 released questions from the MBE, includes answer key.  On Reserve, KF 303 N38 1992.
  • Sample MBE - 200-item test administered February 1991, includes answer key.  On Reserve, KF 303 S25 1995 &  KF 303 S251 2004 (additional copy of 2004 in Stacks).  
  • Sample MBE II - 200-item test administered July 1991, includes answer key.  On Reserve, KF 303 S252 2004 (additional copy in Stacks).  
  • Sample MBE III - 200-item test administered July 1998, includes answer key.  On Reserve, KF 303 S253 2002 (two copies on Reserve; additional copy in Stacks).
  • Stephen P. Klein, Summary of Research on the Multistate Bar Examination (1993). KF 303.K53 1993.
  • John T. Talemo, Mastering the MBE (2002).  Stacks, KF 303 T35 2002.

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MEE (Multistate Essay Exam) Resources

• Study Aids and Information Guides (also contains sample questions)
• 1995 - 2003 are available on the NCBE web site at http://www.ncbex.org/multistate-tests/mee/.
• Law Library Resources:
  • 1995 - current available on Reserve, KF 303 M442 (individual years).
  • 1993 - 1996 (separately published pamphlet) in the Vertical File, KF 303 M44 1997.

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MPT (Multistate Performance Test) Resources

• Study Aids and Information Guides

Exam Questions & Point Sheets

• February & July exams for 1997 through 2008 are available in the Law Library on Reserve, KF 303 M82.
• The following are also available online from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (.pdf format): 
  • 2002 July and February 
  • 2001 July and February  
  • 2000 July and February  
  • 1999 July and February  
  • 1998 July and February  
  • 1997 July and February  

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Illinois Essay Bar Exam Questions

• February & July 1996 onwards on Reserve in the Law Library (uncataloged - ask for at the Circulation Desk).  
• 1985 through February 1995 are available in microfiche as part of Hein's Compilation of State Bar Examinations, Law Library Microfiche Collection, KF 303 H45.

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Other State Bar Exam Questions

• Available  in microfiche as part of Hein's Compilation of State Bar Examinations, Law Library Microfiche Collection, KF 303 H45. Dates vary according to state.
• ABA and NCBE, Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. Latest edition on Reserve in the Law Library, KF 302 Z9 C65. Also available online from the ABA.
• BAR/BRI Digest - National bar examination information. Latest edition on Reserve in the Law Library, KF 303.B37.

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General Bar Exam Resources

• ABA and NCBE, A Model for Dialogue. Available online from the ABA.
• Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus, The Bar Exam in a Nutshell (2nd ed. 2009).  Reserve, KF 303 D37 2009. (1st ed., 2003 in Stacks.)
• J.P. Davis, How to Pass the Bar Exam (1989). KF 303.D38 1989
• Edna Wells Handy, You Can Pass Any Bar Exam (1997). KF 303.H25 1997
• Frank G. Houdek, Admission to the Bar: An Annotated Bibliography of Law Review Articles, 1966 - 1976 (1976). KF 302 A1 A3
• National Conference of Bar Examiners, NCBE Directory (1989). Reference, KF 303.N43
• Linda F. Wightman, LSAC National Longitudinal Bar Passage Study (1998). KF 302 W53 1998.

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Official Bar Exam Links

• National Conference of Bar Examiners
• Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar

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Bar Exam Study Hints

• A Guide to the Bar Examination for People of Color - Practical exam-taking advice.
• Howard University Law School's No Bar to My Dream: I Will Pass the Bar Exam - Howard University Law School alumni offer advice on passing the bar exam.
• Legal Learning for Bar Candidates - Study hints from Carolyn Nygren, the author of Starting Off Right in Law School and who has taught many legal skills orientation classes.
• Passing the Bar - Tips from Professor Vernellia Randall at the University of Dayton School of Law.
• Villanova University School of Law's Bar Preparation Information - Includes preparation tips and exam exercises.

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