The Alabama Bar Exam adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) as of the 2011 July examination.

The UBE is prepared and coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It is comprised of a common set of six Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) questions, two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) tasks, and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score.

The UBE is administered over two days, with the MEE and MPT given on the last Tuesday and the MBE given on the last Wednesday of February and July. The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE, with the MBE weighted 50%, the MEE 30%, and the MPT 20%.

First Day (Tuesday) morning session:
* Three hours
* Six 30-minute MEE questions

First Day (Tuesday) afternoon session:
* Three hours
* Two 90-minute MPT questions

Second Day (Wednesday) morning session:
* Three hours
* 100 MBE multiple-choice questions

Second Day (Wednesday) afternoon session:
* Three hours
* 100 MBE multiple-choice questions

Endorsing Consideration of a Uniform Bar Examination:

WHEREAS, the states' highest courts regard an effective system of admission and regulation of the legal profession as an important responsibility for the protection of the public; and

WHEREAS, the increased demand for lawyer mobility results in greater multijurisdictional practice and increased access to admission on motion; and

WHEREAS, the increasing use of uniform, high quality testing instruments has rendered most jurisdictions’ bar examinations substantially similar; and

WHEREAS, law is the only major profession that has not developed a uniform licensing examination; and

WHEREAS, a uniform licensing examination for lawyers would facilitate lawyer mobility and enhance protection of the public; and

WHEREAS, state bar admission authorities and state supreme courts would remain responsible for making admission decisions, including establishing character and fitness qualifications and setting passing standards, and enforcing their own rules for admission; and

WHEREAS, issues relating to knowledge of local law can be addressed through a mandatory educational component, a separate assessment, or a combination thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices urges the bar admission authorities in each state and territory to consider participating in the development and implementation of a uniform bar examination.

Adopted as proposed by the CCJ Professionalism and Competence of the Bar Committee at the 2010 Annual Meeting July 28, 2010.

The UBE is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). For more information, please contact:

National Conference of Bar Examiners
302 South Bedford Street
Madison, WI 53703-3622
Phone: 608-280-8550
Fax: 608-280-8552
TDD: 608-661-1275