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Navigating the road to licensure

The bar exam is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a licensed attorney. At Washburn Law, we understand that the bar exam can seem daunting, which is why we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Each student has access to exam preparation software from BARBRI, the industry’s leading bar prep company, as well as two dedicated academic support faculty who understand the requirements, processes, and knowledge needed to succeed.

Bar Admission 101

A quick guide to help you understand the terms and steps to licensure
A professor helps a student taking notes out of a book in the library.
  • State Governing Bodies. Each state has its own governing body that oversees the bar admission process. These bodies set the rules and regulations for eligibility and administration of the bar exam
  • Education Requirements. To sit for the bar exam, you must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. Some states may have additional coursework or degree requirements.
  • Character & Fitness. A thorough character and fitness review is part of the bar admission process. This review assesses your moral character and suitability to practice law.
  • Professional Responsibility. Most jurisdictions require students to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) either before sitting for the bar exam or prior to admission. Students often take this exam during their second or third year of law school. Each jurisdiction that requires the MPRE sets its own required passing score.
  • UBE & Non-UBE Jurisdictions. The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a standardized test adopted by many states, including Kansas, allowing for easier transfer of scores between jurisdictions. Non-UBE jurisdictions have their own specific exams and requirements.
  • Admission on Motion. In some states, experienced attorneys can be admitted to practice without taking the bar exam through a process known as admission on motion. Each jurisdiction sets its own requirements for admission on motion, including which other jurisdictions it will allow attorneys from.
  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE). After passing the bar exam, attorneys must complete a specified number of hours of annual continuing legal education courses to maintain their licenses and stay updated on legal developments. For instance, Kansas requires attorneys to complete 12 hours of CLE each year to renew their licenses.
  • Other Licenses & Registrations. depending on your area of practice, you may need additional licenses or registrations, such as patent law or federal court admissions.

Exam success with Washburn Law

Passing the bar exam is a pivotal step in your journey to becoming a practicing attorney. At Washburn Law, our comprehensive bar preparation program stands out by providing unparalleled resources, support, and confidence from day one. Partnered with BARBRI, the gold standard in bar prep, we offer an integrated approach that begins your first year and continues through graduation. With access to an extensive library of study aids, practice questions, MPRE prep, and intensive post-grad review courses, our program ensures you’re equipped to excel on the bar exam and succeed in your legal career.

Preparing for the future

The NextGen Exam

The NextGen bar exam is an upcoming innovation in bar testing. This exam will test a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, employing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law. Designed to balance the skills and knowledge needed in litigation and transactional legal practice, the exam will reflect many of the key changes that law schools are making today, building on the successes of clinical legal education programs, alternative dispute resolution programs, and legal writing and analysis programs.

Starting in 2026, states will be rolling it out over a span of three years. Missouri will administer the NextGen exam in July of 2026, with Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Iowa following suit in July of 2027, and finally Kansas, Colorado, Texas, and Utah in 2028.
A student takes notes while studying
State Bar Exam requirements

Details about applying for admission to the Kansas bar, including the fee schedule and Petition for Admission, can be found on the Kansas Judicial Branch website. 

To obtain a license to practice law in Kansas, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  • Approval of their Character and Fitness application
  • Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
  • Obtain a minimum score of 80 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
  • Pass the bar exam of the state of Kansas

Kansas has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam and requires a score of at least 266 to pass the exam in Kansas. 

The February bar exam is given on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in February and the July bar exam is given the last Tuesday and Wednesday in July. 

Details about applying for admission to the Missouri bar can be found on the Missouri Board of Law Examiners website. All applicants must start the application process by creating a MBLE registration account. 

To obtain a license to practice law in Kansas, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  • Approval of their Character and Fitness application
  • Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
  • Obtain a minimum score of 80 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
  • Pass the bar exam of the state of Missouri
  • Complete the open book Missouri Educational Component Test on Missouri law with a score of at least 28 out of 33 questions

Missouri has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam and requires a score of at least 260 to pass the exam in Kansas. 

The February bar exam is given on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in February and the July bar exam is given the last Tuesday and Wednesday in July. 

If you plan to practice law outside of Kansas and Missouri, you should reach out to the board of bar examiners in your desired state to determine deadlines, specific requirements and registration details. 

Generally, the bar exam consists of one-day of state-specific essay questions and one day of Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) multiple-choice questions. Many states also require the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). 

Bar Exam FAQ

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a standardized test that provides a portable score, which can be used to apply for bar admission in multiple jurisdictions.

The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a component of the UBE consisting of multiple-choice questions that assess the understanding of fundamental legal principles.

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is a component of the UBE consisting of six 30-minute questions that tests the ability to identify legal issues and present a reasoned analysis of relevant issues to a hypothetical factual situation. 

The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is a component of the UBE consisting of two 90-minute items that assess the ability to apply the law to "real-life scenarios."  

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests knowledge of professional conduct and ethical standards for lawyers.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) involves mandatory ongoing education for attorneys to ensure they remain knowledgeable about current legal practices and standards.

Starting from the moment you begin orientation at Washburn Law, our faculty begin teaching you the content and skills needed to pass the bar exam. In addition, each student is provided BARBRI materials to help you prepare. It is crucial to follow a structured study plan, take practice exams and stay focused on your goal.

This review assesses your moral character and suitability to practice law, examining factors like past conduct, criminal history and financial responsibility.

The bar exam typically includes multiple-choice questions (MBE), essay questions and performance tests that simulate real-world legal tasks. The specific content varies by state, but typically involves a blend of core subjects that students learn during their first year of law school, as well as a few other broadly applicable subjects.

The bar exam is offered twice a year, once in late February and again in late July.

The bar exam is usually a two-day exam, with some states extending it to three days. Each day consists of multiple testing sessions. The NextGen exam is intended to shorten the overall exam time when it is implemented.