Chapter 15:
Bar Examination and Character & Fitness

Bar Examination Preparation

In planning a program of law study, JD and LLM students should consider the requirements for admission to the bar in the jurisdiction where they plan to practice.

More than forty states, along with the District of Columbia, have adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) as the primary assessment for licensing attorneys. Created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the UBE consists of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). The MBE consists of 200 multiple choice questions, the MEE consists of six essay questions, and the MPT consists of two 90-minute lawyering tasks. 

The other states administer their own state-specific exams based on the laws of those states. Except for Louisiana, these states require the MBE as 40-50% of the applicant’s bar exam score. The subjects tested on the MBE are Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Sales), Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

The MEE tests Business Associations, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Decedents’ Estates & Trusts. 

While states that administer the UBE test common subject areas, you will find that the remaining state-specific bar exams include courses which are unique to practice in the jurisdiction. For example, California tests Community Property. Florida and Virginia test Negotiable Instruments under Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code. 

Beginning in July 2026, some jurisdictions will begin to administer the NextGen bar exam. Not all states which have adopted the UBE have adopted the NextGen for 2026.  Some jurisdictions will not begin their administration of the NextGen bar until 2027, or after. The NextGen bar has a different structure than the UBE. The NextGen Bar consists of three three-hour testing sessions which include a mix of multiple-choice issue spotter questions, integrated question sets that interweave more than one area of law and shorter performance tasks. Students matriculating into the School of Law beginning in the fall of 2023 should monitor announcements about the bar exam as the National Conference of Bar Examiners may institute the “Next Gen” bar exam beginning in the summer 2026 administration.

Before planning your schedule, you should consult the bar exam requirements and admissions procedures of your state.  The best way to begin accessing this information will be to consult the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ website. 

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is also a requirement in most jurisdictions, including North Carolina.  The MPRE is a 60 question multiple-choice examination on professional ethics. Also created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the MPRE is administered three times a year. More information about the MPRE can be found on the National Conference of Bar Examiners website.

State Licensure & Certification

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Information regarding state-specific licensure and certification requirements for the Juris Doctor (JD) degree program at Wake Forest University School of Law are listed on the Law School website.

Character & Fitness: Continuing Responsibility to Report

In the School of Law Application for Admission, applicants are asked to answer several Character & Fitness questions, including whether they have been subject to any disciplinary action for academic or other reasons, as well as criminal investigation, arrest, or prosecution (apart from minor traffic violations). 

Throughout their enrollment at the Law School, students have a duty to disclose to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs any action or event of a similar nature which may occur after admission or was previously not disclosed when it should have been. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the School of Law or other appropriate disciplinary action.

Graduates seeking admission to a bar should also be aware that boards of law examiners ask the School of Law to certify the character and fitness of recent School of Law graduates. Boards will also closely examine whether applicants to the bar disclosed to their law schools matters that may reflect on their character or fitness to practice law. 

Requesting an Application Amendment/Addendum

Students may request to review their Law School application with the Admissions Office. 

Students or recent graduates seeking to report a Character & Fitness matter should complete a Request for Application Amendment/Addendum form, which can be found linked below or by contacting the Office of Student Affairs. 

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will evaluate the submission of information and will consult with other relevant parties of the School of Law when necessary (e.g., Assistant Dean of Admissions or admissions committee). The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will reach out if additional information is needed and will provide a formal notice to the student or graduate of the final disposition of the amendment/addendum request. A copy of formal response will be placed in the student or graduate permanent file.

Requesting a Dean's Certification

Often jursidictions as part of their bar admission process will request that an applicant file a "Certification of the Dean" or other similarly titled form. These requests should be directed to the Law Registrar's office for completion; not to the Office of the Dean.