About the Bar Exam
Before practicing law, an individual must be admitted to the bar of the state in which he or she wishes to practice. While each state determines its own requirements for admission to the bar, most states require an individual to (1) earn a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school, (2) pass the state bar examination, (3) pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, and (4) possess the requisite character and fitness required to practice law.
Admission to the bar of one state may allow a lawyer to be admitted to the bar of another state without taking another bar examination, but this is not guaranteed. Applicants should consult the bar admission rules of each jurisdiction in which they wish to be licensed.
In Texas, admission to the bar is governed by the Board of Law Examiners. The Texas Bar Examination (TBE) is a two and a half day exam. The TBE consists of four parts: the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), Procedure & Evidence (P&E), Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), and Texas Essays.
The TBE uses a scaled score system and a score of 675, out of 1000, or higher is required to pass. The MPT and the P&E are each worth 10%, and the MBE and Essays are each worth 40%.