The New Jersey Bar Exam is given upon graduation from law school. There are three portions to the exam. These portions are the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the New Jersey Essay Exam, and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).

Components of the New Jersey Bar Exam

On the first day of the exam, the MBE portion is administered. The MBE is a section based on general law with 200 multiple choice questions. Subjects tested include Contracts and Sales, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Real Property, Evidence, and Torts.

The second day of the New Jersey Bar Exam focuses on New Jersey law specifically. Six essay questions are given followed by the MPT question. The MPT requires applicants to identify and use portions of materials that will be provided in a "library."

The six essays and the MPT are graded on a 1-6 point scale. The scores are then converted to points that are similar in grading the MBE portion. The essays count for 55%, MBE for 35%, and the MPT counts for 10% of the score. Applicants must receive a combined average score of 133 to pass the New Jersey Bar Exam.