We help you pass the test the first time.
Our bar support program is designed to guide you through every stage of your legal education and bar preparation journey. We offer comprehensive resources to help you reach your goal of bar passage and professional licensure.
Partnership with Themis Bar Review
CWRU Law maintains an institutional partnership with Themis Bar Review, providing you with access to comprehensive bar preparation materials from pre-orientation through post-graduation.
Through this partnership, you’ll receive:
- Early Access – Introductory modules before orientation to begin building bar skills
- 1L Law School Essentials - Lectures, handouts, and mini-assessments on Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts
- Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (“MPRE”) prep course
- Upper-Level (2L/3L) Law School Essentials - Lectures, handouts, and mini-assessments on Constitutional Law, Corporations (Business Associations), Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Wills & Trusts
- Full Bar Review Course – A complete Themis bar prep program following graduation
Coursework and Programming
CWRU Law provides multiple opportunities for you to build bar-readiness throughout law school. We offer a 3L bar prep course, Entering the Profession, that focuses on test-taking strategies and essay and multiple-choice practice.
During the academic year, we host workshops that guide participants through the bar application process and strategies for bar success. In the summer leading up to the exam, we offer workshops on time management, study planning, and bar exam practice for essays and the MBE, along with regular check-ins to help you stay organized, supported, and confident in your preparation following graduation.
Bar Exam Stipend Program
CWRU Law invests in your success even after graduation. Students who complete a required percentage of their commercial bar review course may qualify for a bar study stipend. This financial support recognizes the time and effort you dedicate to bar preparation and helps offset related expenses during the study period.
Understanding the Bar Exam
Each U.S. jurisdiction administers its own bar examination and has its own rules for eligibility, registration, and character and fitness requirements. You should review your intended jurisdiction’s website for deadlines and procedures.
The current Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) includes three main components:
- Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) – 200 multiple-choice questions testing core subjects.
- Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) – Six essay questions covering a range of legal topics.
- Multistate Performance Test (MPT) – Two closed-universe lawyering tasks assessing practical skills.
The NextGen Bar Exam, launching in 2026, will place greater emphasis on integrated skills and practice-readiness. Ohio will begin administering the NextGen Bar Exam in 2028. Themis is actively developing comprehensive content and materials to prepare our students for this transition.
Steps to Bar Admission
Before being admitted to practice, you must complete several important steps. Each jurisdiction sets its own requirements and deadlines, so it’s essential to review the rules for the state where you plan to practice.
Most jurisdictions require applicants to:
- Apply for admission to the bar, including payment of fees and submission of official documents. Timing of application varies by jurisdiction.
- Complete the Character and Fitness process, a background review assessing honesty, integrity, and professional conduct.
- Register for and pass the MPRE, which tests knowledge of professional ethics. To practice law in most jurisdictions (including Ohio), you need to pass the MRPE. This exam is not part of the Bar Exam; it is a separate exam offered several times each year.
For detailed, jurisdiction-specific information, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) website. The NCBE develops and supports the standardized components of the bar examination used by most U.S. jurisdictions. It has published a Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions. It contains helpful information about bar exams and admittance to the bar in each state.
We’re With You Every Step of the Way
From the first day of law school through the last day of bar study, our goal is simple: to help every CWRU Law student pass the bar on the first attempt.
Questions? Contact Julia Liston, Director of Bar Support, at julia.y.liston@case.edu.