Bar Exam Information

Dates, Cost & Location

Idaho may be renowned for its gorgeous views and exciting ski resorts, but did you know that it also has some of the most accomplished lawyers in the U.S.? If you’re excited to practice law in Idaho, then we’re here to help you pass the Idaho Bar Exam, which is offered in February and July every year. The February version takes place over two days: February 24–25, 2026. The July version will be administered from July 28–29, 2026.

The exam application fee for students is $600, while the fee for attorneys is $800. The initial application deadline for the February exam is October 1, but you can apply by November 15 so long as you pay an additional late fee of $200. The initial deadline for the July exam is March 1, while the late deadline is April 15. The same application fees apply as for the February exam. Both the February and July administrations of the exam have a laptop fee of $125.

Like most states, Idaho uses the Universal Bar Exam (UBE). On the first day of the UBE, test takers will answer six Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) essay questions and two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) essay questions. You’ll answer the MEE questions in the morning and, after a lunch break, you’ll take the MPT questions in the afternoon. You should spend thirty minutes on each MEE question and ninety minutes on each MPT question.

On the second day, test takers will answer two hundred multiple-choice questions for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). The MBE is split into two sections, each one lasting three hours with one hundred multiple-choice questions each. Like on day one of the UBE, you’ll have a lunch break between the two sessions of the MBE.

Starting in July 2026, Idaho will be using the NextGen version of the UBE. The NextGen bar exam is designed to prioritize real-world lawyering skills more than past versions of the bar. The NextGen exam will not test the following subjects: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates. The NextGen exam will include more questions about practical legal work, such as legal writing, negotiations, and client relationships.

What subjects will you be tested on?
The MEE tests a wider variety of subjects than the MBE. The MEE tests Business Associations (including Agency, Partnerships, Corporations, and LLCs), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions. Not all of the subjects will necessarily be on your exam, as the UBE tends to not include every possible subject on the MEE, but any one of these subjects can be on your exam so you should study all of them.

While any of these MEE subjects may appear on the MPT, that test focuses more on your practical lawyering skills than your knowledge of a particular area of law. The MPT will present you with hypothetical cases and ask you to write either a memorandum or a brief providing a legal argument for what the best response to the case may be. The relevant laws that apply to the questions will be given to you in the prompts. While studying the MEE and MBE subjects can help in your preparation for the MPT, it’s more important to practice your writing abilities so you can present a clear and convincing analysis in response to the prompts.

The MBE tests Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

What’s the minimum score for the MPRE?
To pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in Idaho, you must receive a scaled score of at least 85 either (1) before you take the UBE or (2) within the next two administrations of the MPRE following your passage of the UBE.

How is the exam scored?
The MPT, MEE, and MBE are combined into a single scaled score. The MBE is worth 50% of the total score, while the MPT is worth 20% and the MEE is worth 30%. To pass, you must achieve a combined scaled score of 272 out of 400.

When are the results released?
Test takers should expect to receive their results 90 days after the exam administration, but there’s no guarantee for which date you’ll get your score. The results for the July 2025 Idaho Bar exam were released on September 10, 2025, so although the results for the July 2026 can be expected to be received in a similar timeframe, there is no guaranteed date.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?
Yes, so long as you took the MBE using the UBE.

What about reciprocity across states?
As per Idaho Bar Commission Rule 206, “any attorney from any state who has been substantially engaged in the Active Practice of Law for at least three of the previous five years may be admitted to the practice of law in Idaho without having to take the Idaho bar examination.”