Tennessee Bar Exam Information

Dates, Cost & Location

If you live in the Volunteer State, you have limitless options at your fingertips, and that includes the many excellent law firms where you can distinguish yourself as an attorney. If you want to practice law in Tennessee, we’re here to give you the information you need to pass the bar exam.

The exam is offered twice a year, in February and July. The February exam will take place from February 24–25, 2026, while the July exam will be administered from July 28–29, 2026. Although the deadline to apply for the February exam has passed, you can still apply for the July exam once that application opens. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2026. The application fee for either exam is $495. The laptop is $100.

Like most American states, Tennessee uses the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). The UBE is divided into two days, with the first day reserved for the essay portions of the exam and the second day for the multiple-choice portions. The Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) are administered on the first day of the exam. The MEE has six half-hour essay questions, while the MPT has two ninety-minute essay questions. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is administered on the second day of the exam. For the MBE, test takers will spend six hours answering 200 multiple-choice questions.

Tennessee will start using the NextGen version of the UBE in July 2027. NextGen won’t test the following subjects: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates. NextGen will include the MEE, MPT, and MBE, but it will also feature new questions about practical legal work such as legal writing and dispute resolution.


What subjects will you be tested on?

The MEE may test you on Business Associations (including Agency, Partnerships, and Corporations), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Secured Transactions (including Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code), Torts, and Wills & Estates. Not all of these subjects will necessarily be tested on exam day, but we recommend studying all of the above subjects so you’re fully prepared to pass the bar.

For the MPT, instead of being tested on your knowledge of a particular area of law, you’ll be asked to demonstrate your ability to write a clear and convincing argument in a memorandum or legal brief. The relevant laws for the question will be given to you in the prompt. When studying for the MPT, you should focus on developing your skills in legal writing and analysis.

The MBE will test Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, and Torts.

What’s the minimum score for the MPRE?

To pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in Tennessee, you must receive a scaled score of at least 82.

How is the exam scored?

The MPT, MEE, and MBE are combined into a single scaled score out of 400. To pass, you must achieve a combined scaled score of 270 out of 400. The MBE is worth 50% of the total score, while the MPT is worth 20% and the MEE is worth 30%.

When are the results released?

Test takers should expect to receive their results two months after the exam administration. However, there is no guarantee of when the scores will be released.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

No.

What about reciprocity across states?

To practice law in Tennessee without taking the UBE, you can apply for admission on motion. To apply, you must have practiced law for five of the previous seven years, have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, and be in good standing in all jurisdictions where you’re presently licensed to practice.