The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, also known as the MPRE, is a professional examination consisting of 60 multiple choice questions. The MPRE tests law students on their knowledge and understanding of the ethics of appropriate attorney conduct. Applicants are given 120 minutes to answer all 60 questions.
Wisconsin and Puerto Rico are the only U.S. jurisdictions that do not require law students to take the MPRE to become barred attorneys. All other U.S. states and territories require bar candidates to pass the MPRE with a certain score in order to be eligible for bar admission.
The exam is graded on a scale between 50 and 150. The score an applicant must obtain on the exam depends on the jurisdiction. For example, California requires at least an 86 while the District of Columbia requires a 75.
Most jurisdictions allow candidates to take the MPRE while they are still in law school.
[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]