Connecticut Bar Exam Information

2010 exam dates and location(s)

The February 2010 Connecticut bar exam will take place on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 at the Holiday Inn Waterbury. The July 2010 Connecticut bar exam will take place on Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 28 at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford.

Subject matter (MBE subjects are in bold)

Administrative Law; Business Entities (including Corporations, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships); Conflict of Laws; Contracts; Criminal Law and Procedure; Federal and State Constitutional Law; Civil Procedure; Evidence; Professional Responsibility; Property (Real and Personal, including Future Interests); Torts; Uniform Commercial Code; and Wills, Trusts, and Estates.

Structure

The Tuesday exam day consists of 12 essays (30 minutes each). Note that the Board will select up to six questions from the MEE and author the remaining questions. The Wednesday exam day consists of the MBE. The MBE is a six-hour, 200 question multiple choice exam. 100 questions are asked in the morning over a three hour period, and 100 questions are asked in the afternoon over a three hour period. The MBE has 33 questions each for Contracts and Torts, and 31 questions each for Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, and Real Property. 190 of the 200 questions are graded, the other 10 are experimental. 200 questions over six hours averages out to 1.8 minutes per question.

Scoring

The essays are scored on a scale of 0 – 7. The essays comprise 50% of the total score; the MBE comprises the other 50%. There is no passing score on either part of the exam alone (meaning, a high score on the MBE can offset a low score on the essays, and vice versa). Examinees need a score of 264 out of 400 to pass.

Professional Responsibility requirement

Applicants to the Connecticut bar have two options for fulfilling the Committee’s Professional Responsibility requirement. Applicants can either a) score a minimum of an 80 on the MPRE, or b) obtain a “C” or better in a Professional Responsibility course.

Pass rate

Connecticut’s pass rate for the February 2009 exam was 75% for first time takers, and 64% for all takers.

Other exam information

A laptop program is available to all interested candidates.

The Committee accepts transferred MBE scores under certain limited circumstances. There is no required minimum score for an MBE score transfer. The Committee also accepts concurrent MBE scores.

Examinees can bring into the exam room only acceptable items enclosed in a clear food storage bag. Examinees must a) write in black pen, b) use a separate book for each question, c) write on both sides of the paper, and d) single space their answers.

There is no limit as to the number of times a candidate can sit for the Connecticut bar exam.

Bar examiner contact information

Application deadlines

Applications for the February exam must be received between October 1 and November 30. Applications for the July exam must be received between March 1 and April 30. Note that these deadlines are “received” dates.

Application fees

The application fee for the Connecticut bar exam is $450. This fee can be paid via certified check or money order payable to “Connecticut Bar Examining Committee.”

Forms

Applicants must type or prepare their applications by electronic means (fillable PDF format). Applicants, however, may check application boxes by hand.

The Committee requires applicants to sign and notarize their application.

Each applicant’s law school dean must complete the Certificate of Dean of Law School (Form 4) and attach a final, official transcript and a copy of the applicant’s law school application.

The Committee will mail notification of application within 15 days of receipt. The Committee will mail notice of eligibility and test site assignment approximately two weeks prior to the exam.

Results

The Committee releases results in late April for the February exam, and mid-October for the July exam. The Committee posts the pass list on its website.

Admission to the bar

The Committee conducts a group admission ceremony before the Supreme Court following each exam. The Supreme Court sets the date for this ceremony approximately one month after the exam. Court rules do not allow swearing in by anyone other than a Connecticut judge. Those admitted to the bar will receive a notice containing a juris number approximately 15 days after they are sworn in. Admitted persons need a juris number to file an appearance in court; however, they can otherwise begin practicing immediately upon swearing in.

*All state bar exam information is subject to change without notice; please verify this information with the bar examiner’s office.*