Legal Definitions - Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a specialized examination that aspiring lawyers must pass to become licensed attorneys in most U.S. jurisdictions. It is designed to assess a candidate's knowledge and understanding of the ethical rules and professional conduct that govern the legal profession.

Administered as a multiple-choice test, the MPRE covers topics such as client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, attorney-client privilege, duties to courts and third parties, and the unauthorized practice of law. While most candidates take the MPRE during their second or third year of law school, it is a separate requirement from the main bar examination. Each state or territory sets its own specific passing score, which applicants must achieve to be eligible for admission to the bar.

Here are some examples illustrating the MPRE:

• Example 1: Sarah, a third-year law student, dedicates several weeks to studying for the MPRE. She reviews hypothetical scenarios involving client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and attorney advertising, practicing how to apply the Model Rules of Professional Conduct to ensure she understands the ethical obligations of lawyers.

  This illustrates the MPRE as an exam taken by law students, focusing on the practical application of legal ethics, which is the core subject matter of the MPRE.

• Example 2: After successfully passing the main bar examination, David learns that his MPRE score from a previous attempt was just shy of the passing threshold for his desired state, New York. He must now register to retake the MPRE to achieve the required score before he can be sworn in as a licensed attorney.

  This demonstrates that the MPRE is a distinct and mandatory component of bar admission in most states, separate from the main bar exam, and a specific passing score is essential for licensure.

• Example 3: Maria, who plans to practice law in California, knows she needs to achieve a higher MPRE score than her friend, who is aiming for licensure in a different state with a lower passing requirement. She focuses her study efforts to ensure she meets California's specific MPRE score standard.

  This highlights how the MPRE's passing score varies by jurisdiction, requiring candidates to meet specific ethical proficiency standards set by the state where they intend to practice.