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Bar Exam Resources

This guide will provide users with information on applying, studying, and preparing for the Georgia Bar Exam.

Introduction

The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is designed to test an applicant’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. Each test evaluates an applicant’s ability to complete a task which a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.  

The MPT consists of two 90-minute skills questions covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.  Click here for a more detailed description of the test.

Georgia

The test is created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and not utilized in every jurisdiction.  The MPT is used as part of the Georgia Bar Exam.  In Georgia, the two questions can cover areas of law that involve any subject matter whether covered in the essay questions, Multistate Bar Examination or otherwise.

As far as scoring in Georgia, iff the Multistate Performance Test is used as part of the examination and if grading standards or a grading service for questions on the Multistate Performance Test are provided by or are made available under the auspices of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the Board may rely upon such standards or service in passing upon the merits of the answers to those questions.

MPT Preparation Page

The MPT preparation page provides information on the following areas: 

  • Jurisdiction Information 
  • Description of the Examination 
  • Instructions 
  • Skills Tested 
  • MPT Sample Tests
  • Ordering MPT Study Aids

The sample tests are summaries of the February 2007 through July 2016 MPT tests.

Subjects Tested

  1. Problem solving: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to develop and evaluate strategies for solving a problem or accomplishing an objective. Problem solving includes the ability to:
    1. Identify and diagnose the problem
    2. Generate alternative solutions and strategies
    3. Develop a plan of action
    4. Implement a plan of action
    5. Keep the planning process open to new information and new ideas
  2. Legal analysis and reasoning: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to analyze and apply legal rules and principles. Legal analysis and reasoning includes the ability to:
    1. Identify and formulate legal issues
    2. Identify relevant legal rules within a given set of legal materials
    3. Formulate relevant legal theories
    4. Elaborate on legal theories
    5. Evaluate legal theories
    6. Criticize and synthesize legal arguments
  3. Factual analysis: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to analyze and use facts and to plan and direct factual investigation. Factual analysis includes the ability to:
    1. Identify relevant facts within a given set of factual materials
    2. Determine the need for factual investigation
    3. Plan a factual investigation
    4. Memorialize and organize information in an accessible form
    5. Decide whether to conclude the process of fact gathering
    6. Evaluate the information that has been gathered
  4. Communication: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing. Communication includes the ability to:
    1. Assess the perspective of the recipient of the communication
    2. Organize and express ideas with precision, clarity, logic, and economy
  5. Organization and management of a legal task: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to organize and manage a legal task. Organization and management includes the ability to:
    1. Allocate time, effort, and resources efficiently
    2. Perform and complete tasks within time constraints
  6. Recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas: The applicant should demonstrate the ability to represent a client consistently with applicable ethical standards. Ethical representation includes:
    1. Knowledge of the nature and sources of ethical standards
    2. Knowledge of the means by which ethical standards are enforced
    3. Ability to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas

Sample Questions & Answers

Questions

The NCBE has MPT summaries from 2011-2016 published on their website.  However, they do not provide answers for these questions online for free.

Answers

Because of copyright, the Georgia Board of Law Examiners will not post summaries of the MPT questions on their website.  They do however post sample answers to the MPT questions that were selected for testing on the Georgia Bar Exams from February 2000 to July 2016.  

Together, the summaries from the NCBE website and the answers on the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions website can be used to give a Georgia Bar taker a good idea of what a MPT question and answer look like.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the State of Georgia, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Georgia State University College of Law and the authors of the works contained on this website do not assume or accept any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currentness, or comprehensiveness of the content on this website. The content on this website does not in any manner constitute the issuance of legal advice or counsel. The information on this website is intended to provide resources that may aid the research of the topics presented, and are in no way a comprehensive list of sources one should consult on the topics presented. Please note that case law, statutory law, and administrative law may be modified and/or overturned. Additionally, because the laws vary between jurisdictions, the laws referred to herein may or may not be applicable to the law within the reader’s jurisdiction.