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The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is administered by participating jurisdictions on the Tuesday before the last Wednesday in February and July of each year. NCBE offers nine 30-minute questions per administration; user jurisdictions may elect which of the nine questions they wish to use. (The MEE is a component of the Uniform Bar Examination [UBE]. Jurisdictions administering the UBE use a common set of six MEE questions as part of their bar examinations.)
The purpose of the MEE is to test the examinee’s ability to (1) identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation; (2) separate material which is relevant from that which is not; (3) present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well-organized composition; and (4) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation. The primary distinction between the MEE and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is that the MEE requires the examinee to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Three of the questions on each test form are from the traditional MBE subject areas (Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts) and six are drawn from the traditional MEE subject areas (Business Associations, Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Federal Civil Procedure, Trusts and Estates, and Uniform Commercial Code). Some questions may include issues in more than one area of law. The particular areas covered vary from exam to exam. Subject matter outlines are available by clicking on Which subjects are covered on the MEE?
Jurisdiction Information
A list of jurisdictions currently using the MEE is available by clicking on Which jurisdictions administer the MEE? Applicants should contact the bar admissions agency in the jurisdiction to which they seek admission to ascertain whether the MEE is part of the jurisdiction’s bar examination and, if so, how many MEE questions are administered. Contact information for jurisdictions can be found on the Bar Admission Services page.
The MEE is only one of a number of measures that a board of bar examiners may use in determining competence to practice. Each jurisdiction determines its own policy with regard to the relative weight given to the MEE and other scores. (The MEE is a component of the Uniform Bar Examination [UBE]. Jurisdictions administering the UBE weight the MEE 30%.) Any questions about scoring procedures should be directed to the jurisdiction, not to NCBE.
MEE Study Aids
MEE Questions and Analyses include questions from previously administered tests and model analyses that are illustrative of the discussions that might appear in excellent answers to the questions. MEE Questions and Analyses are available for purchase at the NCBE Online Store. See MEE Questions and Analyses, 1997-2006, for Questions and Analyses from older administrations. See February 2012 MEE Questions for the latest MEE Questions.
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MEE Information Booklet
MEE FAQs
Which subjects are covered on the MEE?
Which jurisdictions administer the MEE?
MEE 2012 Test Dates
February 28, 2012
July 24, 2012