Introduction
One of the hurdles that the vast majority of law students will face on their journeys to becoming licensed attorneys here at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (‘AJMLS’) is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (the ‘MPRE’). In fact, unless you are intending to practice in the jurisdictions of Wisconsin or Puerto Rico, every other jurisdiction has a MPRE requirement (although it should be noted that both New Jersey and Connecticut allow law students to bypass this requirement via the successful completion of a professional ethics course in law school). However, despite the fact that almost every future lawyer will have to take this exam, it is often one of the most often overlooked and underprepared for tests that students will face. This can lead to students failing an exam that is perhaps the most straightforward and easy to prepare for exams that they will take. This failure often doesn’t serve as a long-term barrier to becoming a lawyer, but it does cause delays, anxiety, and results in costs both in dollars and time that can easily be avoided.
Given that we are a few weeks out from the October administrations of the MPRE, most students find themselves with one of three mindsets. Some students will find themselves wondering how much they need to study (if at all), and whether or not their professional responsibility class in law school or their own personal morals and ethics will be enough to carry them through. Others will have committed to a solid few days of study, likely utilizing a free MPRE course provided by a commercial vendor (recommended to use), and will just hope for the best studying when they can. Lastly, some students are full of anxiety about the MPRE and fear that no matter what they do, success may elude them on exam day.
Regardless of which mindset you have, the good news is that this series will ensure that you are on the correct path to success on the MPRE. After this introductory post, later in Part 1, we will review what the MPRE is and what score is required for your jurisdiction (here we will focus on Georgia, which is where AJMLS is located, and where the majority of our students take the bar exam). Next, in Part 2, we will breakdown the different areas of professional responsibility that are tested on the exam, in order to help you understand where to spend the majority of your study time. Then, in Part 3, we will discuss resources for your MPRE preparation, including free MPRE courses (Disclaimer: I have a favorite, but there are several nice options). Finally, in Part 4, we will review an appropriate timeline and review strategies for your studies (although individuals vary a great deal, so you may have to adjust your timeline according to your own progress).
The MPRE can be a hurdle, but the reality is that it should not be much of one. By preparing correctly, allocating adequate time for preparation, and engaging in the appropriate practice and review, this test will be one and done for you (unless you need your score later – in most jurisdictions, your MPRE score will expire after a certain amount of time). Put your time in before the test and ensure you are successful the first time you take this exam.