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What are the MEE and MPT?

What is the MEE®

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is not as heartbreaking as you think; it is typically given on Day 1 of your bar examination. This portion of the exam is 3 hours long with 6 essay questions. This means that you should aim to fully answer each of the questions in 30 minutes or less to be sure that you have enough time to complete this portion of the exam.

What is the PURPOSE of the MEE?

It was created to test your ability to communicate law in a written format. 

This means that it wants to know that you not only understand the law, but also know how to apply it with reasoning. 

According to the NCBE, the purpose of this exam 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.
  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.”

Alrighty, let’s make a little more sense of these abilities, remember IRAC:

  1.  Identify the issue
  2.  Relevant law- What is relevant to the issue
  3.  Apply the facts- What are the facts, develop legal arguments
  4.  Conclusion- After you’ve carefully completed the above steps, come to your logical conclusion

MEE Scoring

In most states, including UBE, the MEE is worth 30% of your total exam score. Furthermore, in other states, the range is typically 30%-50%. Thus, it is critical that you do well on this portion of the exam. Having adequate MBE knowledge will work hand in hand with your own writing style to kill this exam. 

What is the MPT®

According to the NCBE, The MPT is two 90 minute items. The materials for each MPT include a File and Library. 

What is a File on the MPT?

A file consists of source documents containing all the facts of the case. The specific assignment the examinee is to complete is described in a memorandum from a supervising attorney. The File might include transcripts of interview, depositions, or trials, pleadings, correspondence, client documents, contracts, newspaper articles, medical records, police reports, or lawyer’s notes.

What is a Library on the MPT?

The Library may contain cases, statutes, regulations, or rules, some of which may not be relevant to the assigned lawyering task. The examinee is expected to extract from the Library the legal principles necessary to analyze the problem and perform the task. The MPT is not a test of substantive law; the Library materials provide sufficient substantive information to complete the task.

The Skills Tested on the MPT

The MPT Requires Examinees to:

  1. Sort detailed factual materials and separate relevant from irrelevant facts
  2. Analyze statutory, case, and administrative materials for applicable principles of law
  3. Apply the relevant law to the relevant facts in a manner likely to resolve a client’s problem
  4. Identify and resolve ethical dilemmas, when present
  5. Communicate effectively in writing
  6. Complete a lawyering task within time constraints

These skills are tested by requiring examinees to perform one or more of a variety of lawyering tasks. For example, examinees might be instructed to complete any of the following: a memorandum to a supervising attorney, a letter to a client, a persuasive memorandum or brief, a statement of facts, a contract provision, a will, a counseling plan, a proposal for settlement or agreement, a discovery plan, a witness examination plan, or a closing argument.

MPT Scoring

The MPT typically accounts for 20% of your overall Bar score. The MEE and MPT combined is worth 200 points, which means 80 of those scored points will be coming directly from MPT. With that said, each MPT question is worth 40 points (if you remember, there are two MPT questions on the exam). 

However, don’t look too much into the individual points of each portion of the exam. Remember that you are looking to obtain a high overall score. 

Knowing the MBE will give you the best leverage when taking the Bar. By understanding the MBE, you will be able to tactfully navigate through the MEE and MPT portions of the exam. 

Master these topics before the bar

Make MBE Prep part of your bar prep program:

 
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