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Academic and Bar Exam Success at ASU Law

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Offering academic and professional support at every stage of your legal journey

At ASU Law, your success is our priority — not just in law school, but all the way through licensure. From the summer before your 1L year to the day you pass the bar exam, our Academic and Bar Exam Success Programs are here to support you with personalized guidance, strategic resources and a commitment to helping you thrive.

Our comprehensive support model

Whether you’re mastering case briefs or planning your bar exam application, you’ll never have to do it alone. Explore how we support you at every stage of your legal education.

Start strong

with summer prep and 1L-focused workshops.

Build skills

with tailored programming throughout your JD experience.

Receive on-on-one guidance

from faculty experts in academic and bar exam success.

Prepare confidently

for the bar exam in Arizona, California or any other jurisdiction.

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Academic Success at ASU Law

The Academic Success Program (ASP) provides ASU Law JD students with comprehensive support to thrive throughout law school. Through a variety of resources, we help you build the skills and confidence to excel in your law school journey.

Professor Alyssa Dragnich is our Director of Academic Success. Through the ASP, you have access to the following options to help you succeed in law school.

 

Bar Exam Success at ASU Law

At ASU Law, our commitment to your success doesn’t stop at graduation — it extends through licensure. Professor Toni Miceli is our Director of Bar Success and she has designed our Bar Exam Success Program to empower every JD student with the resources, guidance and support needed to pass the bar exam, no matter where you plan to sit.

 

What is the bar exam?

To practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction, law school graduates must apply for bar admission through that state’s board of bar examiners. This process typically includes passing a bar exam, completing a Character and Fitness review and meeting additional jurisdiction-specific requirements.

Bar exam format in the U.S.

The bar exam is a professional licensure exam designed to determine whether a candidate is ready to begin practicing law. Each jurisdiction sets its own eligibility criteria and determines which exam format to use.

Currently, jurisdictions use one of two primary approaches:

  • The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
  • A state-drafted exam, such as those used in California, Florida, and other non-UBE jurisdictions

Beginning in July 2026, a new version of the Uniform Bar Exam — the NextGen UBE — will begin to replace both the current UBE and some state-specific exams. The current UBE will be fully retired after the February 2028 administration. By July 2028, most jurisdictions will either use the NextGen UBE or continue with their state-drafted exams.

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Character and fitness requirements

In addition to passing the bar exam, every applicant must complete a Character and Fitness (C&F) evaluation, which assesses whether a candidate possesses the integrity and professionalism required for the practice of law. The process, deadlines and documentation requirements vary by jurisdiction, so students are encouraged to start early.

Learn more

Current ASU Law students can find timelines, checklists and planning tools on the Bar Exam Success for ASU Law Students Canvas page (internal access only).

  • Visit the NCBE Jurisdictions page to find your jurisdiction's bar admissions website and eligibility requirements
  • Applying for the Arizona Bar Exam
  • Applying for other state bar exams

Applying for the Arizona Bar Exam

Arizona is a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdiction through February 2027 and will begin administering the NextGen UBE starting July 2027. Regardless of the exam format, all applicants must complete several important steps to qualify for bar admission in Arizona — and early planning is essential.

Steps in the Arizona Bar admissions process

 

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a separate multiple-choice ethics exam administered by the NCBE. Arizona requires a minimum scaled score of 85. You may take the MPRE before or after the bar exam, but it must be passed before you can be admitted to practice.

The Arizona Bar Exam application must be submitted online through the Attorney Admissions Portal by the official deadline:

  • July exam deadline: typically late March for timely filing or late April for late filing
  • February exam deadline: typically late October for timely filing or late November for late filing

If you are requesting testing accommodations, you must submit supporting documentation at the time of your exam application.

Applicants must complete a detailed Character and Fitness (C&F) application through the Arizona Supreme Court’s Attorney Admissions portal. This includes disclosures about academic, employment, financial and legal history, and it often requires supporting documentation. The C&F process can take several months — so begin as soon as possible after submitting your Arizona Bar Exam application.

Arizona currently administers the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which includes the MBE (multiple-choice), MEE (essay), and MPT (performance tasks). Beginning in July 2027, Arizona will switch to the NextGen UBE, which integrates multiple-choice, writing tasks and real-world lawyering skills into a single exam format over 1.5 days.

Bar exams are typically held in Phoenix, and results are usually released about 8-10 weeks after the exam.

The Arizona Law Course (ALC) is a mandatory online course covering Arizona-specific distinctions in law and procedure. You must take and pass this course to be admitted, but it may be completed before or after the bar exam. The ALC takes approximately 10 hours to complete and is available on-demand through the Arizona Supreme Court’s website.

ASU Law provides support throughout the entire bar admission process. Whether you need help registering for the MPRE, navigating Character and Fitness, preparing for the bar exam, or completing the Arizona Law Course, our Bar Exam Success Program is here to guide you.

  • Find timelines, checklists and sample documents on the Bar Exam Success for ASU Law Students Canvas page (internal access only).
  • Schedule a one-on-one planning session with our Director of Bar Exam Success for personalized support.

Applying for other state bar exams

While many ASU Law graduates take the Arizona Bar Exam, a significant number choose to pursue licensure in other states. Whether you're sitting for the bar in California, New York, Texas, Washington, D.C. or elsewhere, the process may differ significantly — and it’s essential to plan ahead.

At ASU Law, we support your path to bar admission no matter where you plan to practice.

Steps in the bar admission process (general overview)

Although each jurisdiction sets its own rules, most state bar admission processes include the following steps:

 

Each state sets its own eligibility rules for sitting for the bar exam. While most jurisdictions require a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, some also require additional coursework, specific documentation or other prerequisites. Visit the NCBE Jurisdictions Directory to link to your jurisdiction’s website and explore its requirements.

Most jurisdictions require a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). Passing scores vary by state and range from 75 to 86. Be sure to check the specific score required by your intended jurisdiction.

All jurisdictions require a Character and Fitness (C&F) review, but timelines and requirements vary. Some states, like California, require submission months in advance of the bar application, while others, like New York, review C&F materials after the exam. Start early to avoid delays.

Each state sets its own deadlines for the February and July exams — typically 3-5 months in advance. Some states use the NCBE’s application portal, while others use state-specific systems. Check your jurisdiction’s website for application fees, documentation requirements and whether accommodations applications must be submitted at the same time.

Links to jurisdiction websites:

  • California: State Bar of California – Admissions
  • District of Columbia: DC Court of Appeals – Admissions
  • Other Jurisdictions: visit the NCBE Jurisdictions page for a link to your jurisdiction's website, as well as more information on your jurisdiction's eligibility requirements and bar exam.

Third-year students and graduates should send their state bar certification forms (e.g. Character and Fitness or Bar Exam Certifications) to the ASU Law Registrar for completion:

Jess Barrera
111 E. Taylor St.
Mailcode 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
[email protected]

The format and structure of the bar exam vary by jurisdiction. As of 2025:

  • UBE Jurisdictions (most states): administer the current UBE
  • California, Florida and a few others: use state-drafted exams with their own essay and performance test components

Beginning in July 2026, jurisdictions will begin to adopt and administer the NextGen UBE or continue to administer a state-drafted exam.

Some jurisdictions also require additional state-specific courses or testing (e.g., New York’s NYLE, Florida’s online professionalism course).

Our Bar Exam Success Program is here to help you plan your application timeline, understand state-specific requirements and stay on track — no matter where you’re headed. Visit the Bar Exam Success for ASU Law Students Canvas page (internal access only) or reach out to our Director of Bar Exam Success to schedule an individual appointment.

Meet the Director of Academic Success

Alyssa Dragnich

Alyssa Dragnich

Director of Academic Success

[email protected]
(480) 727 - 8579

Meet the Director of Bar Exam Success

Toni Miceli

Toni Miceli

Director of Bar Exam Success

[email protected]
(480) 727 - 4239

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Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

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