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How Many Times Can You Take the Bar Exam in Alabama

    Fortunately, most states allow unlimited attempts to pass the bar exam. There are 21 states that limit bar exam attempts, that range from 2-6 attempts. … But there are some states that have absolute limits that barr applicants from retaking the exam in that state. States with discretionary limits will vary. Do you want to learn about the latest findings what happens if you fail the bar exam 3 times? Get ready! Find out all the information you need right here on Collegelearners.com so you don’t have to go looking again. Find all the specifics you need, such as how many times can you take the bar exam in michigan, how many times can you take the bar exam in pennsylvania to how many times can you take the bar exam in ohio.

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    How Many Times Can The Bar Exam Be Taken In Alabama

    Taking the bar exam and passing the first time with flying colors is a dream. But what happens if you don’t pass the first time around?

    Each state has varying passing rates for the bar exam, ranging from about 45% in California to as high as 81% in Oklahoma. These values come down to many factors like population and available law schools in each state. With these passing rates in mind, it is certain that some will have to take the bar exam multiple times.

    Understanding which states allow limited attempts at the bar exam is important. Being informed on the limits for your state or jurisdiction can dictate your studying strategy if you are on your last attempt.

    how many times can you take the bar exam in michigan how many times can you take the bar exam in pennsylvania how many times can you take the bar exam in ohio what happens if you fail the bar exam 3 times

    Alabama Bar Exam Results

    View lists of those who passed the Alabama State Bar Exam, posted on the Alabama State Bar Association’s website:

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When are my Alabama bar exam results released?

    Alabama bar exam results are usually posted 8-9 weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are usually posted mid-April. July bar exam results are usually posted mid-September.

    Can I see my Alabama bar exam score?

    If you passed the Alabama bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.

    If you failed the Alabama bar exam, you’ll be able to see your scaled scores on the MBE, MEE, MPT, and UBE. Those who fail the Alabama bar exam will also have the opportunity to review their essay answers and view three top essay answers for each question.

    Can I appeal to have my Alabama bar exam re-graded?

    No.

    How many times can I take the bar exam in Alabama?

    There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the UBE in Alabama.

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    Alabama Bar Exam Reciprocity

    Applicants seeking admission to the Alabama State Bar without taking the bar exam, must comply with Rule 3 of Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar.

    Reciprocity Requirements Overview

    In order to be eligible for admittance to the Alabama State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must:

    • Be admitted to practice law in another U.S. state or territory.
    • Hold a legal degree from an approved list of law schools.
    • Have practiced law for five of the six years prior to your application.
    • Ensure that the primary state you practiced law in would allow lawyers in Alabama a similar accommodation.
    • Be a member in good standing in all of your admitted jurisdictions.
    • Not be the subject of any disciplinary actions.
    • Have certification from the Committee on Character and Fitness.
    • Have not have failed the Alabama bar exam in the last ten years.
    • Be a permanent resident of Alabama or certify your intent to have Alabama be your primary location for practicing law.
    • Score 75 or higher on the MPRE.
    • Comply with requirements set forth in Rule 1 and pay the necessary fees.

    If you do not live in any of the reciprocal jurisdictions, you’ll need to complete a Certificate of Jurisdictional Reciprocity with your application.

    Reciprocal Jurisdictions: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

    Steps to become a Lawyer or Attorney in Alabama

    1Follow the step by step process or choose what situation that best describes you:

    1. Explore Alabama Undergraduate Pre-Law Education
    2. Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
    3. Find an Alabama Law School
    4. Take the Alabama State Bar Exam and become an Attorney
    5. Whats Next After Passing the Bar in Alabama
    Alabama

    Law Careers in Alabama

    The American Bar Association notes that in 2017, Alabama had 14,717 resident and active attorneys practicing within the state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor quotes the average Alabama lawyer’s annual median salary in May 2017 at $101,010. Lawyers working in certain areas of the state made more than average, including the Huntsville area, where lawyers averaged a mean yearly wage of $109,350; the Birmingham-Hoover area, where attorneys averaged $112,220 per year; and Mobile, where lawyers earned a mean annual wage of $106,570. Opportunities for lawyers in Alabama abound. If you would like to cash in on some of the many opportunities for attorneys in the state, read on.Step 1

    Get Your Alabama Undergraduate Pre-Law Major

    The Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar mandates that you complete your undergraduate education and receive a minimum of a bachelor’s degree prior to entering law school. If you attend a non-American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, you must provide proof that your pre-legal education was earned from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education at the time you apply for bar admission.

    Accreditation

    Your undergraduate institution must be accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It is vital that your school holds this type of accreditation for validation of your undergraduate education when you apply to law school as well as when you later apply for admission to the Alabama State Bar.

    Requirements and Standards

    The Board does not set requirements for pre-legal education, but follows the ABA’s recommendations. Classes that you should take, regardless of the major you choose, should include the following topics:

    • History
    • English
    • Politics
    • Economics
    • Business
    • Sociology
    • World cultures
    • Psychology
    • Philosophy
    • Mathematics

    Degree Options
    If you do not graduate from an ABA-approved law school, the Board requires that you present confirmation of receipt of a bachelor’s degree from an institution that was accredited by any standard national or regional accrediting agency at the time you received the degree. This degree must be received prior to your entry into law school. A major is not specified, but it can be extrapolated from the course requirements suggestions above that any of the topics listed there would be appropriate undergraduate majors for pre-law students.
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    Pre-Law Advisor

    If your undergraduate college or university offers the services of a pre-law advisor, take advantage of them. A pre-law advisor can help you to make the best choices in courses, minors and majors to ensure your future success in law school.

    Back to TopStep 2

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    Alabama LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

    If you wish to gain entrance into an ABA-approved law school (which is not required by the Board but is highly recommended), you must pass the LSAT, or Law School Admission Test. This test is offered four times annually around the world.

    How to prepare

    Use the free test prep services offered at the LSAT website to help get ready for the LSAT exam. Practice tests and sample questions and answers can assist you in preparing for the exam. If you would rather pay for LSAT preparation, the following courses are available in Alabama:

    LSAT Exam Prep Courses in Alabama:

    Exam content

    There are three sections to the LSAT:

    • Reading Comprehension – Tests your ability to read complex materials and answer multiple-choice questions based upon what you have read
    • Analytical Reasoning – Also known as the games section, this section asks you to play reasoning games in which you must make an analysis to find the correct answer.
    • Logical Reasoning – Also known as the arguments section, this section asks you to evaluate arguments and find conclusions, identify incorrect assumptions, and discover faulty logic.

    Application process

    Applications to take the LSAT are taken online. It is offered on Saturdays and Mondays in July, September, November and January, but not at every test center on each Saturday and Monday of each month. Test centers in Alabama include:

    • Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
    • Miles College, 5500 Myron Massey Boulevard, Fairfield, AL 35064
    • University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave S., Birmingham, AL  35294
    • Spring Hill College, 4000 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36608
    • University of South Alabama, 307 N University Blvd, Mobile, AL 36688
    • Auburn University at Montgomery, 7430 East Dr, Montgomery, AL 36117
    • Faulkner University, 5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109
    • Alabama A & M University, 4900 Meridian St. North, Huntsville, AL 35811
    • Troy University, 600 University Ave, Troy, AL 36082
    • University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

    Fees

    You must pay a basic fee of $190 to take the LSAT (not including auxiliary fees which can be seen here). Fees may be paid through your online account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) by credit card or by check or money order payable to the LSAC.

    Receiving Your Score

    The LSAC will email your LSAT scores to you approximately three weeks post-exam. You can get a low score of 120 or a high score of 180. The University of Alabama School of Law typically accepts applicants with a median LSAT score of 163. Remember, however, that LSAT scores are just one factor that contributes to your acceptance at law school. LSAT scores are not perfect predictors of law school performance, per information gathered by the LSAC.

    Limitations

    You may only take the LSAT three times in two years (even if you cancel your score and it is not reported to the LSAC). If you wish to take it more times than that, appeal to the LSAC via email at accom@LSAC.org or fax it to 215-504-1420 with the date you wish to take the test again. The LSAC will email you to let you know if your request has been approved or denied.

    Back to TopStep 3

    Go to Law School in Alabama

    Featured Law School:

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    Application process

    Once you have passed the LSAT, you are ready to apply to law school. If you are applying to an ABA-approved law school, consult this list of admission services required by ABA-approved law schools in the United States.

    Credential Assembly Service

    All ABA-approved law schools (and some non-ABA approved law schools) require you to use the services of the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service . This service helps you to organize transcripts, recommendation letters and evaluations for your admission packages. You can submit requests for letters of recommendation and other documentation online when you create your LSAC.org account.

    The LSAC charges $195 for the Credential Assembly Service, which covers transcript summaries, law school reports, and online electronic applications to the law schools of your choice.

    Accreditation

    The Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar does not require that the law school from which you graduate is ABA accredited. However, most future employers look more favorably upon graduates of ABA-accredited law schools. For a complete list of ABA-accredited law schools across the country, consult this list.  

    ABA-Accredited Law Schools in Alabama

    The following law schools in Alabama hold ABA accreditation as of May 2012:

    ABA-Accredited Law Schools in Alabama
    The following law schools in Alabama hold ABA accreditation as of November 2018:

    Course requirements

    The Board does not specify courses that should be included in ABA-approved law school curriculum. However, for graduates of law schools outside of the United States, its territories or jurisdictions, the Board does specify the following coursework is required (which means that it is assumed by the Board that this coursework has been taken by all applicants to the Alabama State Bar):

    • 24 semester hours in legal studies covered on the Alabama bar examination, including (but not limited to):
      • Alabama civil litigation including:
        • Appellate practice
        • Civil procedure
        • Arbitration
        • Remedies
      • Business associations
      • Real property
      • Family law
      • Torts
      • Federal civil procedure
      • Conflicts of law
      • Constitutional law (Federal and Alabama)
      • Criminal law and procedure
      • Evidence
      • Wills, trusts and estates
      • Uniform Commercial Code

    The Board has mandated that you must attend law school for at least three academic years consisting of 30 weeks per year. An academic year must consist of at least 130 calendar days covering at least eight months. This should equal 56,000 minutes of instructional time, or 80 semester hours of credit. 

    Online Law Degrees

    Internship

    All ABA-approved law schools, and most non-ABA approved law schools, will require that you participate in some sort of field placement or internship while in your final years of law school. You will be placed into a real-life legal setting and have your work evaluated by on-site supervisors as well as by faculty from your law school. This is a great time to network for future job prospects after your law school graduation.

    Registration with the Bar

    You must be registered with the State Bar as a law student prior to beginning your internship. The Bar requires that you register with the Board within 60 days of starting law school. If you register online within 60 days of starting law school, there is no fee. If you register between 60 and 180 days of starting law school, the fee is $50. If you register between 180 and 390 days after starting law school, the fee is $100. If you register with the Bar after 390 days, the fee is $250.

    When you register with the Bar, you authorize the Committee on Character and Fitness to conduct a character and fitness investigation of you. In the course of their investigation, they may request that you submit a set of fingerprints. Registration does not mean you are applying to take the Bar examination.

    Graduates of Non-ABA-approved In-State Law Schools

    If you graduate from one of the following Alabama law schools that do not hold ABA-approval, and can show proof of pre-legal education from an accredited institution, you may seek admission to the Alabama State Bar through examination:

    Graduates of Non- ABA-approved Out-of-State Law Schools

    If you graduate from a non ABA-accredited law school, the Board requires that you have already been admitted to the state bar of the state in which that school is located and that you have practiced law for at least five years in that state as a member of the bar in good standing. If the law school you attended was outside of the United States, you must also have been admitted to practice law in that jurisdiction. Your curriculum must have included the coursework listed above.

    Degree Programs

    You must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in  order to sit for the Alabama bar exam. Other degrees are offered by ABA-approved law schools in Alabama and include:

    • JD/MBA – combination of Juris Doctor and Masters in Business Administration
    • JD/MCE- combination of Juris Doctor and Masters in Civil Engineering
    • JD/MA- combination of Juris Doctor and Masters of Arts in Political Science
    • JD/PhD – combination of Juris Doctor and Doctorate in Economics
    • JD/MA – combination of Juris Doctor and Master of Accountancy
    • JD/MPA – combination of Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration

    Back to TopStep 4

    Take the Alabama State Bar Exam

     If you are at least 19 years of age, have registered as a law student with the Alabama State Bar, have cleared the character and fitness investigation, and have earned your J.D. degree, you may apply to take the Alabama State Bar Exam. It is usually offered in Birmingham in February and July.

    Preparation

    Preparing for the Alabama State Bar Exam can help you succeed in passing it on the first try. There are many courses offered over the internet such as one provided by AmeriBar. There are also bar exam preparation books such as this one that can be purchased.

    Exam content

    The Alabama Bar Exam consists of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which includes:

    You must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a score of 75 within 12 months before or 20 months after taking the Alabama bar exam.
    You must also pass an online course in Alabama law within 7-10 days of taking the Alabama Bar Exam.
    Subjects on which you will be tested on the Alabama state bar exam include:

    • Civil procedure
    • Business associations
    • Corporations and Limited Liability Companies
    • Federal civil procedure
    • Conflict of laws
    • Constitutional law
    • Contracts  
    • Criminal law and procedure
    • Evidence
    • Family law
    • Real property
    • Secured transactions
    • Torts
    • Trusts and estates
    • Problem solving
    • Legal analysis and reasoning
    • Factual analysis
    • Communication
    • Organization and management of a legal task
    • Recognizing/resolving ethical dilemmas

    Application Process

    You must complete the application to take the Alabama state bar examination electronically. Make sure to include the proper fees (listed on the first page of the application). Complete the application in its entirety, furnishing the proper institutions, references, and employers that the Bar will contact on your behalf. Print and sign all four Authorization and Release forms as instructed. Fill out the special Forms (in the application Appendix) as necessary to answer questions on the application form.

    Pass Rates

    According to information published on the Alabama State Bar website, in the July 2018 administration of the bar exam, 74.6 percent of first-time test takers passed.

    Reciprocity

    If you meet all of the requirements below, you may be admitted to the Alabama State Bar without taking the bar examination (i.e., by reciprocity):

    • You were already admitted to practice law in another state, territory or in the District of Columbia
    • You hold a J.D. or L.LB. degree from a school approved by the ABA at the time the degree was awarded
    • You have actively practiced law for five of the past six years
    • The state, district or territory in which you are licensed to practice law allows attorneys from Alabama similar reciprocity
    • You are a member in good standing of all jurisdictions in which you are licensed to practice law
    • You are not subject to any disciplinary action in any other jurisdiction
    • You possess good moral character and fitness
    • You have not taken and failed the Alabama bar examination in the past ten years
    • You are currently a permanent resident of the state of Alabama or intend to conduct the primary practice of law in Alabama for more than 75 percent of your time
    • You passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) with a score of 75 or better
    • You have paid the appropriate application fees to the Alabama State Bar

    Additionally, if you have been a full-time teacher in an Alabama ABA or American Association of Law Schools accredited law school for the past three years, you may be granted reciprocity.

    Licensing and Admission to the BarYou will receive your bar examination results by mail approximately eight to nine weeks after taking the exam. The Alabama Supreme Court will also receive a list of those who successfully passed the exam. The results of this Bar Examination will be mailed to all examinees and a list of the successful examinees will be certified to the Supreme Court on the same day. When you receive your results, you will be notified of the formal Admissions Ceremony that you must attend to execute your written and oral Oath as an attorney.

    Back to TopStep 5

    You’ve Been Admitted to the Bar in Alabama

    Congratulations on being a newly licensed member of the Alabama State Bar! You now must decide how to begin your law practice. Should you go solo? Join a smaller or larger firm? Work for a nonprofit or for-profit corporation? The Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar Association can help you make these momentous decisions.

    Established law firms in Alabama which you might consider joining include Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville; Hand Ardenall LLC in Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson, Athens and Fairhope; and Lanier Ford Law Firm in Huntsville.

    Major corporations headquartered in Alabama that may employ lawyers include CTG Power Systems International in Auburn, and EBSCO Industries in Birmingham.

    Legal specialty certification

    Legal specialty certification can increase your career opportunities as an attorney practicing in Alabama. The Alabama State Bar has approved certain certification organizations to certify attorneys to practice within specialties. The following certification agencies and specialties are approved in Alabama:

    Requirements for maintaining license

    The Alabama State Bar requires all of its attorneys to fulfill Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements yearly to maintain licensure. You must complete 12 credit hours each year, with one credit hour of ethics required each year. In addition, new bar members must complete a mandatory six-hour course in professionalism during their first year. Participation is only counted if you attend live in –person events and meetings, webinars, and teleconferences. Self-study courses should be avoided, and online courses should be limited. You may search pre-approved courses here. All MCLE hours must be reported by attorneys online via your CLE Transcript as you complete your requirements.

    Court Systems in Alabama

    The Alabama Unified Judicial System consists of five levels:

    • District Court – with 67 districts and 103 judges across Alabama, District Courts have limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors and small claims. It has concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Court in juvenile and civil matters between $3000 and $10,000, and exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters under $3000.
    • Probate Court and Municipal Court:
      • Probate Court– has 68 courts and 68 judges across the state. Limited jurisdiction over administration of estates, wills, guardianships, partition of lands, name changes.
      • Municipal Court – 273 courts and 279 judges across the state. Has limited jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations.
    • Circuit Courts – 41 circuits and 143 judges across the state. These are the trial courts with general jurisdiction over all felonies, civil actions over $10,000, domestic relations cases. Concurrent jurisdiction with District Court in juvenile and civil matters between $3000 and $10,000.
    • Court of Civil Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals:

    (334)229-0733. Five judges sit on panels. Handles civil appeals up to $50,000, domestic relations, worker’s compensation, appeals from administrative agencies, and civil appeals deflected from the Supreme Court.

    (334)229-0751. Five judges sit on panels. Handle all criminal appeals, post conviction writs, and remedial writs for Criminal Trial Courts.

    • Supreme Court of Alabama, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104. (334) 229-0700. Nine 9 justices sit in panels of five on the highest state court with appellate jurisdiction over all civil appeals over $50,000, appeals from the Alabama Public Service Commission, and petitions for certiorari from the Courts of Civil and Criminal Appeals.

    Elective membership organizations

    Now that you are a practicing member of the Alabama State Bar, think about joining one of these elective professional membership organizations for attorneys across the state:

    Alabama Bar Exam Dates, Cost & Location

    Exam Type:2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)
    Dates:Feb 25-26, 2020
    Location:Montgomery, AL
    Exam fee:$575
    Exam fee for reciprocity applicants:$875

    The Alabama Bar Exam is a 2-day exam. Day 1 consists of two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions in the AM and 6 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam questions in the PM. Day 2 is the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, then 100 questions in the PM).

    What subjects are tested on the Alabama Bar Exam?

    Alabama Civil Litigation (Civil Procedure and Remedies), Agency and Partnership, Commercial Paper, Conflict of Laws, Corporation, Decedents’ Estates, Family Law, Federal Civil Procedure, Sales, Secured Transactions, Trusts and Future Interests, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

    What’s the minimum score for MPRE?

    A minimum score of 75 on the MPRE within 12 months prior or 20 months following the Alabama Bar Exam is required for admission.

    Need to sign up for MPRE? Learn about registration, testing policies, and more on our MPRE Registration Guide.

    How is Alabama Bar Exam scored?

    The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE, with the MBE weighted 50%, the MEE 30% and the MPT 20%. MBE and essay scores are averaged to determine if the applicant has achieved the minimum passing score of 260.

    When are Alabama Bar Exam results released?

    Results are released by April 15th for the February exam and by September 15th for the July Exam.

    Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

    Applicants may transfer a previous MBE score of 140 or higher achieved within 20 months from another jurisdiction, and if admitted to that jurisdiction where the exam was taken.

    What about AL Bar Exam reciprocity?

    Alabama does not provide for admission on motion; examination is required of all applicants.

    What are Alabama Bar Exam application deadlines and fees?

    Please visit the Alabama State Bar Admissions Office website for details on application deadlines and fees, as well as for more information on other topics.

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