Definition

Noun: A formal test administered by a state or jurisdiction's authority to assess if a person has the requisite knowledge and competence to be licensed as an attorney and practice law. Passing this exam is a key requirement for legal licensure in most jurisdictions.

Usage

The term "bar exam" is used to refer to the specific, official licensing examination for lawyers. * All aspiring lawyers must study intensively for the bar exam. * Her immediate goal after law school is to pass the bar exam. * The difficulty of the bar exam varies from state to state.

Advanced Usage

• "To sit for the bar exam": To take or be a candidate in the bar examination.
  • She will sit for the bar exam in July.
• "To be admitted to the bar": This is the result of passing the bar exam and meeting other character requirements, allowing one to practice law. The "bar exam" is the test for "admission to the bar."
  • After passing the bar exam, she was admitted to the state bar.

Variants and Related Words

• Bar Examination: The full, formal name for the exam.
• The Bar: Refers collectively to the legal profession or the body of licensed attorneys. The "bar exam" is the examination to enter "the bar."
• Multistate Bar Examination (MBE): A standardized part of the bar exam in many U.S. jurisdictions.
• Bar Admission: The process or status of being licensed to practice law, for which the bar exam is a prerequisite.

Synonyms

• Law license examination
• Legal licensing test
• Attorney admission exam

Related Phrases

• Pass the bar: To succeed on the bar examination.
  • He finally passed the bar on his second attempt.
• Study for the bar: To prepare for the bar examination.
  • She took three months off to study for the bar.
• Bar prep course: A commercial preparation course for the bar exam.
  • Enrolling in a bar prep course is common for recent graduates.

Noun

1. an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction
   • applicants may qualify to take the New York bar examination by graduating from an approved law school
   • he passed the bar exam on his third try