Legal Definitions - Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a test that law students must take to become barred attorneys in most U.S. states and territories. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that test the student's knowledge of appropriate attorney conduct and ethics.

For example, a question on the MPRE might ask a student what they should do if they discover that their client has lied under oath. The student would need to choose the answer that reflects the most ethical and appropriate course of action for an attorney in that situation.

The MPRE is graded on a scale between 50 and 150, and the score required to pass varies depending on the jurisdiction. For instance, California requires a score of at least 86, while the District of Columbia requires a score of 75.

Most law students take the MPRE while they are still in school, but some jurisdictions allow candidates to take the exam after graduation.