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How I Passed the MPRE: Resources, Strategy & What to Prioritize

New York

I did the MPRE first before the bar exam, before the NYLE to feel like I had set things in motion and crossed something off the list. Here's exactly what I used, what I prioritized, and how to approach this exam efficiently.

What Is the MPRE?

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 2-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam testing knowledge of the rules of professional conduct that govern lawyers' behaviour. It is administered by the NCBE three times per year in March, August, and November.

For New York admission, you must score at least 85 out of 150 (scaled score). That score is valid for four years and must be achieved before admission. The MPRE is not part of the UBE it is a separate exam with a separate registration process through the NCBE.

Why I Did It First

My personal approach to the NY bar admissions sequence was: MPRE first, then NYLC + NYLE, then the UBE. The MPRE is shorter, more contained, and passes on its own timeline getting it done early removes it from the mental load of bar prep proper. It also starts building familiarity with professional responsibility content, which shows up on the MBE (though the MPRE and MBE test professional conduct differently).

Doing the MPRE early also gave me a psychological win I had begun the process, I had passed something, and I could focus the main bar prep period entirely on the UBE.

My recommendation: If you haven't yet taken the MPRE, do it before your bar prep window. Take the November sitting in your final year of law school or the March sitting before your July bar exam. Getting it done early simplifies everything.

What the MPRE Tests

The MPRE tests the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct. You are tested on your understanding of the rules as written not on the specific rules of any particular state, though some questions may address how states can vary from the Model Rules.

Key areas of emphasis on the MPRE include:

High-frequency MPRE topics:

  • Confidentiality Rule 1.6 and exceptions; attorney-client privilege vs. duty of confidentiality
  • Conflicts of interest Current client conflicts (Rule 1.7), former client conflicts (Rule 1.9), imputed conflicts (Rule 1.10), personal interest conflicts
  • Duties to clients Competence (1.1), diligence (1.3), communication (1.4), fees (1.5)
  • Duties to tribunals Candor to the tribunal (Rule 3.3), duties to opposing counsel, duties re: third parties
  • Advertising and solicitation Rules 7.1–7.6
  • Supervision Responsibility for subordinate lawyers and non-lawyer assistants (Rules 5.1–5.3)
  • Trust accounts Handling of client funds and property (Rule 1.15)
  • Withdrawal Mandatory and permissive withdrawal (Rule 1.16)
  • Judicial conduct Impartiality, ex parte communications, recusal

How I Used Themis for the MPRE

My Themis bar prep subscription included MPRE preparation full access to the Themis MPRE course, which includes video lectures, outlines, and practice questions. This was, frankly, all I needed. The Themis MPRE lectures are concise and well-organized, and their practice questions are calibrated to the right level of difficulty.

My process:

  1. Watched the Themis MPRE video lectures (compact can be done in a few days of focused effort)
  2. Read through the condensed outline
  3. Did Themis practice questions, reviewed all explanations
  4. Supplemented with free NCBE practice questions (see below)

I also used some BarBri MPRE materials. BarBri has strong professional responsibility content and many candidates use it as a standalone resource. The BarBri MPRE prep is available separately and is widely regarded as thorough.

Free MPRE Resources

You don't need to pay anything beyond your bar prep subscription (if you have one) to prepare adequately for the MPRE. Here are genuinely useful free resources:

Free MPRE prep resources:

  • NCBE free sample MPRE questions: ncbex.org/exams/mpre official released questions with answer explanations. Essential. Do all of them.
  • NCBE MPRE Subject Matter Outline: Free PDF on the NCBE website the definitive guide to what's tested
  • Quimbee MPRE: Offers free MPRE practice questions online good supplemental resource
  • Rigos Bar Review: Free MPRE materials available online covers the key Model Rules
  • ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct: Available free online at americanbar.org the primary source. Reading the actual text of the key rules (especially Rules 1.1–1.18 and 3.1–3.9) is valuable context.
  • YouTube: Numerous law professors have posted MPRE overview lectures useful for a quick conceptual overview

Strategy for the MPRE

Know the Rules, Not Just the Ethics

The MPRE tests the Model Rules as written not your intuition about what seems ethical. The "ethical" answer and the "correct under the Model Rules" answer are sometimes different. For example, a lawyer may reveal confidential information to prevent certain future crimes but only under specific conditions set out in Rule 1.6. "Seems unethical, so lawyer must disclose" is not the right analytical framework. "What does the rule say?" is.

Learn the Mandatory vs. Permissive Distinction

Many MPRE questions turn on whether a lawyer must do something, may do something, or may not do something. The distinction between "shall" and "may" in the rules is critical. Know which obligations are mandatory (e.g., Rule 1.6 duty of confidentiality) and which are permissive exceptions (e.g., Rule 1.6(b) permissive disclosure in some circumstances).

Conflicts of Interest Are the Hardest

In my experience, the conflicts of interest questions are the most frequently missed on the MPRE because they involve multiple rules interacting (concurrent client conflicts, imputed conflicts, consent and waiver, former client conflicts, positional conflicts). Spend disproportionate study time here.

Do Not Overthink the Judicial Conduct Questions

The Model Code of Judicial Conduct questions are generally more straightforward. Know the core concepts: impartiality, ex parte communications, prohibited financial activities, recusal obligations. Don't spend excessive time on this area.

Registration and Logistics

Final thought: Don't underestimate the MPRE. It has a meaningful failure rate, and the questions are more technical than they appear. Two to three focused weeks of preparation using Themis or BarBri plus the free NCBE practice questions is sufficient for most candidates. Do it early, do it well, and move on to the bigger task ahead.
Disclosure Any resources, tools, or courses mentioned in this article are based on my own research and personal experience. I am not sponsored by, affiliated with, or compensated by any of the companies or products referenced. These suggestions reflect what I found useful going through the process myself.

References & Resources