Which states have a 3 day bar exam?

Asked by: Mariela Schumm MD  |  Last update: February 18, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (70 votes)

As of recent information, Louisiana and Nevada are the primary states known for their three-day bar exams, with Louisiana's being particularly unique and lengthy, while most other jurisdictions have transitioned to a two-day format, though some older data suggests Texas and Ohio briefly had three days before moving to the standard. Louisiana uses a specialized format due to its civil law tradition, while Nevada's extra day often involves specific performance tests.

What states have a 3 day bar exam?

There are still a few states that have three-day-long bar exams (Delaware, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas, although Ohio and Texas will be switching to the two-day UBE in 2020 and 2021 respectively). The third day is typically a half-day of testing.

What is the easiest state to take the bar in?

What is the easiest bar exam to pass? Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers.

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
 

What states do you only need to pass the bar?

In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.

Here's What Taking the Bar Exam Is Really Like

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Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
 

What states allow you to take the bar exam without law school?

You can take the bar exam without law school in California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, through formal law office study or legal apprenticeship programs, requiring several years of supervised training instead of a J.D. degree, with states like New York and Maine offering hybrid options or considering them. These apprenticeship paths involve rigorous, supervised study under a practicing lawyer or judge for 3-4 years, with specific requirements like the "Baby Bar" in California, and often have lower bar pass rates compared to traditional law school graduates. 

Did Joe Biden ever pass the bar?

Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969 after earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, despite graduating in the lower portion of his class. He practiced law before entering politics, serving as a lawyer and later becoming the 27th President of the United States, and the first President with a law degree from a non-"T-14" law school in a century, notes Law.com. 

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
 

Did Hillary Clinton pass the bar?

Yes, Hillary Clinton passed the Arkansas bar exam and became a lawyer, but she famously failed the District of Columbia bar exam on her first attempt, though she passed it later, allowing her to practice law in D.C. and build a successful career. 

What is the fastest state to become a lawyer in?

Technically, the quickest way is in California because a 4 year college degree and law school technically aren't required. Someone can qualify for the Law Office Study Program through the College Level Examination Program, bypass college, and study in a law office for 4 years.

What percent of people never pass the bar?

For the July 2025 Attorneys' Exam, the 43.4 percent passing rate is lower than the July 2024 result (48.9 percent) and the July 2023 result (47.8 percent).

Is the bar exam harder than the LSAT?

Most people consider the Bar Exam harder than the LSAT because it requires memorizing vast amounts of "black letter law" and applying it under extreme pressure, whereas the LSAT tests reasoning skills, but the LSAT's difficulty lies in its highly competitive scoring and abstract logic, making high scores harder to achieve for top schools. The LSAT is a skill-based test for law school entry, while the Bar is a knowledge-based test for licensure, making the Bar more about rote learning and the LSAT about logical aptitude.
 

Can ChatGPT pass the bar exam?

Yes, the advanced version, GPT-4, passed the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) with a strong score (around the 90th percentile), demonstrating impressive legal knowledge, but it's considered a powerful tool for lawyers, not a replacement, as it lacks the crucial human elements of judgment, ethical reasoning, and real-world application needed to practice law independently, according to research and legal experts.
 

How many times can Kim Kardashian take the California bar exam?

Kim took the official bar exam in July 2025 and failed once. She'll have another shot in February 2026, and California law doesn't limit how many times a person can try. Passing requires a score of at least 1390.

Who tops the bar exam in 2025?

UP has topped the 2025 Bar Examinations. The Supreme Court released the good news on Jan. 7, citing Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the UP College of Law (UP Law), placing first of all Bar passers, with a 92.7% rating.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.

What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?

Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
 

Did Michelle Obama finish law school?

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.

What degree does Kamala Harris have?

She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. Harris then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where she served as president of its chapter of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989.

Did Michelle Obama eventually pass the bar exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
 

What is Joe Biden's stage 4 diagnosis?

Metastatic cancer, which Biden has, means that it has spread from where it started to another part of the body – in his case, from the prostate to the bone. It's also known as Stage 4 cancer. Somebody Biden's age wouldn't normally be screened for prostate cancer.

What is the easiest state to become a lawyer?

What Is the Easiest Bar Exam? According to the most recent bar exam results, the easiest bar exam to pass is in Utah.

Has anyone been a lawyer without going to law school?

A number of historical figures became lawyers without law school, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. It wasn't until the late 1700s or early 1800s that colleges started to offer law degrees, which was an alternative to an apprenticeship.

In what states can you be a judge without a law degree?

In the United States, most states require judges to have a law degree. However, eight states — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas — have provisions allowing individuals to become judges without following the traditional path of completing law school and passing the bar exam.