LSB Bar Exam Core study guide
LSB Bar Exam Core · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The LSB Bar Exam Core is a multiple-choice assessment built around the subjects that dominate a general bar examination: civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, and torts, with smaller allocations for business associations and professional responsibility. It is intended for candidates who want a structured, subject-by-subject check on doctrine before or alongside a full bar preparation course, and for practicing attorneys refreshing core rules. The LSB Bar Exam Core study guide has 9 sections and about 2,676 words.
01Civil Procedure: Jurisdiction, Venue, and the Life of a Case
Every Civil Procedure question starts with the same three-step filter: subject-matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, then venue. Ask whether a federal court may hear the case at all (federal question under Article III and 28 U.S.C.
397 words, about 2 min02Constitutional Law: Structure, Powers, and Rights
Start with Marbury: courts may review legislative and executive acts. Then map the enumerated powers, the Necessary and Proper Clause, the Commerce Clause (channels, instrumentalities, and activities substantially affecting interstate commerce), the taxing and spending powers, and the Reconstruction Amendments.
310 words, about 2 min03Contracts: Formation, Defenses, and Remedies
Begin with mutual assent: offer, acceptance, and consideration. An offer must be definite and communicated; acceptance must mirror the offer unless the UCC's § 2-207 battle-of-the-forms rule applies.
296 words, about 1 min04Criminal Law and Procedure: Elements, Defenses, and the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments
Know the elements of the major offenses: homicide (murder with malice aforethought, degrees, felony murder, manslaughter), assault and battery, theft crimes (larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses, robbery, burglary), and inchoate offenses (attempt, solicitation, conspiracy). Mens rea categories (purpose, knowledge, recklessness, negligence) drive the analysis.
286 words, about 1 min05Evidence: Relevance, Hearsay, and Impeachment
Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable and the fact is of consequence. Relevant evidence may still be excluded for unfair prejudice, confusion, waste of time, or cumulative effect.
305 words, about 2 min06Real Property: Estates, Transfers, and Land Use
Start with the fee simple absolute, fee tail, life estate, and leasehold. Then the defeasible fees (fee simple determinable, fee simple subject to condition subsequent, fee simple subject to executory limitation) and the future interests (reversion, possibility of reverter, right of entry, executory interest, remainder).
275 words, about 1 min07Torts: Intentional Torts, Negligence, and Strict Liability
Battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass to land and chattels, conversion, and the dignitary torts. Intent requires purpose or substantial certainty.
263 words, about 1 min08Business Associations: Agency, Partnerships, and Corporations
Agency arises from consent, and the agent acts subject to the principal's control. Actual authority (express or implied), apparent authority, and ratification bind the principal.
255 words, about 1 min09Professional Responsibility: Duties, Conflicts, and Discipline
Competence, diligence, communication, confidentiality, loyalty, and candor to the tribunal. Confidentiality under Rule 1.6 is broader than the attorney-client privilege; the privilege is evidentiary, confidentiality is ethical.
289 words, about 1 min