MBE case studies
MBE · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination on the last Wednesday in February and the last Wednesday in July of each year. Its stated purpose is to assess the extent to which an examinee can apply fundamental legal principles and legal reasoning to analyze given fact patterns. The MBE case studies are 5 cases and about 4,206 words.
1The Disfavored Defense and the Tag-Along Defendant
Priya, a citizen of State A, sues Deltron Industries, a State B corporation with its principal place of business in State B, in federal district court in State A. Her complaint pleads a state-law breach-of-contract claim for 120,000 and, in the same action, a state-law fraud claim for 40,000 against Cobalt LLC, a State A company that allegedly supplied the defective components; both claims arise from the same 2022 purchase and installation.
764 words, about 4 min2The Convention Center Plaza
The City of Riverton owns a paved plaza adjoining its publicly owned convention center. For forty years the plaza has hosted farmers' markets, holiday fairs, and political rallies; the city has never required a permit for any of them.
932 words, about 5 min3The Battle of the Forms and the Unsigned Deal
Merchant Maker (State M) and Merchant Buyer (State B) negotiate by phone for 500 industrial pumps. Buyer mails a purchase order: '500 pumps, 10.00 each; all disputes arbitrated in State B.' Maker replies by email, typing its name at the bottom: 'We accept-500 pumps at 10.50 each.
844 words, about 4 min4The Confession at Hour Six
police arrest Theo, age 19, for a tavern burglary. At the station they read him the warnings; he says, 'I don't know, maybe I should talk to a lawyer, but I guess I could explain what happened.' Detectives question him for another 90 minutes.
827 words, about 4 min5The Barroom Bottle
Marcus is tried for aggravated assault after a fight at Kelly's Pub. The victim, Owen, is in a coma and unavailable.
839 words, about 4 min