Oregon Bar study guide
Oregon Bar · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Oregon Bar Examination is the licensing assessment that a candidate must pass to be admitted to practice law in Oregon. It is for law graduates and qualifying attorneys from other jurisdictions who intend to represent clients in Oregon courts and hold out as Oregon-licensed counsel. The Oregon Bar study guide has 12 sections and about 3,331 words.
01Civil Procedure
Civil Procedure on the Oregon Bar tests application of the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP) and related statutes to pleading, jurisdiction, discovery, dispositive motions, trial, and appeal. Oregon is a fact-pleading state: ORCP 18 requires ultimate facts for each element, and ORCP 21 A allows dismissal for failure to state a claim.
321 words, about 2 min02Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law tests both federal doctrine and the independent force of Article I of the Oregon Constitution. Oregon courts ordinarily decide state constitutional claims first, using text, history, and precedent, and may give greater protection than the federal Constitution.
313 words, about 2 min03Contracts and Sales
Contracts and Sales tests common-law contract formation and UCC Article 2, enacted in Oregon as ORS chapter 72. Expect offer, acceptance, consideration, defenses, statute of frauds, parol evidence, breach, and remedies, plus Oregon-specific limits on noncompetition covenants under ORS 653.295.
308 words, about 2 min04Criminal Law and Procedure
Criminal Law and Procedure tests the Oregon Criminal Code, ORS chapter 161, and Oregon constitutional criminal procedure. Expect actus reus, mens rea, homicide, theft, defenses, arrest, search, interrogation, and trial rights.
302 words, about 2 min05Evidence
Evidence tests the Oregon Evidence Code, ORS chapter 40, including relevance, character, impeachment, hearsay, privileges, expert testimony, and authentication. Oregon's rules are code-based, so cite the OEC article rather than the Federal Rules.
271 words, about 1 min06Real Property
Real Property tests estates and future interests, co-tenancy, landlord-tenant law under ORS chapter 90, easements, covenants, recording, and adverse possession. Oregon adds statutory recording and landlord-tenant rules to the common law.
265 words, about 1 min07Torts
Torts tests negligence, intentional torts, strict liability, products liability, defamation, privacy, and Oregon's comparative-fault and damages statutes. Oregon is a modified comparative-fault state under ORS 31.600, and it caps noneconomic damages in some cases under ORS 31.710.
265 words, about 1 min08Business Associations
Business Associations tests Oregon's corporation, LLC, and partnership statutes: ORS chapters 60, 63, and 67. Expect formation, governance, fiduciary duties, shareholder rights, veil piercing, and dissolution.
247 words, about 1 min09Family Law
Family Law tests Oregon dissolution, property division, spousal support, child support, and parenting time under ORS chapters 107 and 25. Oregon is an equitable-distribution state, not a community-property state.
245 words, about 1 min10Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Wills, Trusts, and Estates tests Oregon's Probate Code, ORS chapters 111-116, and the Oregon Uniform Trust Code, ORS chapter 130. Expect will formalities, intestacy, revocation, will contests, trust creation, trustee duties, and probate administration.
257 words, about 1 min11Professional Responsibility
Professional Responsibility tests the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and the Oregon State Bar disciplinary framework. Expect competence, confidentiality, conflicts, candor, fees, trust accounts, advertising, and prosecutor obligations.
268 words, about 1 min12Performance Test Skills
Performance Test Skills tests whether you can produce a lawyer-like document from a closed file and library under time pressure. Common tasks are an objective memorandum, a persuasive brief, a client letter, or a set of findings.
269 words, about 1 min