PA Bar study guide
PA Bar · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Pennsylvania Bar Examination is the licensing exam that a candidate must pass, along with the other character and fitness requirements, to be admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania. It is administered by the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners, and it is intended for law graduates and qualifying attorneys seeking a Pennsylvania license; it is not a general legal-knowledge certificate. The PA Bar study guide has 8 sections and about 2,453 words.
01Civil Procedure (Federal Rules)
The MBE tests federal civil procedure under the FRCP: jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trial, and preclusion. PA-specific essays may test Pennsylvania civil procedure separately; do not mix them.
345 words, about 2 min02Constitutional Law
The MBE tests constitutional law: judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights (due process, equal protection, First Amendment). Focus on standards of review and state action.
323 words, about 2 min03Contracts
The MBE tests contract formation, defenses, third-party rights, performance, breach, and remedies. Common law governs services and real estate; UCC Article 2 governs goods.
298 words, about 1 min04Criminal Law and Procedure
The MBE tests substantive criminal law (elements, mens rea, defenses) and criminal procedure (Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Amendments). Know search and seizure, interrogation, and trial rights.
272 words, about 1 min05Evidence
The MBE tests evidence: relevance, hearsay, character evidence, impeachment, privileges, and expert testimony. Focus on hearsay exceptions and non-hearsay uses.
274 words, about 1 min06Real Property
The MBE tests real property: estates, future interests, landlord-tenant, conveyancing, mortgages, recording, easements, and covenants. Know the Rule Against Perpetuities and recording statutes.
308 words, about 2 min07Torts
The MBE tests torts: negligence, intentional torts, strict liability, products liability, defamation, and privacy. Focus on duty, breach, causation, and defenses.
273 words, about 1 min08Pennsylvania-Specific Essay Subjects
PA essays test Pennsylvania-specific rules in civil procedure, evidence, professional responsibility, family law, estates and trusts, and business organizations. Cite Pennsylvania statutes and rules, not federal analogs.
360 words, about 2 min