The full cost list
Include the bar prep course and any supplements, application and exam fees, late fees if you miss deadlines, laptop or software fees, MPRE fee, character review and fingerprint costs, state courses, travel and lodging for the exam, and admission and registration fees after you pass. Add living expenses for the weeks when you cannot work full time. Boards publish many of these fees, and our deadlines and fees page collects them.
Budgeting the study period
Estimate your monthly costs and multiply by the number of weeks you will study without full pay. If you plan to study part time while working, budget for a longer period. Build in a buffer for a retake in case you need it.
Loans, fee assistance and scholarships
Some lenders offer bar study loans, and terms and rates vary, so compare them like any loan and avoid borrowing more than you need. Some boards offer fee waivers or reductions for financial hardship. Some providers and organizations offer scholarships, including for public interest work and military service, and some courses give discounts through law schools. Ask each before paying full price.
Does financial aid cover it
Law school financial aid may include a bar study or living allowance in some cases, and often ends at graduation. Ask your financial aid office what is available and by when.
Employer help
Many employers pay for a course, provide a stipend, reimburse fees or offer paid study leave. Ask before you accept an offer if you can, and get the policy in writing, including what happens if you do not pass.
Time off and working during prep
A common request is six to eight weeks of leave before the exam. If that is not possible, a reduced schedule or a longer prep window is better than trying to study full time while working full time. Our working full time guide gives weekly hour targets.
Childcare and other constraints
Line up childcare for the timed practice blocks and for the exam days. Plan for backup, and talk to family about your schedule.
If you fail, and jobs before admission
Ask your employer what happens if you do not pass, since policies vary from continued employment to a limited period. Before admission, you may work as a law clerk or in roles that do not require a license. On a resume, describe your status accurately, such as "bar exam taken, results pending," and do not describe yourself as an attorney until admitted.
Common questions
How much does the whole bar exam process cost?+
It varies widely. The total includes the course, application and exam fees, the MPRE, character review, laptop or software fees, travel, admission fees and living costs during study, so build your own budget from your jurisdiction's fee schedule.
Can I work full time while studying for the bar?+
Some people do, but it is hard, and a longer prep window with fewer weekly hours is usually more realistic. Ask your employer about leave or a reduced schedule.
How should I describe myself on a resume before I am admitted?+
State your status accurately, such as bar exam taken with results pending, and avoid calling yourself an attorney until you are admitted.
What to do next
- 1
Add up every fee and living cost into one budget.
- 2
Ask your employer for its bar policy in writing.
- 3
Apply for fee assistance or scholarships before deadlines.