South Dakota
Bar Exam Details
Bar Exam Details
A typical South Dakota Bar Exam is a 2-day exam.
Day 1
- Five 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions
- One 30-minute Indian Law Essay Exam question (MEE/ILEE in the AM)
- Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test questions (MPT in the PM)
Day 2
- Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM).
Subjects tested
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts/Sales
- Criminal Law/Procedure
- Evidence
- Federal Civil Procedure
- Real Property
- Torts
- Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations; and Limited Liability Companies)
- Conflict of Laws
- Family Law
- Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests)
- Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code
- Plus all MBE subjects
- Basic principles of Federal Indian Law, including but not limited to Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction, the Indian Civil Rights Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Tribal laws or customary laws are not tested.
- “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statutes and other reference material supplied by examiners.
- A scaled score of 85 is required for admission to the bar. A previous MPRE score is accepted if within 28 months prior to next scheduled exam.
Scoring
Applicants must pass each portion of the examination. An average of 75% or higher on the combined MPT, MEE, and Indian Law portion is required; and a scaled score of at least 133 on the MBE portion is required.
An applicant may receive additional points on their MBE score, not to exceed three additional points, based on their score on the combined MPT, MEE and Indian Law portion of the examination as follows:
- 80 to 84 percent – one point
- 85 to 89 percent – two points
- 90 percent or more – three points
These additional points may not be transferred to a future exam.
An applicant who has failed only one portion of the exam may reapply to sit for only the failed portion. However, a passing score on one portion of the exam is only valid for two years.
Reciprocity
- Applicants may transfer an MBE scaled score of at least 135 achieved in another jurisdiction if taken within two years prior to the next scheduled exam, provided the applicant passed the entire bar examination in the other jurisdiction.
- A member in good standing of a reciprocating jurisdiction may be admitted on motion in South Dakota if the applicant has engaged in the active practice of law for three of the five years preceding application. Additional requirements apply.
BARBRI Bar Exam Digest
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Sample Schedule: Course Information
BARBRI Bar Review uses best-in-class learning design to help you master complex material quickly and improve retention for test day. Your course is tailored to your unique needs, and broken into three phases: Foundations, Deep Dive, and Final Review.
This overview does not list all assignments that will be available in your Personal Study Plan (PSP). Your PSP adjusts to your strengths, weaknesses, and schedule, offering a customizable calendar with recommended assignments to boost your chances of passing.
PSP access for Premium and Elite courses begins in mid-March for July exams and mid-October for February exams. Though your calendar is customizable, BARBRI’s default schedule begins at the same time Essentials courses open: Mid-May and Mid-December, respectively.
Covers multistate subjects
- “About” videos
- These short videos explain efficient and effective ways to navigate the exam and the course
- Short story-driven episodes on core concepts across each mbe subject.
- Skills workshops
- Knowledge checks and warm-up essays
Covers multistate and essay subjects
- Short-format lecture modules
- Taught by expert professors.
- Reading, practice, assessment and reinforcement through review
- Knowledge checks and practice essays additional essay and performance
- Test writing skills instruction
- Simulated Multistate Bar Exam
- Simulated Written Exam
- Crunch time with Mini Review lectures, the Conviser Mini Review book and multiple choice and essay practice
- Civil Procedure
- Torts
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Evidence
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Real Property
- Indian Law
- Wills
- Trusts
- Agency
- Partnership
- Corporations
- Secured Transactions
- Conflict of Laws
- Family Law