Descripton of the MEE

The Multistate Essay Examination is a collection of nine essay questions from which jurisdictions may select several to administer. 

The purpose of the MEE is to test the applicant’s ability to:

• identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation;
• separate material which is relevant from that which is not;
• present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well-organized composition; and
• demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), which was inaugurated in July 1988, is administered on the Tuesday prior to the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). 

The MEE consists of nine questions, each of which is designed to be answered in 30 minutes. Each jurisdiction may decide which questions its applicants should answer, with most jurisdictions using six of the nine questions. This feature provides the jurisdictions with the flexibility to design their own tests.

Areas of law that may be covered on the MEE include the following: Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and Uniform Commercial Code (Negotiable Instruments (Commercial Paper); Secured Transactions). Some questions may include issues in more than one area of law.

The primary distinction between the MEE and the MBE is that the MEE requires the applicant to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in writing.