Non-UBE State

Florida Bar Exam 2027

Complete guide to passing the Florida bar. Learn about Florida's unique format, subjects tested, and strategies for success in the Sunshine State.

78.4% First-Time (July 2025) 2-Day Exam 136 Scaled Score to Pass

Florida Bar Exam Quick Facts

Administering Body: Florida Board of Bar Examiners

UBE State: No (Own Format)

Passing Score: 136 scaled

Pass Rate (July 2025): 78.4% first-time, 67% overall

MPRE Required: 80

Application Fee: $1,000

Admission on Motion: No

NextGen UBE From: July 2028

Sources: NCBE jurisdiction profile for Florida; Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Checked 1 August 2026.

Why the Florida Bar Exam Is Unique

Florida is one of the few remaining states that does not use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). Instead, Florida has developed its own comprehensive examination that tests Florida-specific law alongside multistate subjects. This means your bar prep must include substantial Florida law study that won't transfer to other states.

The Florida bar exam is known for being challenging, with pass rates consistently lower than the national average. The exam tests a broader range of Florida-specific subjects than most state bar exams, requiring extensive preparation beyond standard MBE-focused study.

There is no way around the exam. Florida does not accept transferred UBE scores, and its rules provide no admission on motion: there is no reciprocity pathway on years of practice, however long you have been licensed elsewhere. If you want to practise in Florida you sit the Florida bar exam.

This changes in July 2028. Florida is scheduled to administer the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam from July 2028 and to begin accepting transferred NextGen scores at the same time, with a minimum score still to be announced. Florida will not accept NextGen scores earned at any administration before July 2028. Anyone sitting in 2027 takes the current Florida exam.

Florida Bar Exam Format

The Florida bar exam is administered over two days and consists of three parts: the Florida Multiple Choice (Part A), Florida Essays (Part B), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).

Day 1: Florida Portion

Morning Session - Part A (3 hours)

  • 100 Florida Multiple Choice Questions
  • Tests Florida-specific law only
  • Covers all Florida essay subjects

Afternoon Session - Part B (3 hours)

  • 3 Florida Essay Questions
  • 60 minutes per essay
  • May combine multiple subjects

Day 2: MBE

200 multiple choice questions over two 3-hour sessions (100 questions each). The MBE tests the seven standard multistate subjects: Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, and Civil Procedure.

Florida Bar Exam Subjects

The Florida portion tests 17 main subjects. You must know both Florida law and federal/general law for maximum scoring potential.

Core Florida Subjects

  • Florida Constitutional Law
  • Florida Civil Procedure
  • Florida Criminal Law & Procedure
  • Florida Evidence (FL Evidence Code)
  • Real Property (including FL Homestead)
  • Wills & Trusts (FL Probate Code)
  • Business Entities (FL Business Corp Act)
  • Family Law (FL Family Code)

Additional Subjects

  • Contracts (general + FL UCC)
  • Torts (general + FL distinctions)
  • Federal Constitutional Law
  • Articles 3 & 9 of the UCC
  • Professionalism & Ethics
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Key Florida-Specific Topics

Florida Homestead Law

Florida's homestead provisions are among the most complex and heavily tested topics on the Florida bar. You must understand:

  • Constitutional Protection: Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution
  • Creditor Protection: Unlimited value protection (with acreage limits)
  • Tax Benefits: Save Our Homes cap, portability
  • Devise Restrictions: Cannot devise away from spouse/minor children
  • Forced Sale Exemption: Protection from most creditors except mortgages, taxes, mechanics liens

Florida Family Law

Florida family law differs significantly from common law and other states:

  • Equitable Distribution: Presumption of equal division
  • Alimony Reform: 2023 changes eliminated permanent alimony
  • Time-Sharing: Florida uses "time-sharing" not "custody"
  • Parenting Plans: Required for all cases with minor children

Florida Bar Exam Pass Rates

Florida's exam has a reputation for being punishing, and the all-takers figure supports that reading. The first-time figure does not: on the July 2025 exam, nearly four out of five first-time applicants passed.

Group (July 2025) Pass Rate
First-time applicants 78.4%
All takers 67%
University of Florida (highest in state) 92.8%

2,152 first-time applicants sat the July 2025 exam on 29-30 July in Tampa and 1,687 passed, a 78.4% rate. Across all takers, 2,717 sat and 67% passed. The Court approved 1,797 candidates for admission to The Florida Bar.

Results vary widely by school. Among Florida's accredited schools the University of Florida led at 92.8%, with Jacksonville University at 91.7% and Florida International at 89.3%; the lowest was 61.3%. Where you studied predicts your odds here more than the statewide figure does.

Sources: The Florida Bar, July 2025 exam results (first-time and school figures); NCBE bar exam results by jurisdiction (all-taker rate and examinee count). Checked 1 August 2026.

How the Florida Bar Exam Is Scored

Your Florida bar exam score is a combination of three components:

Part A: Florida Multiple Choice (33.3%)

100 questions testing Florida-specific law

Part B: Florida Essays (33.3%)

3 essays graded on a 0-10 scale by Florida attorneys

MBE (33.3%)

200 multistate multiple choice questions

Passing Score: You need a combined scaled score of 136 out of 200. Each component is weighted equally at 33.3%.

Florida Bar Exam Study Strategies

1. Start Florida Law Early

Unlike UBE states where you can focus primarily on MBE subjects, Florida requires substantial Florida-specific preparation. Begin studying Florida distinctions from day one, not as an afterthought.

2. Master Florida Homestead

Homestead appears on nearly every exam. Create detailed flashcards covering creditor protection, devise restrictions, tax benefits, and homestead requirements. This is the most heavily tested Florida-specific topic.

3. Practice Florida Essays

The Florida Board of Bar Examiners publishes past essay questions and sample answers. Practice at least 15-20 past Florida essays under timed conditions. Pay attention to Florida-specific rules in your answers.

4. Don't Neglect the MBE

The MBE counts for one-third of your score. Many students over-focus on Florida law and underperform on the MBE. Complete at least 2,000 MBE practice questions during your preparation.

5. Use Florida-Specific Resources

Choose a bar prep course that includes comprehensive Florida materials. Barbri, Themis, and Kaplan all offer Florida-specific programs. Consider supplementing with Florida Bar Review or local courses.

Florida Bar Exam Timeline

Early Start
Begin bar application process in your final year of law school. Florida has extensive character & fitness requirements.
10-12 Weeks Out
Begin full-time bar prep. Plan for 400-500 hours of total study time given Florida's complexity.
6 Weeks Out
Complete substantive learning. Focus shifts to practice questions and essay writing.
2 Weeks Out
Take full practice exams. Review weak areas. Finalize Florida-specific rule memorization.
Exam Days
February (last Tues-Wed) or July (last Tues-Wed). Results released 10-12 weeks later.

Why Practice Law in Florida

Growing Legal Market

Florida has the third-largest legal market in the U.S. with strong growth in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Major firms continue expanding their Florida presence.

No State Income Tax

Florida is one of nine states with no state income tax. This means higher take-home pay compared to states like New York or California with similar salary levels.

Diverse Practice Areas

Strong markets in real estate, international trade, immigration, elder law, personal injury, and admiralty/maritime law. Miami serves as a gateway to Latin America.

Quality of Life

Year-round warm weather, no state income tax, and lower cost of living (outside Miami) make Florida attractive for attorneys seeking work-life balance.

Get Expert Guidance for the Florida Bar

Connect with attorneys who've passed the Florida bar and can share strategies specific to this challenging exam.

Bar Exam Overview How to Become a Lawyer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Florida a UBE state?

No, Florida is not a UBE state. Florida uses its own bar exam format that includes Florida-specific multiple choice questions, Florida essays, and the MBE. UBE scores cannot be transferred to Florida.

What is the passing score for the Florida bar exam?

You need a combined scaled score of 136 out of 200 to pass the Florida bar exam. This combines your performance on the Florida multiple choice, Florida essays, and MBE portions.

Why is the Florida bar exam so hard?

The breadth is the hard part: Florida tests a long list of Florida-specific subjects, including homestead law, Florida civil procedure and Florida family law, on top of the standard MBE material. None of that Florida study transfers anywhere else. That said, the exam's reputation outruns the numbers for a well-prepared first-time candidate: 78.4% of first-time applicants passed in July 2025.

Can I practice in Florida with a bar license from another state?

No. Florida's rules do not provide for admission on motion, so there is no reciprocity pathway based on years of practice. You must take and pass the Florida bar exam regardless of where else you are licensed and for how long. From July 2028 Florida will accept transferred NextGen UBE scores earned at the July 2028 administration or later, which will be the first route in that does not involve sitting Florida's own exam.