VT Bar Practice Test

The Vermont bar exam is taken by law graduates and other applicants who want admission to practice in Vermont, and it is run by the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners. This page gives you free practice sets for each subject area, a plain summary of format, scoring and deadlines, worked examples, and a study plan. Always confirm details on the official Vermont Judiciary site.

VT Bar Exam at a Glance

What changed for VT Bar in 2026

• Oct 24, 2026: Registration deadline changed to November 15 for the February exam; April 15 for the July exam (previously November 15, 2026 for the February 2027 exam (April 15 for July exams)).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Late registration deadline changed to Late filing only by Board permission for extraordinary circumstances (previously Late filing only by Board permission for extraordinary circumstances ($50 late fee)).^[2]
• Oct 24, 2026: Retake policy changed to Max 4 failed attempts (any UBE jurisdiction); waiver possible (previously Maximum 4 failed attempts (any UBE jurisdiction); waiver possible).^[2]
• Oct 24, 2026: Eligibility changed to Education requirements, fewer than 4 prior failures, MPRE 80+ (previously Meet education requirements, under 4 prior failures, MPRE 80+).^[2]
• Oct 24, 2026: Number of questions (NextGen UBE (from July 2027)) changed to 3 three-hour sessions, each with 2 integrated question sets (previously 3 three-hour sessions, each with 2 integrated question sets, 1 MPT-style task and ~40 multiple-choice questions).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Number of questions (UBE (legacy)) changed to 200 MBE questions on day 2 (previously 2 MPT + 6 MEE essays on day 1; 200 MBE multiple-choice questions on day 2).^[1]

What the VT Bar is and how it works

According to Vermont Board of Bar Examiners / Vermont Judiciary, “The NextGen exam will consist of three, rather than four, three-hour sessions.”^[1]

The Vermont bar exam is the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), and passing it is one requirement for admission to practice in Vermont. The Board of Bar Examiners and the Vermont Judiciary set the rules, so treat their pages as the final word.

The legacy UBE is given in person in South Burlington. The next sitting listed is February 23-24, 2027. Day 2 is the 200-question multiple-choice Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). A passing score in Vermont is 270 or higher on the legacy UBE. From July 2027 the NextGen UBE replaces it. It is entirely computer-based, made up of 3 three-hour sessions, each with 2 integrated question sets, and the passing score is 620 or higher.

Applications for the February exam must be received by November 15, and for the July exam by April 15. Late filing is allowed only with Board permission and only for extraordinary circumstances. The Board can accept or deny a late petition.

Eligibility under the Rules of Admission includes meeting the education requirements, having fewer than 4 prior failures, and a scaled MPRE score of 80 or higher. An applicant who has failed the bar exam 4 times will not be permitted to sit for the UBE in Vermont, though a waiver is possible. After you pass, you must meet all remaining admission requirements within 2 years of the exam date, or the application is deemed withdrawn.

VT Bar content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official VT Bar content outline published by Vermont Board of Bar Examiners / Vermont Judiciary. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through VT Bar questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which Vermont statute governs the termination of parental rights in a juvenile proceeding?

1. 15 V.S.A. § 665
2. 33 V.S.A. § 5113
3. 15 V.S.A. § 751
4. 12 V.S.A. § 5001

Answer: B. 33 V.S.A. § 5113

Explanation:

The correct answer is 33 V.S.A. § 5113. Termination of parental rights in a juvenile proceeding is handled under Vermont's juvenile proceedings statute, and this section is where the process sits. The other options point to real parts of the Vermont Statutes, but they belong elsewhere. 15 V.S.A. § 665 and 15 V.S.A. § 751 sit in the domestic relations title, which deals with matters between spouses and parents such as support and divorce, not state-initiated juvenile cases. 12 V.S.A. § 5001 is in the civil procedure title and is not about parental rights. The rule to remember: when the state is acting to protect a child, look to the juvenile proceedings title. When private parties are resolving family disputes, look to the domestic relations title.

Example 2

Question: Vermont was the first state to legally recognize same-sex civil unions in which year?

1. 1997
2. 2000
3. 2003
4. 2009

Answer: B. 2000

Explanation:

The correct answer is 2000. Vermont created civil unions that year after the Vermont Supreme Court decided Baker v. State, which held that same-sex couples were entitled to the same benefits and protections as married couples under the state constitution. The Court left the form of the remedy to the legislature, which chose civil unions. 1997 is too early, since that is before the legislature acted. 2003 and 2009 are later dates and do not mark when Vermont first recognized civil unions. The pattern to remember: a state court ruling that identifies a constitutional violation is followed by a legislative remedy, and the date to recall is when the remedy took effect.

Example 3

Question: What is the purpose of a “client consent” form in legal representation?

1. To confirm that the client has reviewed all correspondence
2. To obtain the client’s permission to disclose confidential information or to handle specific aspects of the case
3. To allow the attorney to set fees and payment terms
4. To outline the attorney’s qualifications and experience

Answer: B. To obtain the client’s permission to disclose confidential information or to handle specific aspects of the case

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a client consent form obtains the client's permission to disclose confidential information or to handle specific aspects of the case. Informed consent means the client understands the relevant facts and risks and then agrees, ideally in writing. Confirming that the client reviewed correspondence is a record-keeping step, not consent to an action. Setting fees and payment terms belongs in a fee agreement, which is a separate document. Describing the attorney's qualifications is marketing or background information and does not authorize anything. The general rule: consent is tied to a specific action that the ethics rules would otherwise restrict, such as revealing confidences or proceeding despite a conflict, and it must follow adequate disclosure.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official Vermont Judiciary admission page. Note which version of the exam you are sitting, the scoring threshold that applies, your filing deadline, and your eligibility requirements. Put those dates on a calendar before you study anything.

Next, take the full practice test to see where you stand, then work through the subject sets, giving extra time to the areas where you missed the most. After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you answered correctly. For every miss, write a single sentence stating the rule you got wrong, and review that list regularly.

Spend time on the topics that appear in the official outline and are easy to confuse, such as hearsay exceptions, entity liability, and the scrutiny levels in constitutional cases. Re-test weak areas after reviewing the rule, not straight after reading the answer.

Close to test day, shift from learning new rules to timed mixed practice, and rest the day before. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so use them for practice, not prediction.

Sources & last verified

1. Vermont Board of Bar Examiners / Vermont Judiciary — number of questions, passing score, delivery, registration deadline (official source). “The NextGen exam will consist of three, rather than four, three-hour sessions.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
2. Vermont Board of Bar Examiners / Vermont Judiciary — passing score, retake policy, validity, eligibility (official source). “attain a score of 270 or higher on the legacy Uniform Bar Examination or a score of 620 or higher on the NextGen Uniform Bar…” Verified Oct 24, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.