SOUTH DAKOTA BAR REVIEW COURSE
Get Ready to Pass the Bar Exam the First Time
Our South Dakota bar prep course offers two ways to prepare based on the level of personal support you seek. Both options include all the content and realistic practice you could need to pass the exam. To get started, just select your exam date, bar review, and optional add-ons to customize your study plan.
Trust the #1 Rated Bar Exam Prep
Don’t settle for anything less than the best. Test Prep Insight names us their Editor’s Choice and says Kaplan has "one of the most comprehensive and detailed bar review curriculums we’ve seen."‡
Personalized Course
- Customized study plans with personalized recommendations and topic prioritization
- Flexible, on-demand bar prep lessons coupled with our exclusive live, interactive seminars
- Continuous, in-depth performance analysis that updates your learning and practice recommendations
- Kaplan-trained AI tutor that gives you immediate, precise feedback based on your needs
- Question bank that adapts to your performance by providing easier or harder practice questions
Realistic Prep
- 3,000+ exam-like MBE® questions with detailed answer explanations plus previously released MBE questions from the NCBE®
- NextGen course designed for the new exam, including 2,500 realistic questions with detailed answer explanations
- Officially released questions from the NCBE
- Unlimited writing assignment grading from our in-house bar exam experts or AI grading with instant feedback
- 4 full-length bar practice exams to simulate test day; NextGen course includes 3 full-length practice exams plus 8 additional exam segments
Additional Support
- Bar review course textbooks for all subjects—no deposit required (UBE, FL, GA, NC, VA); NextGen course includes digital textbook only
- A private law student community to connect with your peers online
- Flashcards and supplemental content available
- Pass guaranteed or repeat for free
- Up to 6 months of access to your course
- Mobile app for course materials and practice questions on the go
Why Choose Kaplan Bar Exam Prep?
92% Pass Rate
92% of our bar prep students who did 75% of Kaplan’s assigned practice have passed the UBE® in one try. Commit to the work and prepare to pass the bar exam.
Realistic Prep
Know what to expect on exam day with thousands of exam-like MBE® questions and practice with previously released questions from real exams.
Latest Technology
Maximize your study time using the latest in learning science and AI advancements. Spend your time and effort where you need it most.
Lock in Today's Price with a $20 Registration Fee
Proven Results Straight From Our Students
"My tutor was amazing. We met constantly, and created a schedule that worked for me and focused on areas where I could improve. My tutor took the time to ensure I understood highly testable topics. He made studying for the bar—something that is historically not enjoyable—enjoyable."
"CJ was awesome and showed me the difference between writing an average MEE and a great MEE."
"Working with my Kaplan tutor helped me with targeted practice and to recognize my areas of weakness and strengths. I felt very motivated and was encouraged to take control of my studies which was very helpful to feeling ready on test day!"
Accurate, Real-Time Insights from Your AI Tutor
Our AI-powered learning tools are like having your own bar tutor 24/7. Get instant, detailed feedback to improve your legal writing, understand the reasoning behind exam questions, and strengthen your test-taking skills. What’s more, you can trust the results because Kaplan’s AI tools are built on our decades of bar expertise and years of testing data.
Study with Official Questions
Prep with officially released NCBE(R) questions with detailed answer explanations. Compared to other bar reviews’ student ratings, Kaplan students were more likely to rate our bar exam practice questions as “very exam-like.”*
Adaptable Study Calendar
Stay on track with a study calendar that updates as you progress through your bar prep course. Lessons are offered on demand so you can prep at your own pace. You can also join interactive, live sessions to enhance your bar prep experience.
Maximize Your South Dakota Bar Prep
Achieve More with Bar Review Plus Add-On
Get into the bar prep mindset before your course begins. Spanning a full semester, Bar Review Plus includes flashcards and weekly online modules that ease into the full South-Dakota bar prep course. Choose Kaplan Bar Review and add Bar Review Plus during checkout.
South Dakota Bar Exam Information
About the Bar Exam
South Dakota is a two-day exam that takes place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. The first day consists of the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE®), an Indian law question, and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®). Wednesday consists of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE®).
Contact Information
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners
500 E. Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-224-7554
Bar Exam Format
Two-Day exam:
- Day 1 – Written Portion: AM: 5 MEE® essays and 1 Indian Law essay; PM: 2 MPT®s
- Day 2 – MBE®: AM: 200 multiple choice questions; PM: 200 multiple choice questions
Subjects Tested
Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Indian Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and Uniform Commercial Code (Secured Transactions).
Bar Exam Dates
- 2024: July 30-31,
- 2025: February 25-26, and July 29-30
Grading
The written portion of the exam accounts for 50% of the overall score. The MPT® portion is 20%, the five MEE® essays are 25%, and the one Indian Law essay is worth 5%. The MBE® is worth 50% of the overall score. A general average of 75% or higher on the combined MEE®, Indian Law, and MPT® written portion of the exam will be deemed passing for that portion of the exam. A scaled score of 133 or higher will be deemed a passing score on the MBE® portion of the exam.
MPRE®
A minimum passing scaled score of 85 or higher is required on the MPRE®.
Reciprocity
In its discretion, the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners may accept an applicant’s previous scores on the MBE®, administered in another jurisdiction, if taken within two years prior to the next scheduled examination, if the score on the MBE® is a scaled score of 135 or above and if the applicant passed the entire bar exam in the other jurisdiction.
An applicant may be eligible for admission without examination if the applicant: meets the requirements of SDCL 16-16-2; furnishes satisfactory evidence of graduation from an ABA accredited law school, and provides documentary evidence showing that for three of the last five years immediately preceding the application for admission without examination, the applicant, as principal occupation, has been actively, continuously, and lawfully engaged in the practice of law, in a state or states that allow South Dakota attorneys substantially similar admission without examination, as: 1) a sole practitioner; 2) a member of a law firm, professional corporation or association; 3) a judge in a court of record; 4) an attorney for any local or state governmental entity; 5) inside counsel for a corporation, agency, association or trust department; and/or, 6) an attorney with the federal government or a federal governmental agency including service as a member of the Judge Advocate General Department of one of the military branches of the United States.
Law Firm Billing Program
Get the full Ultimate Bar Review course, plus a lot extra—at no additional cost. You’ll get access to a bar-raising PMBR course, a second course within five years, and more. Sounds great, right? To make it even better, learn how your law firm can cover the cost.
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