Whether you're studying for the bar exam yourself or have employees getting ready to take the plunge, you need a basic understanding of legal terms in order to converse intelligently about the test. Like the military, the legal field is awash in acronyms, such as MBE and MPRE, that you're likely to encounter around bar exam time.

Review the following vocabulary to help you grasp a basic understanding of the legal terms you or your employees may encounter in the bar exam and in the legal profession.

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LSAT, or Law School Admission Test

Much like the SAT or ACT, the LSAT is a standardized test specific to the field of law. A student's LSAT scores are the standard for entry to most American and Canadian law schools.

I recommend: The Law School Admission Council oversees administration of the LSAT and, while any given student's score on the LSAT does not affect the outcome of their bar exam at all, the LSAT can be seen as the first major test prep for the bar.

MLER, or Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc.

Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc., or MLER, is a non-profit corporation based in Illinois that is dedicated to increasing the number of practicing minority lawyers. The organization's principal tool for achieving its goal is bar exam preparation courses.

I recommend: The Minority Legal Education Resources website lists full information about its bar preparation courses and other support offered to minority candidates for the bar exam.

MBE, or Multistate Bar Exam

While administration of the bar exam differs from state to state, most states administer the bar exam over two days, with one part of the test given on each day. The first day is dedicated to the MBE or Multistate Bar Exam, which is written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is static throughout each jurisdiction.

I recommend: The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) explains the purpose and administration of the MBE, as well as offering study and review resources for this and other multi-state tests, such as the MEE, MPRE and MPT. Information about the MEE, MPRE and MPT tests can be found on the NCBE page, too.

American Bar Association

The largest voluntary professional association in the world, the American Bar Association accredits law schools and supervises ongoing education for attorneys. Being a member of the American Bar Association is not the same as passing a bar exam; it's strictly a professional association.

I recommend: The American Bar Association details its history, constitution and purposes.

Diploma privilege

Diploma privilege is a practice by which a law school graduate may be immediately admitted to legal practice without taking the bar exam. This happens when the law school certifies a graduate's legal competence and a board of bar examiners certifies his or her character.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Court System explains diploma privilege and supplies forms and questionnaires for candidate use.

Juris Doctor degree

The juris doctor degree, often abbreviated as J.D. or referred to as a doctor of jurisprudence degree, is often earned in three years through accredited universities. During those three years, students acquire skills needed to practice law. A J.D. is prerequisite in almost every state for those who wish to take the bar exam.

I recommend: The University of Notre Dame Law School details the requirements and benefits of a J.D.

An important step in becoming a licensed lawyer is taking and passing the bar exam. With the goal of testing general legal principles as well as state law, some jurisdictions administer standardized tests while some are specific to the state in which you wish to practice. Some use a combination of the two philosophies.

Many aspiring lawyers consider the bar exam the most stressful and nerve-wracking event in their lives. Being prepared can help stave off your nerves. Make sure you have the resources available to learn more about the test itself, exam dates, guidelines and how to best tackle the looming assessment.

Consider the following information before taking the bar exam:

1. The bar exam in most states consist of sections of essay and multiple choice. A performance test may also be required.

2. Each state controls its bar exams with different regulations, application process and guidelines for when the test is given.

3. The bar exam in most states is given on two consecutive days and scheduled only a few times a year.

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Find the bar exam provider in your state

Most states have a state bar association or a related agency that administers the bar exam linked with the state judicial system. Most bar associations also govern the discipline of attorneys as well as sponsor legislation and other activities.

I recommend: To prepare for the bar exam, find your state bar administration agency. The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners and the Wyoming State Bar offer answers to frequently asked questions and other guidelines to taking the exam in each state respectively.

Find bar exam information about the MPRE test

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is also given as part of your routine bar exam. It's an ethics test created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Aspiring lawyers have three test dates per year to pick from, in March, August and November.

I recommend: Go straight to the source, the National Conference of Bar Examiners, to get a better grip on the MPRE test and what it entails. The Southern Illinois University School of Law offers answers to common questions about the MPRE.

Prepare thoroughly for your bar examination

Law school alone won't prepare you for your bar exam, and few offer any kind of specific preparation classes. Many students find a bar review course or self study not only helpful but a necessity to passing the bar.

I recommend: Browse the study materials available for purchase from BarXMPrep. To study for the MPRE, consider the review program from MicroMash and download a demo version.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure to acquire a bar exam list of rules. Most states restrict what items can be brought into the exam room and whether you can leave your seat during the test. Some also dictate what can be worn on test day as well.

Passing the bar exam is absolutely critical in order to have a career as a working attorney. The bottom line is that attorneys whose bar exam results indicate they did not pass do not get to practice law. This is why bar exam education and training, as well as thorough preparation, are crucial to doing well on the test.

Preparing for the test requires a multi-pronged approach. Testees must review bar exam test questions, take practice tests and learn test strategies to maximize their chances of passing. Tests vary from state to state and bar exam tests are notoriously harder in some states than in others. Consider the following bar exam education and training methods if you want to do well when you sit for the bar exam:

1. Take a bar exam course to help you learn test taking strategies.

2. Enhance your bar exam education and training by taking practice tests.

3. Review your state's bar exam test questions so you won't be surprised by what appears when you sit for the bar.

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Enroll in a bar exam course to hone your test taking strategies

Bar exam courses are taught by experts who have analyzed every angle of the bar exam. As such, they are uniquely qualified to educate you on test taking strategies.

I recommend: Kaplan, the famous test prep program, also provides a bar exam preparation course. If you plan on working in New York, consider the Pieper New York Multistate Bar Review course that can be taken from home via live streaming video or in a traditional classroom setting.

Take practice tests to advance your bar exam education and training

The old adage 'practice makes perfect' certainly applies where the bar exam is concerned. The more practice you get, the more comfortable you will feel come test time and the more apt you will be to perform better.

I recommend: Complete the online registration with the ReedLawGroup and they will give you access to sample tests of the multistate portion of the bar exam. The right hand column of the National Conference of Bar Examiners' home page includes links to two online Multi Bar Exam (MBE) practice tests.

Review past bar exam questions and answers to solidify your test preparation

Reviewing past bar exam questions and answers will help you to get into the bar exam mindset, and ensure there are no surprises when you sit down to take it. There are many websites that provide you with past exam questions and answers from the multi-state portion of the exam. Finding state-specific bar exam questions may be a bit trickier online, but certainly not impossible.

I recommend: Sample questions from recent bar exams are available in a $25 packet via the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch website. FindLaw includes links to various state essay questions and answers.