Palau Bar Association
P.O. Box 248
Koror, Palau 96940
P.O. Box 248
Koror, Palau 96940
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PALAU BAR EXAMINATION
Application Process
Who takes the Palau Bar Exam?
Pursuant to the Rule 2 of the Palau Rules of Admission for Attorneys and Trial Counselors, an applicant to the Palau Bar
must: (1) provide a certificate of good standing from jurisdiction(s) in which the applicant is admitted to practice and if not a
member of any bar, a letter from the dean or dean’s designee of the applicant’s law school attesting to the applicant’s good
moral character; (2) not have been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, the applicant must have been granted a full pardon;
(3) have graduated from an accredited law school; and (4) take and pass the Bar Examination as required in Palau.
Most individuals who take the exam either live or practice in Palau. Typically, not many applicants from the U.S. come here
to take the exam, as the trip to Palau is expensive and long.
What is an accredited law school?
We have consistently interpreted this to mean a law school that is accredited by an authorized accrediting agency of the
jurisdiction. For law schools outside the U.S., the school must be accredited by an agency of that jurisdiction and the
applicant also should provide a copy of his/her diploma and a transcript.
How can I obtain an application for the Palau Bar Examination?
If you would like to receive an application, please send a check for $10.00 payable to the Clerk of Courts to:
Clerk of Courts
Supreme Court of Palau
P.O. Box 248
Koror, Palau 96940
How do I apply to take the Bar Examination?
In order to apply to take the Bar Examination, an applicant must submit to the Supreme Court an application form along with
an examination fee of $100.00. The examination fee must be paid and the application filed at least forty-five (45) days
before the commencing date of the next bar examination.
When is the Palau Bar Examination offered?
The next examination will be offered in July, 2007. Application materials will be available in March, 2007.
How much does it cost to take the Palau Bar Examination?
The examination fee is $100.00. This fee includes the cost of purchasing, administering, and grading the MBE and the
Oregon-based Essay Examination, copying, postage, and other administrative costs. The registration fee for the MPRE is
$55.00 paid directly to the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is to be mailed with the MPRE application.
Do I have to pay the application fee again if I have previously applied for the Palau Bar?
Yes, application and examination fees paid for one exam will not be applied to future exams.
Does admission to the Palau Bar qualify me to work as a lawyer in the U.S.?
Admission to the Palau Bar qualifies individuals only to practice before the courts of the Republic of Palau. Palau does not
have any reciprocal agreements with any states of the U.S., although you may be able to transfer your MBE scores to other
jurisdictions. Individuals themselves must inquire with specific U.S. agencies or jurisdictions to determine whether or not
they would permit them to practice there.
The Palau Bar Examination
What are the components of the Palau Bar Exam?
The Palau Bar Examination is administered in four (4) parts. The Exam is comprised of the Multistate Bar Examination
(MBE), a Palauan-based Essay Examination, and an Oregon-based Essay Examination. Applicants also are required to
score at least 75 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE).
What is the MBE?
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) includes 200 multiple-choice questions testing the following areas of law: contracts,
criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, torts, and U.S. constitutional law. The questions test application of
fundamental legal principles rather than specific local case or statutory law. The exam takes six hours and is administered
in a single day with two three-hour sessions. The National Conference of Bar Examiners prepares the MBE and the MBE is
scored and analyzed by American College Testing (ACT).
A minimum score of 120 is required on the MBE to be admitted to the Palau Bar.
What is the Oregon-based Essay Examination?
The Oregon-based Essay Examination is derived from the Oregon Bar Examination and usually includes three or four
essay questions. Applicants are given three hours to complete these essays. Oregon's essay questions are designed to
raise a few major legal issues and good answers will demonstrate an understanding of the legal issues involved. This
portion of the Examination will; test an applicant's legal knowledge and proficiency in writing and reasoning. Questions
may include contracts (and agency), civil litigation, commercial transactions, property, constitutional law, criminal law,
criminal procedure, business organizations, torts, domestic relations, trusts, evidence, and legal and equitable remedies.
The Palau Bar Examination does not test on laws specific to Oregon. More information regarding the Oregon Essay
Examination can be found on the website of the Oregon State Bar at www.osbar.org.
A minimum score of 65 is required on the Oregon-based Essay Examination to be admitted to the Palau Bar.
What is the Palauan-based Essay Examination?
The Palauan-based Essay Examination tests knowledge of Palauan law. Questions may cover customary law, land law,
the Palauan Constitution, the Palau National Code, the Compact of Free Association and case law from the Palauan courts.
A minimum score of 65 is required on the Palauan-based Essay Examination to be admitted to the Palau Bar.
What is the MPRE?
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a test of attorney ethics consisting of 60 multiple-choice
questions. The exam includes questions based on the law governing the conduct of lawyers, including the disciplinary
rules of professional conduct, as articulated in the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Code of Judicial
Conduct, and controlling constitutional decisions, as well as generally accepted principles established in leading federal
and state cases and in the rules of procedure and evidence.
Tbe Court does not administer the MPRE in Palau, but Palau Community College annually administers the test.
Applications and more information regarding the MPRE and its content is available from the National Conference of Bar
Examiners (NCBE) at www.ncbex.org/multistate-tests/mpre.
A minimum score of 75 is required on the MPRE to be admitted to the Palau Bar.
Does the Bar Examination include a performance portion?
No. While some jurisdictions include performance tests, like the Multistate Performance Test, the Palau Bar Exam does not
include a specific performance test. Performance is adequately tested through the two essay portions of the examination.
Is there a dress code for the Bar Examination?
There is no dress code for the Palau Bar Examination.
Are scores from other jurisdictions accepted in Palau?
Yes. Applicants who bave taken and passed the MBE, the MPRE, or an essay examination from a state or territorial
jurisdiction of the United States within the past 5 years are not required to take that particular examination, but are required
to provide evidence of a passing score.
All applicants are required to take and pass the Palauan-based Essay Examination pertaining specifically to Palauan law,
such as customary law and land law.
How do I transfer my passing MBE scores to Palau?
To transfer your MBE score to Palau from another jurisdiction, consult that jurisdiction. Contact information for many
jurisdictions call be accessed via www.ncbex.org/bar-admissions/offices. The National Conference of Bar Examiners
(NCBE) will transfer scores on behalf of jurisdictions that do not transfer scores.
How do I transfer my passing MPRE scores to Palau?
Mail your request and a $15.00 check payable to NCBE directly to: National Conference of Bar Examiners, MPRE Records
Department, 301 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52243-0451. The request should include your name, address,
social security number, date of birth, test date, signature, and the jurisdiction that you want to receive your score.
How do I transfer my passing state essay scores to Palau?
Request a score transfer directly from the state or territorial jurisdiction where the Essay or Combined MBE/Essay
Examination was taken and have it sent to: Clerk of Courts, Palau Supreme Court, P.O. Box 248, Koror, Palau 96940. Each
jurisdiction's bar admission office address and phone number can be found at www.ncbex.org/bar-admissions/offices.
Are MBE, MPRE, or state essay scores more than five years old accepted?
No. Applicants who have not taken and passed the MBE, the MPRE, or an essay examination within the past 5 years may
take that particular examination in Palau as scheduled or in any other jurisdiction in which those examinations are
administered.
Is the Palau-based Essay Exam offered in the United States?
No. The Palau-based Essay Examination is offered only in Palau.
Preparing for the Bar Examination
What should I study for the Palauan-based Essay Exam?
In order to prepare for the Palau portion of the exam, you are responsible for studying all Palauan case law. Questions may
cover customary law, land law, the Palauan Constitution, the Palau National Code, the Compact of Free Association and
case law from the Palauan courts.
Are there any resources to use in studying for the Exam?
Once we receive your completed application, we automatically send out a package with additional information, which
includes past Palauan-based Essay Examinations, past Oregon-based Essay Examinations, and an information booklet
for the MBE. This information alone is insufficient to adequately prepare for the exam.
All of the materials necessary to study for the Palauan-based Essay Examination are available for purchase. You may
purchase copies of the latest digests and court reporters from the law librarian. A price list appears at the end of these
FAQ. The digest is simply a list of all the headnotes from the cases in the reporter.
The materials also are available to the public at no cost in the Law Library at the Supreme Court in Palau. Please be
advised that the library is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be kept open for a
fee at other times with prior arrangement.
Do I need to study Oregon law?
The Palau Bar Examination does not test on laws specific to Oregon. Specifically, if an Oregon-based Essay Exam
question refers to the Oregon Rules of Evidence, the graders use the Federal Rules of Evidence in scoring the essay. For
other subjects, such as real property, the graders use common law principles and do not require specific knowledge of
Oregon law.
How difficult is the Palauan Bar Exam compared to bar exams offered in the United States?
The difficulty of the exam often depends on the individual's level of preparation. Applicants should understand that not only
will they be tested on their understanding of Palau law, but they also will be examined on their knowledge of those aspects
of U.S. and common law appearing on the MBE and the Oregon essay sections. The Palauan Bar Examination is not
generally considered to be any easier than exams offered in other jurisdictions.
Are there tutors or bar review programs available for the Exam?
The Court does not make any recommendations regarding tutors or study programs for the Exam.
Additional Information
What is the mailing address of the Palau Supreme Court?
The address of the Court is:
Supreme Court of Palau
P.O. Box 248
Koror, Palau 96940
If you wish to send items using mailing services that need a street address, such as Federal Express or DHL, the street
address is:
Palau Supreme Court
Intersection of Main & M Dock Roads
Koror, Palau 96940
How long does it take for materials to reach Palau via the U.S. Postal Service?
Two weeks is a good estimate of the amount of time it takes for items to arrive in Palau, if sent First Class using the
U.S.P.S. As with anything sent via the mail, please allow additional time to ensure timely receipt.
Where can I get more information on Palau?
Tbe Palau Visitors’ Authority website at www.visit-palau.com is a good source of information.
How do I receive a Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Palau Bar?
In order to receive a Certificate of Good Standing, send a letter requesting the certificate and a check or money order for
$10.00 payable to the Clerk of Court, Supreme Court of Palau.
Unsuccessful Applicants
Can I review the MBE and MPRE questions and answers?
Ulnfortunately, MBE and MPRE questions and answers are not available for public review. If you fail the MBE, you can have
ACT hand score your answer sheet. More information on this process can be found at the NCBE's website,
http://www.ncbex.org, and all inquires regarding this process should be directed to thern.
Who do I contact with other questions?
For further information or questions regarding the Palau Bar Examination, you may contact the Court by e-mail at
palaujudiciary@palaunet.com, by fax at (680) 488-1597, or by phone at (680) 488-4979/2607/2482.
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM THE PALAU SUPREME COURT
PRICE LIST
TITLE On-Island Off-Island**
Admiralty Rules $ 5.00 $ 7.00
Digest of Published Decisions Interim Reporter
Vols. 1 - 7 25 .00 28.00
Digest of Published Decisions Interim Reporter Vol. 7-10 15.00 18.00
Disciplinary Rules 10.00 13.00
Interim Reporter Volume I 145.00 165.00
Interim Reporter Volume II 125.00 145.00
Interim Reporter Volume III 135.00 155.00
Interim Reporter Volume IV 135.00 155.00
Interim Reporter Volume V 87.50 97.50
Interim Reporter Volume VI 131.50 139.50
Interim Reporter Volume VII - First Installment 15.00 20.00
Interim Reporter Volume VII - Second Installment 50.00 60.00
Interim Reporter Volume VIII 60.00 75.00
Ninth ROP Reports 35.00 42.50
Tenth ROP Reports 30.00 37.50
Eleventh ROP Reports 48.28 60.35
12th ROP Reports 35.00 45.00
LCHO Appeal Rules 2.00 3.00
Land Court Rules of Procedures 3.50 5.00
Rules and Regulation of the Land Court 6.00 8.00
Motion Practice Rules 2.00 3.00
Rules of Admission 2.00 5.00
Rules of Appellate Procedure 10.00 13.00
Rules of Civil Procedures (Dec. 23, 1983) 55.00 75.00
Rules of Civil Procedure (June 26, 2002) 15.00 20.00
Rules of Criminal Procedure 55.00 75.00
Rules of Criminal Procedure (Aug. 23, 2004) 5.00 8.85
Rules of Evidence (Dec. 23, 1983) 27.00 30.00
Rules of Evidence (Jan. 07, 2005) 10.00 15.00
Small Claim Rules 3.00 5.00
THE QUEST FOR HARMONY -
The Pictorial History 25.00 30.00
Of the Law and Justice in the Republic of Palau
The Wisdom of the Past. A vision for the Future. 50.00 55.00
** The off-island price includes shipping and handling for items sent to Guam, Saipan, the Federated States of Micronesia,
and the U.S. For all other off-island purchases, the fee will be the on-island price plus the shipping cost.
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