The MPRE
Learn more about the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam and sign up for the test with the NCBE, here. The test is offered three times a year (March, August and November). Most US Jurisdictions, including Arizona, require a passing MPRE score for you to be admitted to practice law.
Typically, students take the MPRE either as a 2L or in the fall of 3L, but in Arizona, you have flexibility for when you sit for this exam. Different jurisdictions may have different requirements as for when to take the MPRE, so please check with the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice law about their MPRE requirements.
Preparing for the MPRE involves familiarizing yourself with, and committing to memory, the subject matter which includes the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Model Code of Judicial Conduct.
Most Commercial bar courses provide free MPRE courses. The courses provide outlines and lecture materials, strategy lessons, and provide practice questions. These companies have gathered and packaged the relevant materials to make the most use of your time.
Professional Responsibility
Taking Law 609 - Professional Responsibility is not a prerequisite for the MPRE. You can learn the rules on your own, but taking PR first will give you the foundational knowledge for efficient study.
Engage in Self-Testing
You should complete simulated exam(s) under timed conditions for practice until you score in a comfortable passing range (usually 65%). Be cognizant that MPRE multiple choice questions may be dissimilar to past multiple-choice exams. Avoid the "illusion of competency" but proving that you know the right answer through self-testing instead of thinking that you "know the right answer" or "would have" got the question correctly,
Remember, you learn the most by reviewing the answer choices for each question (particularly the wrong answer choices). So look for supplements that contain both the questions and the answer explanations to get the most out of your studying.
Length of Preparation
As with any study-related question, the answer is: it depends. Like all parts of the UBE, the MPRE is a closed-universe exam (meaning the scope of the exam is limited by the subject matter outline). So, start there--how much of the content are you familiar with? Engage in self-regulated learning and self-test.
The NCBE provides information about preparing here.
Our in school partnership with Helix Bar Review allows you to study for both the bar exam and the MPRE for FREE! If you'd like to enroll in a free MPRE prep course with Helix, sign up here. This is an excellent way to sample Helix' program of study and approach to test prep so you can make an informed decision later when it comes to choosing your bar review course.