Criminal Law Exam Guide - Federal

Federal Criminal Law Exam Structure

• The federal exam is scheduled at the State Bar building in Raleigh.
• Six hours long (four 90-minute modules).
• Exam sessions will begin around 8 AM and finish at approximately 5 PM.
• Open book materials described below. Please note the differences between publications allowed in module 1 and all other modules.

Morning Module 1 – General Criminal Law

• Includes 15 multiple choice questions and 4 short answer questions.
• Focus on constitutional law.
• Open book. You may use your own approved NC Criminal Law and Procedure Statute Books, both Chapter 15A and Chapter 20—including those published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, Blue360 Media, and Westlaw. Tabs allowed, but no handwritten notes.

Morning Module 2 – Federal Criminal Law

• Includes 50 multiple choice questions.
• Open book. You may use a printed copy of the Federal Criminal Code and Rules (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw) and a copy of the US Sentencing Guidelines Manual (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw. Tabs allowed, but no handwritten notes.

60-minute lunch break 

Afternoon Module 1 – Federal Criminal Law

• 16 short answer/short essay questions. (Allow approximately 5-6 minutes per question.)
• Open book. You may use a printed copy of the Federal Criminal Code and Rules (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw) and a copy of the US Sentencing Guidelines Manual (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw). Tabs allowed, but no handwritten notes.

Afternoon Module 2 – Federal Criminal Law

• 16 short answer/short essay questions. (Allow approximately 5-6 minutes per question.)
• Open book. You may use a printed copy of the Federal Criminal Code and Rules (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw) and a copy of the US Sentencing Guidelines Manual (whether published by Lexis Nexis, Thomson Reuters, or Westlaw). Tabs allowed, but no handwritten notes.

All short answer/short essay questions are allocated "points" and require responses that demonstrate accuracy, clarity, sound reasoning, recognition of the problem presented, knowledge of the principle of law involved, and correct application of those principles. Full or partial credit may be given.

Subject Matter

The examination covers the applicant's knowledge in the following topics in criminal law.

(A) Federal Rules of Evidence;

(B) federal criminal procedure;

(C) constitutional law;

(D) trial procedure and trial tactics;

(E) triminal substantive law;

(F) appellate procedure and tactics.

The federal criminal law exam may include any of the following topics.

General Criminal Law – Morning Module I Constitutional Exam Topics

Criminal Law –Federal Law Exam Topics for Morning Module II and Afternoon Modules I and II