NextGen Bar

Overview

The NextGen bar exam is the new version of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) for lawyers in the United States, developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). It tests a broad range of foundational lawyering skills using a focused set of fundamental legal concepts that apply to both litigation and transactional practice.

The first administration was scheduled for July 2026 in ten jurisdictions: Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, the Virgin Islands and Washington. NCBE notes that the July 2026 administration in Washington was cancelled, and a make-up exam was held on September 1-2 for affected applicants. Between July 2026 and July 2028 most jurisdictions will move to it: NCBE lists July 2027 for twelve jurisdictions (Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming), February 2028 for Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Montana, and July 2028 for most of the rest.

Who can apply

Admission to the bar is decided by each jurisdiction, not by NCBE. Eligibility rules and registration are handled through the bar admission authority of the jurisdiction where you want to be licensed. The NCBE pages reviewed did not set out eligibility criteria.

Exam pattern

The exam runs for one and a half days: two three-hour sessions on the first day and one three-hour session on the second, nine hours in total. Examinees take it on laptops at proctored test locations, using a secure online platform that delivers the questions and collects answers. A software preview is available before the exam, and assistive technology is offered to examinees who need accommodations.

Question types are multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets and performance tasks.

Syllabus

Foundational legal concepts. The exam draws on eight areas: business associations, civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, evidence, real property and torts. During the transition period through February 2028, family law concepts appear in a performance task on every exam, and trusts and estates concepts also appear in performance tasks.

Foundational lawyering skills. The exam assesses legal research, legal writing, issue spotting and analysis, investigation and evaluation, client counselling and advising, negotiation and dispute resolution, and client relationship and management.

NCBE publishes a detailed content scope document on its site.

Marking and results

Each examinee receives a single score on a scale of 500 to 750. Each jurisdiction sets its own passing score. Most participating jurisdictions accept portable scores, so a score can be used to apply for admission in another participating jurisdiction.

Important dates

• First administration: July 2026 (a make-up exam was held September 1-2, 2026 after the Washington cancellation).

• February 23-24, 2027.

• July 27-28, 2027.

• February 22-23, 2028.

As shown on the NCBE adoption map in 2026, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada and Puerto Rico have made no announcement about the NextGen UBE; every other listed jurisdiction has adopted it or already gives it.

How to apply

Register through the bar admission authority of your target jurisdiction. Fees and application steps are set by that jurisdiction, and the NCBE pages reviewed did not state a fee.

Preparation tips

• Check which exam your jurisdiction gives on your test date, since the move to NextGen is staged through 2028.

• Read the NCBE content scope document and practise the three question types.

• Try the software preview so the exam platform is familiar before test day.