These States Are Leading The Charge For An Updated Bar Exam

// Change is coming for the legal profession’s licensing exam. The National Conference of Bar Examiners previously announced the NextGen Bar Exam, designed to restructure the licensing test to better gauge problem-solving skills over rote memorization, is the wave of the future for the bar exam. And this new test will — eventually — replace the old bar exam lawyers have come to know and hate.

Fresh off the news that the old test will take longer to ride off into the sunset than previously believed, today, the NCBE announced which states have already cemented their plans for the new test.

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Five jurisdictions are the first to announce that they intend to administer a new bar exam, which will replace the licensure test currently given to aspiring attorneys across the US. Bar admission agencies in Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon intend to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2026. Wyoming intends to first administer the exam in July 2027. Connecticut has not yet finalized its first administration date.

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NCBE President and CEO Judith Gundersen said, “We are thrilled to have these jurisdictions on board as part of the inaugural administration of the NextGen bar exam. NCBE looks forward to working with all jurisdictions as their high courts and boards of bar examiners determine the appropriate timing and details for moving forward into a new era of lawyer licensure in the US.”

Amit Schlesinger, Kaplan’s executive director of legal and government programs, had this to say about what the development means for those looking to pass the bar exam — in whatever format their preferred jurisdiction decides:

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“We can understand why states may begin to roll out their plans quickly, as it would add a layer of certainty to a process that has not been short of surprises. There’s a real eagerness, from what we’ve seen and heard, to modernize legal education and produce adaptable, forward-thinking lawyers. Aspiring attorneys have a lot on their minds and want to plan accordingly, even if this is still a few years down the line. Kaplan is proactively preparing for the forthcoming bar exam changes, already serving our partner schools with NextGen-ready diagnostics and cutting-edge curriculum. The future of legal education is here and we are committed to equipping aspiring lawyers with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their future careers.”

In touting her state’s decision to get on board with the NextGen test, Hon. Cynthia L. Martin, Judge of the Court of Appeals, Western District of Missouri, said, “Missouri has long been a leader in embracing forward-thinking enhancements in attorney licensure, including being the first state to adopt the concept of a portable bar examination score with the Uniform Bar Examination. That proud tradition continues with Missouri’s commitment to be among the first states to administer the NextGen bar examination in July 2026. Missouri’s decision reflects trust and confidence in the research underlying development of the NextGen bar exam, which will emulate a ‘day in the life’ of a lawyer by integrating the assessment of core lawyering skills and foundational doctrine, consistent with the expectations of a newly licensed lawyer securing a general license to practice law in the interest of public protection.”

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While Oregon State Bar President Lee Ann Donaldson noted, “This model will ensure that new Oregon attorneys are practice-ready when they join our bar.”

And Maryland is similarly proud to be in the first wave of new test jurisdictions:

Jeff Shipley, the director of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, commented, “Maryland is excited to be able to announce now our intention to adopt the NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2026, providing our law schools with ample notice so that they can begin preparing for the change. We believe the NextGen exam will be a valuable tool for helping ensure that every newly licensed attorney in Maryland is ready to begin practicing law.”

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Those are certainly positive spins on the change. But the soon-to-be lawyers in Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon will see how it really feels to be the guinea pigs for the new bar exam.

Jeff Shipley, the director of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, commented, “Maryland is excited to be able to announce now our intention to adopt the NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2026, providing our law schools with ample notice so that they can begin preparing for the change. We believe the NextGen exam will be a valuable tool for helping ensure that every newly licensed attorney in Maryland is ready to begin practicing law.”

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Amit Schlesinger, Bar Exams, Law Schools, NextGen Bar Exam