Get Ready for the NextGen UBE
The NextGen Uniform Bar Exam begins rolling out in July 2026 – a new bar exam designed to assess the knowledge and skills needed in today’s legal practice.
Choose your pathway to explore tailored resources for your needs: exam overview, timelines, preparation, administration, FAQs.
I am an Examinee
Whether you’re a current law student, recent graduate, or preparing for licensure, these pages will help you understand:
- What the NextGen UBE will test
- How to prepare for skills as well as doctrine
Select "Learn More" to dive into what your registration, exam day, and scoring will look like.
I am a Bar Administrator or Legal Educator
If you oversee bar licensure policies, academic preparation, curriculum alignment, or student support services, you’ll want to explore:
- How the transition to the NextGen UBE affects your jurisdiction or institution
- What the content specification and exam administration changes mean
Select "Learn More" to dive into research and reports.
What’s Different About the NextGen UBE
- Tests a broad range of foundational lawyering skills
- Focuses on a core set of legal concepts and principles essential for entry-level practice
- Will be administered over one and a half days (two three-hour sessions on Day 1, one three-hour session on Day 2)
- Delivered on examinees’ own laptops in a fully secure online platform, with assistive technology support for examinees receiving accommodations
- Scores will be reported on a scale from 500 to 750; each jurisdiction sets its own passing score
- Maintains portability of scores across participating jurisdictions
Key Dates & Timeline
- First administration: July 2026
- Participating July 2026 jurisdictions: Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, and Washington
- Transition period: Phased rollout between July 2026 and February 2028; all NextGen UBE jurisdictions will begin administering by July 2028
What’s Being Tested
Foundational Concepts & Principles:
- Business Associations & Relationships
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law and Constitutional Protections of Accused Persons
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
- Family Law (beginning July 2028)
Foundational Lawyering Skills:
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Issue Spotting and Analysis
- Investigation and Evaluation
- Client Counseling and Advising
- Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
- Client Relationship and Management
NextGen UBE Content Scope
To learn about the subjects and skills tested on the NextGen UBE, see the NextGen UBE Content Scope.
NextGen UBE Sample Questions
Learn more about NextGen UBE question types and view sample questions, visit our NextGen sample questions page.
NextGen UBE Examinees' Guide
Learn more about NextGen's exam structure, timing, scoring, and portability with this all-encompassing resource.
NextGen UBE Software Preview
Explore the features and layout of the NextGen testing platform with this online preview.