Following the introduction of the NextGen bar exam in July 2026, the current iteration of the bar exam is slated to stop being administered after July 2027, as announced by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). The soon-to-be-phased-out bar exam, also known as the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), includes the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
According to the NCBE’s announcement, the precise timing of when jurisdictions will first administer the NextGen bar exam is still under consideration. Sophie S. Martin, Director of Communications, Education, and Outreach for the NCBE, clarifies that, “There is no hard deadline for these decisions.” The NextGen exam is set to debut a year before the last UBE is to be held.
As the legal profession prepares for this transition, professionals are urged to stay updated by following official NCBE communications and familiarising themselves with the structure and requirements of the NextGen bar exam. For a more detailed understanding of this development, professionals may refer to this Law.com report.