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Admission to the Bar - Preparation and Resources: 2026 NextGen Bar Exam

This guide provides background and handy resources for students facing the last remaining hurdle before a career in the law--the bar exam.

2026 NextGen Bar Exam

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has created the NextGen Bar Exam, which will be first administered to law school graduates in July of 2026. This version of the bar exam is going to test an applicant's skill in lawyering skills, which can include issue spotting, legal research and analysis, and client counseling. The exam will also focus on testing the applicant's knowledge of substantive law. The format of the exam will be as follows:

  • The first day will consist of two sessions lasting three hours apiece.
  • The second day will consist of one more three-hour session. Another session on this day might be added by the bar examiners.

 

Below are resources the University of Baltimore Law Library has compiled to help students prepare for this exam.

NextGen Bar: Subjects

The following are the topics covered by the NextGen Bar Exam:

    • Civil Procedure
    • Contract Law
    • Evidence
    • Torts
    • Business Associations
    • Constitutional Law
    • Criminal Law
    • Real Property

More information can be found on the NextGen content scope outlines.

NextGen Bar: Lawyering Skills

The test will also look at an applicant's skill in performing:

  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Issue Spotting and Analysis
  • Investigation and Evaluation
  • Client Counseling and Advising
  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
  • Client Relationship and Management

More information can be found on the NextGen content scope outlines.

NextGen Sample Questions

Below are links to sample questions for the NextGen Bar Exam provided by NCBE.