US Bar Exam Overhaul: Will the NextGen Test Create More Equitable Pathways for Aspiring Lawyers? – Times of India
NextGen Bar Exam Launches in 2026: A Shift Towards Practical Legal Skills (Getty Images) The United States is on the brink of a transformative shift in how lawyers are licensed, with more than half of U.S. jurisdictions opting to adopt the NextGen Bar Exam by its debut in July 2026. Designed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), this revamped exam aims to focus on practical legal skills rather than rote memorization, marking the first major redesign in 25 years. But as the legal community prepares for this seismic change, critical questions arise: Will this new format create a fairer pathway for underrepresented groups? Or will it introduce new challenges for aspiring lawyers?Unlike its predecessor, the Uniform Bar Exam, it is designed to better reflect the practical skills a...