Indiana is set to transition to a new bar examination format in July 2028, as announced by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). This change marks a significant shift from the current Uniform Bar Examination, which the state has utilized since 2021. The Indiana Supreme Court, which oversees the bar exam, has endorsed the move to the NextGen bar exam, giving law schools in the state ample time to adjust their curricula accordingly.
The NextGen bar exam is designed to test practical legal skills over rote memorization, a departure from the traditional format. This new exam will feature scenarios that incorporate various knowledge areas and skills, as detailed by the U.S. News & World Report.
Brad Skolnik, the executive director of the Indiana judicial branch’s admission and continuing education department, emphasized the importance of this transition. “By adopting the exam effective July 2028, we are providing Indiana’s law schools with the time they may need to make any necessary changes to their curriculum to ensure students are well-prepared for the exam,” Skolnik stated. “Our commitment remains to ensure we have highly qualified lawyers available to serve the needs of the public.”
What’s on the New Test?
According to a press release from the NCBE, the NextGen exam will cover nine legal focuses, including civil procedure, evidence, contract law, torts, business associations, criminal law, constitutional law, real property, and family law. It will also test essential skills such as legal research and writing, client counseling, investigation, and evaluation.
The exam will be administered over two days, totaling nine hours, which is shorter than the current 12-hour Uniform Bar Examination. Additionally, while the test will be conducted in-person, candidates will take the exam on personal computers.
Indiana joins 22 other U.S. jurisdictions in adopting the NextGen bar exam. Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon, the first states to adopt this version, will administer the test in July 2026. The NCBE will offer both the Uniform Bar Exam and the NextGen test through February 2028, allowing states time to transition smoothly.
In January 2024, law students from IU’s Maurer and McKinney Schools of Law and the University of Notre Dame Law School participated in a three-hour field test of the NextGen Bar Exam. A press release from the McKinney School of Law highlighted their efforts to evaluate if they are adequately preparing students for this new format.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle provides further insights into this development, emphasizing the broader implications for legal education and practice in the state.
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