In a strategic legal maneuver, Nebraska and Kentucky have officially thrown their hats into the ring, announcing their commitment to adopt the cutting-edge Next Gen bar exam for attorney licensing. However, these states have opted for a patient approach, choosing to implement the revolutionary exam in July 2027, a prudent year after its slated debut in July 2026.
The decision places Nebraska and Kentucky in the company of nine other states pledging allegiance to the Next Gen test, with Oregon, Maryland, and Missouri leading the charge as early adopters.
Initiated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners in 2021, the Next Gen bar exam stands as a beacon of change, shifting the emphasis away from rote memorization of laws towards a focus on practical legal skills. A departure from the current exam’s trifecta—the 200-question Multistate Bar Exam, the Multistate Essay Exam, and the Multistate Performance Test—the Next Gen version promises a streamlined experience, reducing the test duration from 12 to 9 hours.
As the National Conference of Bar Examiners plans to retire the existing Uniform Bar Exam in 2028, the legal landscape undergoes a seismic transformation. Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican expressed the adoption of the Next Gen exam as “the next logical step” in ensuring the state’s legal community admits only the most proficient attorneys. The decision to delay implementation by a year, he contends, allows law schools the essential time to recalibrate their bar preparation programs.
Echoing this sentiment, the Supreme Court of Kentucky, led by Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter, declared the adoption of the Next Gen bar exam as a confident stride toward the future of legal education and testing.
The legal landscape continues its metamorphosis, with Wyoming and Iowa poised to join the Next Gen revolution in July 2027. Meanwhile, Connecticut has signaled its intent to embrace the new test without specifying the timing of its transition.
Amidst mounting pressure on state high courts to select a test for the 2026 cohort, the legal community watches closely as Nebraska and Kentucky chart a course toward a delayed but promising legal evolution.
