How Law Students Should Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam

If you’re a current law student, there’s no doubt you’ve heard about the NextGen Bar Exam—the updated version of the bar exam set to roll out in July 2026. With its focus on real-world legal skills and an integrated approach to testing, this exam is reshaping how students should prepare. Fortunately, if you start early and strategically, you can put yourself in an excellent position to succeed.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to prepare for the NextGen bar exam, including what resources to use (hint: we have some great ones!), how to approach your law school classes, and what changes to expect.

Understand the Format: Review NCBE’s NextGen Example Questions

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has released example questions to give students a preview of what’s to come. Unlike the traditional bar exam, which separates legal topics into distinct sections, the NextGen exam integrates doctrine with lawyering skills like legal research, client counseling, and negotiation.

So why should you look at these sample questions now?

They show how legal analysis will be tested in practical, scenario-based ways.
They highlight integrated skills you should start developing in law school—like reading fact patterns from multiple perspectives or identifying ethical issues in real-world contexts.

You can find examples directly on the NCBE website, and we strongly recommend setting aside time to work through them early in your law school journey.

Use JD Advising’s NextGen Bar Exam One-Sheet

We created a NextGen Bar Exam One-Sheet Summary specifically for law students who want a clear, concise overview of the changes and what to expect. This one-sheet breaks down the structure of the exam, outlines the tested subjects and skills, and provides actionable tips on how to begin preparing now. Check out the free NextGen Bar Exam One-Sheet here

We designed it to be user-friendly and high-yield—perfect for printing out and keeping in your study binder.

Start Early: Focus on Foundational Concepts and Skills for the NextGen Bar Exam

The foundational subjects and skills tested on the NextGen Bar Exam will vary slightly depending on when you take the exam—especially between 2026 and 2028 and starting in July 2028. To ensure you’re preparing for the correct material, we recommend reviewing the official NCBE content scope here: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope

This page outlines the specific doctrinal subjects (called Foundational Concepts and Principles) and lawyering skillsthat will be tested based on your exam date.

What You Can Do Now

Regardless of when you’re taking the exam, the best thing you can do now is build a strong foundation during your doctrinal courses in law school. Here are some simple but effective ways to start:

Take detailed, organized notes in your classes—especially courses like Civil Procedure, Contracts, Evidence, and Constitutional Law.
Create and regularly update your own outlines to reinforce what you’re learning.
Use our law school outlines to supplement your class materials and ensure you’re covering high-yield topics.
Begin developing core legal skills (like writing, analysis, and communication) through clinics, legal writing courses, or by working with one of our law school tutors.

Starting early with these habits will not only help you in law school—it will give you a major head start when it’s time to study for the bar exam.

Practice Skill-Based Learning

One of the hallmarks of the NextGen exam is its emphasis on skills over pure memorization. You’ll need to demonstrate your ability to:

Analyze legal scenarios
Conduct legal research
Draft clear, client-focused communications
Spot ethical and procedural issues
Apply rules in a practical context

We suggest getting in the habit of thinking like a lawyer as early as 1L year. Here are some ways to develop those skills:

Participate in legal writing and research assignments with attention to how you’ll be tested on those skills later.
Join clinics, externships, or mock trial teams, where you can start applying legal principles in real-world contexts.
Use our law school tutoring if you want personalized support to strengthen your legal reasoning and writing skills.

Stay Informed as the Bar Exam Evolves

The NCBE will continue releasing updates, resources, and practice materials as the launch of the NextGen Bar Exam approaches. We’ll also be updating our own materials and courses to reflect the latest developments.

We recommend subscribing to both the NCBE NextGen page and our JD Advising newsletter to stay informed. We’ll share:

Key updates
Study strategies
Practice resources tailored for NextGen
New product launches designed to match the NextGen format

Being proactive means fewer surprises down the line!

Build a Long-Term Bar Prep Strategy with JD Advising

Preparing for the NextGen Bar Exam starts now. If you’re in law school, particularly in your 1L or 2L year, begin laying the groundwork with:

Strong outlines
Consistent review of foundational subjects
Active development of legal skills
Familiarity with the new exam format

And don’t forget to take advantage of our NextGen-focused materials like the NextGen Bar Exam One-Sheet, our law school outlines, and tutoring services if you need extra support.

We’re here to help you succeed—not just on the exam, but in building the legal skills that will carry you through your career.

Let’s start preparing for the NextGen Bar Exam—together!

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How Law Students Should Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam