California Bar Exam to Transition to the NextGen UBE in July 2028
The California Bar Exam is undergoing one of its most significant changes in decades. On July 15, 2026, the State Bar of California officially announced that beginning with the July 2028 administration, California will adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE), developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
This is much more than a change in testing format. It represents a fundamental restructuring of the California Bar Exam and will affect not only first-time applicants but also attorneys already licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions who plan to seek admission in California.
The official announcement is available here:
What Will Change?
Perhaps the most noticeable change is that the California Bar Exam will become a fully computer-based examination.
The NextGen UBE will be administered using the ITS testing platform at designated in-person testing centers throughout California. Unlike the current examination, paper exam materials will generally no longer be provided except as an approved testing accommodation.
Another significant development is California's plan to introduce its own California Component. According to the State Bar, this additional component will test areas of California law currently covered on the bar examination and will also include Employment Law and Family Law. However, this California Component will not be introduced before July 2029.
As a result, applicants taking the July 2028 or February 2029 California Bar Exam will sit only for the NextGen UBE without any separate California-specific component.
What Does This Mean for Attorneys Already Licensed in Another State?
For attorneys already admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction, this announcement carries particularly important implications.
Currently, eligible attorneys may qualify to take California's one-day Attorney's Exam instead of the full bar examination. However, the State Bar has advised that there may be no Attorney's Exam offered in either July 2028 or February 2029.
The State Bar also encourages eligible attorneys who wish to become licensed in California before 2029 to complete the current Attorney's Exam no later than the February 2028 administration.
If an attorney does not obtain a passing score on the current Attorney's Exam before July 2028, they will likely be required to take the NextGen UBE and achieve California's required passing score. Beginning in July 2029, the California Component is expected to replace the current Attorney's Exam.
For attorneys considering California admission through the existing Attorney's Exam pathway, the available timeline may therefore be much shorter than many realize.
Where Can You Learn More About the NextGen UBE?
The NCBE has published extensive information about the NextGen UBE, including tested subjects, content outlines, lawyering skills being assessed, sample questions, study materials, and a preview of the examination software.
Applicants planning to take the new examination are encouraged to review these materials well in advance, as the NextGen UBE emphasizes practical legal skills in addition to substantive legal knowledge.
Official NCBE resources are available here:
https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen
The State Bar of California will also continue to publish updates through its Admissions webpage as additional implementation details become available.
Key Takeaways
The California Bar Exam will transition to the NextGen UBE beginning with the July 2028 administration, introducing a fully computer-based examination. California's separate California Component is expected to begin no earlier than July 2029 and will cover California-specific legal subjects, including Employment Law and Family Law.
Perhaps most importantly, attorneys already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction who intend to use the current one-day Attorney's Exam pathway should carefully consider the February 2028 administration. Based on the State Bar's announcement, this may be the final opportunity to qualify under the current system before significant changes take effect.
As California joins the growing number of U.S. jurisdictions adopting the NextGen UBE, prospective applicants should closely monitor future announcements and begin preparing for the new examination format as early as possible.
If you have questions regarding the California Bar Exam transition, attorney admissions, cross-border legal practice, or other U.S. legal matters, LexSoy Legal LLC would be pleased to assist you. Please contact us at contact@lexsoy.com.
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