A New Type of Bar Exam is Coming to Ohio in 2028

 

According to a press release from Court News Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court plans to join 33 other states in administering the NextGen Bar Exam starting in July 2028. Developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the new exam format is designed to align closely with the real-world responsibilities of newly licensed attorneys. It focuses on nine areas of legal doctrine and seven foundational lawyering skills, including civil procedure, evidence, and criminal law, as well as legal research, client counseling, negotiation, and issue analysis. Ethical considerations are integrated throughout the exam to emphasize professional integrity.

The NextGen Bar Exam will also reduce overall testing time from 12 to 9 hours. Click here to read more details in the Supreme Court’s press release.

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