Yes. Texas is adopting the NextGen Bar Exam, with its first administration scheduled for July 2028.
That means law students planning to take the Texas bar exam in July 2028 or later should prepare for a different exam than the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) currently administered in the state.
The change is part of a broader transition taking place across the country as jurisdictions begin moving to the NextGen Bar Exam, a new exam developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
Here's what future Texas bar examinees should know.
When Will Texas Begin Administering the NextGen Bar Exam?
Texas is scheduled to administer the NextGen Bar Exam for the first time in July 2028.
The Supreme Court of Texas issued an order in June 2024 adopting the NextGen Bar Exam, and the Texas Board of Law Examiners has been working toward implementation.
Until the transition, Texas will continue administering its current bar exam. That makes your anticipated graduation and testing date particularly important.
If you expect to take the Texas bar exam before July 2028, you will likely prepare for the current exam. If you expect to sit for the exam in July 2028 or later, you should plan for NextGen.
What is the NextGen Bar Exam?
The NextGen Bar Exam is a new attorney licensing examination developed by the NCBE.
Rather than testing legal knowledge and lawyering skills largely through separate components, NextGen is designed to integrate foundational legal concepts with practical skills.
The exam focuses on the knowledge and skills newly licensed attorneys are expected to use in practice.
That includes foundational lawyering skills such as:
- Legal research
- Legal writing
- Issue spotting and analysis
- Investigation and evaluation
- Client counseling and advising
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Client relationship and management
For students accustomed to hearing about the MBE, MEE and MPT, this represents a meaningful change in how bar exam preparation will look.
How Will the Texas Bar Exam Change?
Texas currently administers the UBE. With the July 2028 transition, Texas will replace the UBE with the NextGen Bar Exam.
Texas is also developing a Texas Law Component as part of its implementation of NextGen.
That means future Texas applicants should not assume preparing for the nationally developed NextGen exam will be their only requirement. Jurisdiction-specific requirements can remain part of the admission process even as states adopt NextGen.
Applicants should continue checking information from the Texas Board of Law Examiners as additional details about the Texas Law Component and other requirements become available.
What If I Take the Bar Exam Before July 2028?
If your anticipated Texas bar exam date is before July 2028, the NextGen transition should not change the exam you are currently preparing to take.
Students planning further ahead, however, should pay close attention to their expected testing date.
For example, a student beginning law school in fall 2025 and following a traditional three-year path may graduate in spring 2028. That could place the student directly in the first group of Texas examinees taking NextGen.
Knowing which exam applies to you can help you make better decisions about bar preparation.
Will Texas Accept Transferred NextGen Scores?
Texas has indicated that it will accept transferred NextGen UBE scores beginning in July 2026, before the state begins administering NextGen itself in July 2028.
Score portability can be important for students who are considering practicing in more than one jurisdiction. However, admission rules involve more than a portable bar exam score.
Applicants should verify Texas's current score-transfer policies and all other admission requirements before making decisions based on portability.
How Should Texas Law Students Prepare for NextGen?
If you are likely to take NextGen in Texas, you do not need to wait until graduation to begin developing the skills the exam will test.
Law school provides opportunities to strengthen legal analysis, writing, research and problem-solving skills. Clinics, internships, externships, simulation courses and other practical experiences can also help you become more comfortable applying legal knowledge to realistic scenarios.
When bar preparation begins, however, your study program should be specifically designed for the exam you will take.
Preparing for NextGen should mean practicing NextGen-style questions and tasks, not simply using a study strategy developed for the UBE.
Stay Current as Texas Moves Toward NextGen
Get Ready for the NextGen Bar Exam with BARBRI
If you plan to take the Texas bar exam in July 2028 or later, now is the time to understand what NextGen means for your path to licensure. BARBRI is evolving alongside the bar exam, with proven bar prep strategies, practice and resources designed for the NextGen format.
Explore BARBRI's NextGen Bar Exam resources to learn what's changing, what to expect and how BARBRI can help you prepare for exam day.
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