For decades, the bar exam tested one thing above all else: memorization of black letter law. But that approach didn’t necessarily reflect what a newly licensed lawyer does in real legal practice.
The NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) was developed to fix that gap. And the new format is here.
Starting with the July 2026 administration, NextGen replaces the legacy bar exam in some jurisdictions. Instead of testing doctrine in isolation, the new exam integrates legal knowledge with practical lawyering skills—evaluating whether you can actually apply the law in realistic scenarios.
What’s different about the NextGen UBE:
- Skills + doctrine are tested together, not separately
- Real-world tasks replace abstract memorization
- Integrated question sets simulate actual legal work
- Performance test tasks mirror day-one attorney responsibilities
- Digital, computer-based testing environment
The good news is that BARBRI has built a course designed specifically for the NextGen bar exam. Here’s a look at how BARBRI's NextGen Bar Review positions you to succeed.
Innovating Today for Tomorrow’s Lawyers
BARBRI recognized early that the bar exam shift to NextGen required a completely new approach to bar prep, not a modified version of a legacy course. Preparing students for the NextGen UBE required rethinking not just content, but also course design, instructional strategy, and how learning is reinforced.
So back in 2023, our legal and instructional design experts rolled up their sleeves and started preparing for this transition. They redesigned core elements of the BARBRI bar prep experience to align with the NextGen UBE's direction. Those early decisions laid the foundation for a purpose‑built course intentionally designed around how the exam assesses practice readiness.
BARBRI didn’t wait for the future of the bar exam to arrive. Our experts started building for it years ago; and you get to benefit from that head start.
Build Your Practical Legal Skills for the NextGen UBE
Look Inside the BARBRI NextGen Bar Review Course
Explore BARBRI NextGen Bar Prep
If the NextGen UBE is testing how you apply the law, then memorizing outlines just isn’t enough anymore. The exam is shifting, and the skills it measures are shifting with it.
NextGen demands something different from you:
- Contextual understanding: knowing why a rule matters, not just what it says
- Real‑time decision‑making: choosing the right path under pressure
- Practical application: using legal tools the way real lawyers do
That’s why BARBRI stepped back and asked the key question: What does bar prep need to look like if the exam is truly about practice readiness?
That mindset shift away from rote memorization and toward real‑world legal thinking is what drove BARBRI to redesign its course to provide exam familiarity. You don’t just learn the material, you learn how to use it.
Skills Scenarios: Learn by Doing
BARBRI’s immersive Skills Scenarios put you in realistic legal situations working as an associate at a fictitious law firm, where you must analyze facts, make decisions, and apply the law.
- Solve unfolding legal problems
- Work through fact patterns like the real exam
- Develop practical lawyering skills alongside doctrine
Because this is how the NextGen exam assesses you, you gain the competence and confidence to tackle its skills-focused approach.
Integrated Practice That Matches the Exam
BARBRI incorporates NextGen-style integrated question sets, so you get exposure to the actual testing format.
- Practice questions modeled on the real exam
- Mixed formats that reflect real legal tasks
- Repetition that builds both knowledge and application
Together, these elements ensure you’re not just practicing more—you’re practicing the way NextGen will test you.
Authentic NCBE-Licensed Content
BARBRI’s course includes licensed content from the NCBE, giving you:
- Realistic exam questions
- Familiarity with structure and format
BARBRI’s access to licensed NCBE content gives you the most authentic practice experience possible, so you walk into test day with the confidence of knowing exactly what to expect.
Real Exam Platform Experience
You won’t be guessing what exam day looks like. With BARBRI NextGen bar prep, you get:
- Exposure to the official testing platform
- Practice using the same interface you’ll see on exam day
Enroll in NextGen Preview for free for a taste of BARBRI’s unique features and functionality.
Personalized Learning + Proven Technology
BARBRI NextGen bar prep brings together:
- Personalized study plans with the only truly customizable calendar
- Flexible learning tools
- Expert-led instruction
- Most accurate pass predictor
- Foundations Episodes to break down complex concepts
These things create a study experience that works with the way you learn. It’s a system built to help you move through material faster, understand it more deeply, and reinforce it in ways that stick. You’re not left to simply check boxes. Instead, you build real confidence every step of the way.
Prepare for the NextGen Era, Pass with Confidence
The NextGen UBE isn’t harder. It’s just different. To pass, you need to shift your study approach:
- Stop memorizing in isolation — focus on application.
- Practice integrated questions early and often.
- Build real lawyering skills alongside doctrine.
- Use exam-aligned prep tools (not legacy materials).
And most importantly, choose a course built for the NextGen exam from day one. With BARBRI’s NextGen Bar Review, you’re not just studying for the bar, you’re learning how to think, analyze, and perform like a lawyer.
Explore BARBRI NextGen Bar Prep or enroll in Free NextGen Preview.
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