If you're preparing for the NextGen Bar Exam, you may be wondering whether Family Law is still tested. The answer depends on when you take the exam.
Family Law is part of the NextGen Bar Exam, but how it is tested changes beginning with the July 2028 administration. Understanding that distinction can help you study more efficiently and avoid spending time on material you don't need to memorize.
How Is Family Law Tested?
For July 2026 through February 2028, Family Law appears on every NextGen exam, but it is not tested as a foundational subject requiring memorization.
Instead, Family Law is tested through performance-based and integrated questions where candidates are provided the legal authorities they need, such as statutes or case law. The focus is on applying legal resources and demonstrating lawyering skills rather than recalling black-letter law from memory.
What Changes in July 2028?
Beginning with the July 2028 NextGen Bar Exam, Family Law becomes one of the exam's Foundational Concepts and Principles.
That means candidates will be expected to know core Family Law concepts without being provided legal resources. Family Law may appear in standalone multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, or performance tasks.
What Family Law Skills Matter Most?
Regardless of when you take the exam, you should be prepared to:
- Read and analyze legal authorities
- Apply legal rules to client scenarios
- Identify legal issues
- Communicate legal conclusions clearly
These are the same practical skills the NextGen Bar Exam is designed to measure across multiple subject areas.
How Should I Study?
If you're taking the exam before July 2028, spend less time memorizing Family Law rules and more time practicing legal analysis using provided authorities.
If you're taking the exam in July 2028 or later, you'll also need to build a solid understanding of foundational Family Law doctrine as part of your overall bar preparation.
Ready to Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam?
Family Law remains part of the NextGen Bar Exam, but its role is evolving. Knowing how it will be tested on your administration can help you focus your study time where it will have the greatest impact.
BARBRI NextGen Bar Review keeps pace with changes to the NextGen Bar Exam, helping you build both substantive legal knowledge and the practical skills you'll need on exam day.
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