From NCBE: Starting with the July 2026 bar exam, the MEE will no longer test conflict of laws, family law, trusts and estates, or secured transactions. This change will enable students to make course selections that will support their preparation for the bar exam even if they don’t yet know which exam they will be taking.
The NextGen bar exam (set to debut in July 2026) will test a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, utilizing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law. Designed to balance the skills and knowledge needed in litigation and transactional legal practice, the exam will reflect many of the key changes that law schools are making today, building on the successes of clinical legal education programs, alternative dispute resolution programs, and legal writing and analysis programs. (National Conference of Bar Examiners).
Bar admission is regulated by each state's board of bar examiners. Bar requirements are state-specific and vary from state to state, so it's important to check the requirements for the jurisdiction in which you plan to practice law.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) produces five multistate bar examinations. Each state determines which of the tests it will use. States may also have a state-specific component.