An Interesting Past Few Days for the California Bar Exam
- Tommy Sangchompuphen
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 16
California has officially adopted the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, marking a major shift in how the state will license new attorneys.
This decision comes at the end of what may become one of the most consequential weeks in the recent history of California’s bar exam. Over the span of just eight days, three major developments—each significant on its own—collectively signaled the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
While details about score portability under the NextGen bar exam have not yet been released, the move means that 52 jurisdictions have now announced adoption of the NextGen framework, with nine jurisdictions beginning administration with the July 2026 exam. (Only Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada, and Puerto Rico have not yet adopted the NextGen UBE.)
Taken together, these developments in California reflect a broader narrative: From accountability to resolution to reform, the week captured California’s efforts to learn from the challenges surrounding the February 2025 bar exam while charting a new course for the future of attorney licensing.
Last week saw the release of the California State Auditor's report examining the administration of the February 2025 California Bar Exam.
The report followed one of the most troubled bar exam administrations in the state's history, during which examinees experienced widespread technical and administrative problems. In its public response, the State Bar acknowledged the unacceptable experiences many applicants faced and agreed with all of the auditor's recommendations.
Just as importantly, the State Bar highlighted the extensive reforms already implemented or underway. Those efforts include strengthening vendor oversight, revising procurement practices, restructuring the Office of Admissions, enhancing exam development and validation procedures, and creating new oversight mechanisms within the Committee of Bar Examiners.
The message was clear: Acknowledge what went wrong, implement meaningful reforms, and rebuild confidence in California's bar examination process.
Four days later, the State Bar announced that it had reached a settlement with Meazure Learning, the vendor responsible for administering the February 2025 bar exam.
Under the settlement, Meazure Learning agreed to pay the State Bar $5.25 million and waive an additional $1.36 million invoice. In exchange, the State Bar agreed to dismiss its lawsuit, which had alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract.
While the settlement does not erase the difficulties experienced by February 2025 examinees, it does bring the litigation stemming from that administration to a close. The announcement represented another step toward moving beyond one of the most difficult periods in the history of California's bar exam.
Just two days later, California shifted its attention squarely to the future.
On July 15, the California Supreme Court approved the State Bar's recommendation to adopt the NextGen UBE, beginning with the July 2028 administration.
The Court also directed the State Bar's Committee of Bar Examiners to develop a proposal for a California-specific testing component that could be added beginning in July 2029. If adopted, that component would assess California law while complementing the national NextGen examination.
The announcement preserves the state's longstanding interest in testing California-specific law.
In just one remarkable week, California managed to look backward, resolve the present, and take a significant step toward the future.
