Montana Board of Bar Examiners, State Bar ask Supreme Court to adopt NextGen bar exam in February 2028

The Montana Board of Bar Examiners and the State Bar of Montana have jointly asked the Montana Supreme Court to adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, beginning in February 2028. The NextGen exam is designed to better reflect how lawyers actually practice. In addition to core legal subjects, it focuses on real-world skills like legal analysis, research, writing, and client counseling.

With the current Uniform Bar Exam set to phase out in 2028 and most states already adopting NextGen, this change would keep Montana aligned nationally and preserve score portability for future attorneys. This proposal reflects a commitment to fairness, consistency, and ensuring newly licensed lawyers are prepared to serve the people of Montana.

To review the full petition, visit: https://www.montanabar.org/Portals/MONTANA/Regina/Supreme Court Orders/AF 11-0244 FILED Petition - Bar-Administration.pdf?ver=BrkMNzheLOjsSiXXiSsE1A%3d%3d.