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foundational subjects. While unanimity was not possible, we reached a thoughtful consensus. The first year now consists of four credits each of Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedure, and Property; three credits each of Constitutional Law I and Criminal Law; and six credits of Lawyering Skills, divided evenly across both semesters. After the first year, students must complete Constitutional Law II and Professional Responsibility, three credits each, and four credits of Evidence. The curriculum also includes an upper division writing requirement and a minimum of six credits of experiential learning through clinics, field placements, or simulation courses.

Faculty also reviewed individual courses to identify opportunities to incorporate additional skills training aligned with NextGen. We hope to embed formative assessments that mirror the structure and style of NextGen questions. At the same

time, the faculty remains committed to maintaining the rigor of the program.

Our director of Academic Success and Bar Passage is implementing significant changes in how we support students throughout law school and after graduation. This support continues until graduates successfully pass a bar exam. During the transition period, we will prepare students for both the UBE and NextGen exams, as our graduates sit for bar examinations across multiple jurisdictions. Some may take the UBE as late as February 2028.

Academic success and bar passage programming will be integrated throughout all three years of law school through workshops and targeted training. Commercial bar preparation providers are also developing new materials tailored to NextGen, increasing the availability of supplemental resources designed to

familiarize students with NextGen’ s format and expectations.

Adapting to NextGen has required substantial effort from the NCBE, the board of law examiners, supreme courts, and legal educators. The transition has not been without challenges and more may lie ahead. At the same time, it has created an opportunity to reconsider what new lawyers should be able to demonstrate before entering the profession. Ideally, NextGen will lead to stronger alignment among legal education, licensing, and the realities of practice. For those of us in legal education, the task is clear: remain proactive, collaborative, and focused on student success.

1. Six states and four territories with administer NextGen in July 2026. Twenty three states will administer NextGen for the first time in July 2028.

2. Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts & Estates, and Secured Transactions.

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