The NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) represents the legal profession’s recognition that modern lawyers need practical skills, not just the ability to memorize and recite black letter law. While the bar exam format change may create some study uncertainty, this transformation comes with the important purpose of better aligning attorney licensure with actual practice demands.
Preparing for the NextGen UBE requires a strategic approach that prioritizes skill development alongside knowledge acquisition. You are not just studying for a test; you are building the foundation for your entire legal career. BARBRI is here to help you stay ahead of the curve by aligning your study strategies with the new bar exam format and focus.
Our NextGen UBE bar prep provides tested course tools designed to immerse you in real-world scenarios that mirror the types of tasks you will see on the NextGen exam. So, get ready to research and draft legal analyses under timed conditions, provide simulated client counseling, and more — with confidence.
Actionable Study Tips for NextGen Success
Start Honing Lawyering Skills Early
The best time to start developing Foundational lawyering skills is now, even if you are still in law school. Don't wait until your dedicated bar prep period to start problem-solving like a lawyer.
- Engage in experiential learning: Participate in clinics, externships, and practical skills courses. These experiences provide invaluable, hands-on training in client counseling, negotiation, and legal drafting. They move legal theory from the textbook to the real world, building the muscle memory you’ll need on the exam.
- Focus on Foundational subjects: The NextGen UBE will test a core set of Foundational legal subjects. Prioritize courses in the Foundational topics; they are the bedrock upon which practical skills are built.
- Reinforce core concepts: BARBRI 2L/3L Exam Success is a tool you can use right now to make complex legal topics more engaging and memorable. On-demand lectures by renowned experts and accompanying knowledge checks reinforce core law school concepts, ensuring your Foundational knowledge is solid.
Practice Effective Time Management
The NextGen UBE, like its predecessor, is a timed exam. Your ability to perform under pressure is critical. Integrating timed practice into your bar exam prep is essential for building both speed and accuracy.
- Simulate exam conditions: Complete practice questions and performance tasks under timed conditions. This acclimates you to the pace required on exam day, helping you manage anxiety and make strategic decisions about how to allocate your time.
- Use proven assessment tools: BARBRI Bar Review’s Pass Predictor provides key performance insights following your Simulated Exam, to accurately forecast your readiness, identifying your strengths and areas needing more attention. This data-driven feedback helps you study smarter, not harder.
Embrace Active, Integrated Learning
Passive learning, such as simply reading outlines or watching long lectures, is not enough to prepare for the NextGen UBE. You must actively engage with the material and practice applying it to new scenarios.
- Move beyond memorization: Focus on understanding the “why” behind legal rules, not just the “what.” This deeper comprehension allows you to apply principles to unfamiliar fact patterns — a key skill for the new exam.
- Integrate multiple learning strategies: A successful study plan incorporates various tools like short lectures followed by learning questions to boost understanding and retention. As you go, build skills with focused instruction and guidance as you complete practice skills scenarios. Then, put your knowledge and skills to the test with simulated standalone questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks. This integrated approach solidifies your understanding from multiple angles. BARBRI’s Personal Study Plan is expertly designed to guide you through this process, ensuring you cover every subject and skill in the most efficient and effective way.
- Cement your understanding: Engage in a review focused on key topics starred by the NCBE, mock exams, and BARBRI’s adaptive course that prioritizes your weakest areas. Our platform provides detailed explanations for every question you answer (whether correctly or incorrectly), for a valuable learning experience.
Build Foundational Learning. Apply. Master.
BARBRI has been following the evolution of the NextGen bar exam since its announcement and evolving with it. We recognized that success on the new format will require a shift in how you study. That’s why BARBRI NextGen UBE prep was developed to ensure you gain the skills and knowledge to think critically, draw connections, and build the judgment that the exam — and the profession — require.
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