Bar Exam Toolbox Blog

NextGen Bar Exam 2026: Expert Insights and Preparation Tips

March 30, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

If you started law school in fall 2023 or later, get ready for something completely different: the NextGen bar exam 2026. This isn’t just a small update to the current test—it’s a complete reimagining of how we assess whether new lawyers are ready to practice.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners has spent years developing this new exam through task forces, focus groups, and extensive evaluation. The goal? Create a more valid measure of the knowledge and skills new lawyers actually need. And we think that’s a really positive change.

Podcast Episode 345: Early Bar Prep with Themis Bar Review

March 17, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we’re speaking with Themis Bar Review experts Zach Lindesmith and Michele Cooley. The conversation centers around the importance of realistic study planning for the groups of students who need to start their bar prep early.

Note: This episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. With this special promotion, you can save $700 on any July 2026 Themis Bar Review course using the code BAREXAMTB700 at checkout. (This offer is valid until April 3rd, 2026.)

In this episode we discuss:

Who should start studying for the bar early?
Having a realistic planning mindset
Building a support system
Time-blocking and memorization of the material
Shift in the skills that will be tested on the NextGen UBE
Applying for bar exam accommodations
Avoiding burnout and keeping your motivation with the end goal in mind

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 345: Early Bar Prep with Themis Bar Review

Podcast Episode 344: 11 Things You Need to Know About the NextGen UBE

March 3, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! If you’re planning to take the bar exam in July 2026 or February 2027, your exam will look quite different from the current one. The Uniform Bar Exam overhaul includes changes in the structure, the question types, the timing, the grading – basically everything except the stakes. Today we’re walking you through 11 things that every bar taker needs to know about the NextGen UBE. Some of these are structural and some are strategic, and at least a couple might genuinely surprise you.

In this episode we discuss:

Exam structure changes and new question types
What subjects will be tested
How the new grading system works
Preparing for a fully computer-based exam
How the exam will test practical lawyering skills beyond just legal knowledge

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 344: 11 Things You Need to Know About the NextGen UBE

Podcast Episode 343: Listen and Learn — Duties to the Tribunal (Professional Responsibility)

February 17, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we’re discussing ABA’s Model Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, which governs truth telling to the tribunal (a court, arbitrator, administrative agency, or any other body acting in an adjudicative capacity). We break down all of the rule’s nuances and parts, and analyze a few hypothetical scenarios.

In this episode we discuss:

An overview of ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct
The elements of Rule 3.3 “Candor Toward the Tribunal”
A few hypothetical scenarios that show how this topic appears on the bar exam

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 343: Listen and Learn — Duties to the Tribunal (Professional Responsibility)

Making the Most of Your Final Weekend Before the Bar

February 16, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

The final weekend before the bar exam can feel overwhelming. You’ve spent weeks (or months) preparing, and now you’re staring down the last few days before test day. But here’s the thing: studying for the bar exam is like training for a marathon. You need to taper off your training in those final days so you can rest and restore your energy.

Nobody training for a marathon runs 20 miles two days before race day, right? The same principle applies to bar prep. If you’re studying until the very last second, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. Let’s walk through what you should actually be doing this final weekend to show up on exam day well-rested and ready to perform.

Podcast Episode 342: Listen and Learn — Warranties and Disclaimers Under the UCC (Contracts)

January 27, 2026 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we’re discussing contract law – specifically, warranties and the disclaimer of warranties under the UCC. We explain both express and implied warranties and how they can be disclaimed. We also go through several examples to illustrate these rules in practice.

In this episode we discuss:

Express and implied warranties under the UCC
Disclaimer of warranties
A hypothetical scenario from a previous California bar exam

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 342: Listen and Learn — Warranties and Disclaimers Under the UCC (Contracts)

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