All Announcements
We’ve Launched a New Website!
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new website.
The following applications are currently available in the new system: Admission Without Examination, Virginia Corporate Counsel, and Military Spouse Provisional Admission. The application for the July 2026 Bar Examination will be available in February 2026. All other applications will be available by January 31, 2026.
For information regarding a specific application, please select the General Information link associated with that application under the Information & Applications tab on our website.
Important Notice:
Please note that any incomplete applications from the previous system were not transferred to the new website. If you did not complete and submit your application before the transition to the new system, you will need to start a new application using the new system.
February 2026 Bar Exam
Filing Deadline: The statutory filing deadline for the February 2026 Bar Exam is December 15, 2025. Click here for information.
Change to Military Spouse Provisional Admission Application Requirement
Due to recent changes to the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, the Supreme Court of Virginia has authorized the Board to waive the local counsel supervision requirements under Rule 1A:8. For questions, call our office at 804-367-0414.
Board Announces Essay Format of Virginia Law Component
Today the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners (the Board) announced that it will retain an essay format for the Virginia law component of the bar exam when it begins administering the NextGen Bar Exam (now known as the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam) in July 2028. As previously announced, this exam will consist of questions on the following subjects: Domestic Relations, Evidence, Torts, Virginia Civil Procedure, Virginia Criminal Law & Procedure, and Wills, Trusts & Estates.
In June, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) published for the first time a blueprint for the NextGen UBE. The blueprint shows that approximately 49% of the exam will be devoted to standalone multiple-choice questions: 40 in each of the three-hour sections, for a total of 120. Multiple-choice questions will also be included in the integrated question sets and performance tasks. Because of this change, the Board decided to retain an essay format for the Virginia law component, instead of multiple-choice questions. This will result in a more balanced exam format.
The current Virginia bar exam consists of two components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), and a Virginia-specific essay portion. NCBE will discontinue the MBE after the February 2028 exam. In July 2028, the Board will replace the MBE with the NextGen UBE, while retaining a Virginia-specific component to test knowledge of state law. The NextGen UBE will be a 9-hour exam, administered over 1.5 days (6 hours on day one and 3 hours on day two). The Virginia law component, which will be 3 hours or less, will be administered on the afternoon of day two.
The Board is making this early announcement to provide law students, law schools, and other stakeholders ample time to adjust curricula and make informed decisions. The Board will keep the legal community updated as more details about the state-specific component are finalized.
A key benefit of the NextGen UBE is portability. The exam will provide scores that are transferable to other participating jurisdictions. In response, the Board plans to revise its rules to allow for the acceptance of NextGen Bar Exam scores earned in other jurisdictions. Those transferring scores from other jurisdictions will be required to sit for the Virginia-specific component.
The Board will continue to monitor updates from NCBE regarding the NextGen Bar Exam and will share additional information as it becomes available.
For more information about the NextGen UBE, please visit https://nextgenbarexam.ncbex.org/.
For FAQs regarding the NextGen UBE in Virginia, please click here.
Board Removes Subjects from the Virginia Essay Exam
The Rules of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners have been amended. See Section I.B. Beginning with the July 2025 Virginia Bar Exam, the Virginia Essay Exam will no longer test an applicant’s knowledge of the following subjects: Business Organizations, Federal Practice and Procedure, Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 (Negotiable Instruments), and Personal Property.
NextGen Bar Exam
The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners (the Board) has announced its decision to adopt a new test format for the bar exam, the NextGen Bar Exam, developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). The first administration of the NextGen Bar Exam in Virginia will take place in July 2028.
The Supreme Court of Virginia fully supports the Board’s decision to transition to this new format.
"The adoption of the NextGen Bar Exam marks a significant step forward in ensuring that our legal profession continues to assess candidates effectively and consistently," said Brian Jackson, President of the Board. "By introducing this updated exam format, we are enhancing the ability to test the critical skills necessary for new attorneys, while preserving the state-specific knowledge that is vital for practicing law in Virginia."
The current bar exam consists of two components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), created by NCBE, and a Virginia-specific essay portion. However, NCBE will discontinue the MBE after February 2028, prompting the Board to seek an alternative that ensures a rigorous assessment of candidates' competency.
After careful consideration, the Board has decided to replace the MBE with the NextGen Bar Exam, while retaining a Virginia-specific component to test knowledge of state law. The NextGen Bar Exam will be a 9-hour exam, administered over 1.5 days (6 hours on day one and 3 hours on day two). The Virginia law component, which will be 3 hours or less, is expected to be administered on the afternoon of day two.
Although the format of the Virginia-specific section is still under development, the Board is making this early announcement to provide law students, law schools, and other stakeholders ample time to adjust curricula and make informed decisions. The Board is committed to keeping the legal community updated as details about the state-specific component are finalized.
"The Supreme Court of Virginia is fully supportive of the Board's decision to implement the NextGen Bar Exam," said S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. "This forward-thinking approach ensures that Virginia's bar exam will continue to align with the highest standards of legal education and practice. It is important that we remain adaptable to evolving legal landscapes while preserving the integrity of our legal profession."
One of the key benefits of the NextGen Bar Exam is its portability. The exam will provide scores that are transferable to other participating jurisdictions. In response, the Board plans to revise its rules to allow for the acceptance of NextGen Bar Exam scores earned in other jurisdictions. Those transferring scores from other jurisdictions will be required to sit for the Virginia-specific component.
The Board will continue to monitor updates from NCBE regarding the NextGen Bar Exam and will share additional information as it becomes available.
For more information about the NextGen Bar Exam, please visit https://nextgenbarexam.ncbex.org/.
For FAQs regarding the NextGen Bar Exam in Virginia, please click here.