Academic Success Information About the Bar
The University of Washington School of Law is committed to preparing students for success on the bar exam. Through the Academic Success program, UW School of Law provides a comprehensive range of bar-related workshops throughout the academic year. In addition, UW School of Law offers two distinct courses designed to give students an early foundation in bar preparation. Current students can find more information, including preparation resources and materials, through the Academic Success Canvas page.
Washington Bar
The Washington State Bar Association will begin administering the new NextGen UBE bar exam in July of 2026. The NextGen UBE will be administered over one and a half days and will consist of three components: Multiple-Choice Questions, Integrated Question Sets and Performance Tasks.
The Washington State Bar Association also visits the UW School of Law campus annually during Bar Week to provide students with important information about the application process.
For more information about the NextGen UBE, please visit NextGen UBE Content Scope Outlines the from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. For more information about the Washington State Bar Association and the application process, please visit their website: Join the Legal Profession.
Other State Bars
UW School of Law's bar support program is designed to assist students in preparing for the bar exam, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they choose to sit. The program provides guidance and resources to help students navigate requirements beyond Washington State.
For information about other state bars, including exam formats and jurisdiction-specific requirements, please visit the Jurisdiction Information page from the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
New York State Bar: Skills Competency and Professional Values Bar Admission Requirement
The New York Court of Appeals adopted the Skills Competency and Professional Values Bar Admission Requirement for all J.D. students who entered law school after August 1, 2016. The rule also applies to all LL.M. students who began their program after August 1, 2018. For more details about this requirement, please access the Frequently Asked Questions for New York’s Skills Competency and Professional Values Bar Admission Requirement document.
J.D. Students
The University of Washington School of Law anticipates that all J.D. students will satisfy the Skills Competency Requirement for admission to the New York Bar under Pathway 1. UW Law provides sufficient training in professional values and skills as part of its J.D. curriculum. The J.D. curriculum includes program-wide student learning outcomes in the areas of: (1) legal reasoning, (2) legal research, (3) effective writing, (4) oral communication, (5) problem solving (6) ethical conduct (7) diversity and equity (8) effective collaboration and (9) the ability to contextualize the law.
LL.M. Students
UW Law anticipates that all LL.M. students will satisfy the Skills Competency Requirement through either Pathway 4 or Pathway 5.