"Inspired by Nevada 's debut of its Comprehensive Licensing Exam, with the first Foundational Law Exam set to be offered in May 2026 and students beginning supervised practice, other states will follow "in finding a way to make sure that every newly licensed lawyer previously practiced under supervision with a client before being unleashed on the public," says Joan Howarth, professor emerita at the University of Nevada Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law."
"As Utah opens its alternative pathway, other states will explore innovative options like those adopted in South Dakota and Oregon, says Deborah Jones Merritt, professor emerita at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. "I predict that at least one more state will adopt an alternative pathway in 2026, with several more continuing or beginning their study.""
"Building on the CLEAR report, state courts and law schools will begin a more regular dialogue on how to prepare students for practice and assess their competence for licensing, Merritt says. In general, state supreme courts will continue to focus more on licensing than before the CLEAR report, Howarth adds."
Inspired by Nevada's Comprehensive Licensing Exam, multiple states are expected to require supervised practice and to offer a Foundational Law Exam in 2026. Utah's alternative pathway and programs in South Dakota and Oregon will prompt other jurisdictions to explore innovative licensing routes, with at least one state likely adopting an alternative pathway in 2026. California will initiate a multi-year research plan to study attorneys licensed after the February exam. State courts and law schools will begin regular dialogue on practice preparation and competence assessment. State supreme courts will increase attention to licensing. Additional jurisdictions will adopt the NextGen UBE for 2027 or 2028, with the first NextGen administration likely encountering implementation bumps.
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