Dear California Bar Associations and attorney groups,
As you may know, the State Bar of California is considering whether to recommend to the California Supreme Court a change in direction for the new California Bar Exam. The Court previously directed the State Bar to develop a new bar exam covering 12 subject areas and 7 skills. The Court directed that the exam continue to cover legal theories and principles of general application, including law applicable throughout California and the United States. The Court further directed that the exam should focus on the assessment of skills and the application of knowledge, while deemphasizing the memorization of doctrinal law.
In light of the significant challenges and criticisms of the February 2025 bar exam administration—which was administered remotely and in smaller test centers not run by the State Bar and included the use of California-created multiple-choice questions—the State Bar is evaluating whether to recommend a different path for the future bar exam. To assist in that assessment, the State Bar is seeking input from key stakeholders.
Many competing considerations will shape the recommendations to be made by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) and the State Bar Board of Trustees to the Supreme Court. By July 2028, we mustchange the bar exam we are currently administering. Continuing with the exam we deliver today—the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), 200 multiple-choice questions developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners; 5 California essays; and 1 California performance task—will not be an option as the MBE will no longer be available.
Your responses to our survey (link below) will help the CBE and the Board of Trustees shape their recommendations to the Supreme Court. Please complete this survey only if you are authorized to respond on behalf of your bar association. Only one response per bar association will be accepted and included in the analysis.
The survey is here: https://fs11.formsite.com/frtfRs/shja8pva4l/index
The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Please fill out the survey by Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
