On May 23, 2025, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order in ADKT 0594 approving the Nevada Plan as the procedure for licensure in Nevada beginning in February 2027.
The Nevada bar examination is currently comprised of a multistate multiple choice exam (MBE) constructed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and essay questions and performance tests created by the Nevada Board of Bar Examiners. The NCBE has adopted the NextGen bar examination beginning in July 2026, which will preclude Nevada from continuing the current bar examination format.
On March 9, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court created the Commission to Study the Administration of the Bar Examination and Licensing of Attorneys to study concerns arising from the methodology and administration of the bar examination and licensing procedures for attorneys practicing in Nevada. The commission’s task forces filed a joint report on April 2, 2024, in which they recommended restructuring the Nevada bar examination to include the following three-component assessment:
- a 100-question, closed-book, multiple-choice examination testing foundational concepts drawn from the seven subjects currently tested on the MEE;
- a performance examination, on which any area of law may be tested, consisting of three two-hour performance tests similar to those on the current Nevada bar examination; and
- a supervised practice component that ensures candidates possess lawyering competencies that are difficult to measure on written exams.
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) would remain a requirement for licensure. After completing 42 credits of their Juris Doctor curriculum, candidates would be able to take the multiple choice examination. Candidates would be able to satisfy the supervised practice component after qualifying for a level two student license (or equivalent in other jurisdictions). The performance examination would be administered after graduation.