Washington State experienced a significant disruption to its bar exam administration when technical problems forced the cancellation of testing that was scheduled for this week at the Yakima Convention Center. Approximately 700 registered test-takers arrived to sit for the newly redesigned NextGen Uniform Bar Examination, which represents a shift toward assessing practical legal skills rather than legal doctrine. Washington is among the first states nationally to adopt this all-digital examination format, with 47 states expected to implement it by 2028.
The technical issues proved insurmountable at Washington’s sole testing location, despite efforts by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the Washington State Bar Association, and convention center technical support to resolve them. Other testing sites in Missouri and Maryland encountered network bandwidth constraints that were successfully addressed, but Washington officials concluded they lacked sufficient confidence that their localized problems could be fully resolved. The state bar association is now arranging a makeup examination for late summer or early fall of this year, with affected applicants also having the option to sit for the February 2027 administration or receive full refunds.
Law school deans and administrators have raised concerns about the impact on graduates. Seattle University School of Law Dean Anthony E. Varona, whose institution had 137 students affected, characterized the failed administration as “catastrophic” and highlighted the financial burden on applicants who incurred preparation costs, travel expenses, lodging, and lost wages. He has urged the Washington State Supreme Court to grant diploma privilege—a credential allowing practice without passing the bar—citing precedent from pandemic-related accommodations.
Additional complications have emerged regarding examination integrity. Dozens of test-takers with approved accommodations were able to complete the exam as scheduled, while approximately 645 other applicants were unable to sit. The prospect of reusing the same examination questions for a substantially delayed administration raises potential integrity concerns regarding question disclosure and fairness.
As the NextGen bar exam expands to additional states over the coming years, observers have suggested that relying on a single remote facility without substantial technical infrastructure may have been problematic for accommodating 700 simultaneous test-takers requiring high-speed internet connectivity. Future administrations are expected to incorporate lessons from Washington’s experience.
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