# State-Specific Bar Exam Subjects Study Map Canonical: https://www.barprepplay.com/state-specific-bar-exam-subjects/ JSON: https://www.barprepplay.com/data/state-specific-bar-exam-subjects.json Last reviewed: May 25, 2026 This BarPrepPlay study map compares state-specific bar exam subjects, UBE overlap, local-law cautions, and official board source links. It is designed for applicants who are choosing a jurisdiction, transferring study work across states, or checking whether national MBE/MEE review is enough. This is not an official board notice and it is not legal advice. Subject lists, local components, and NextGen transition rules can change. Verify the official board of bar examiners or court source for the exact exam cycle you are taking. ## Fast study strategy 1. Start with the seven core MBE subjects: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts. 2. Add high-yield national essay subjects only after the MBE base is solid. 3. Localize last: state procedure, professional responsibility or ethics, community property, state constitutional law, Indian Law, Louisiana civil law, and local business/entity rules vary by jurisdiction. ## NCBE transition caution NCBE says that, effective with the July 2026 legacy bar exam, Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions will no longer be tested on the MEE. State-drafted essays and local components may still test local versions of these subjects, so do not use the national MEE change as a state-law shortcut. ## Jurisdiction cards ## Florida (FL) Category: State-specific Format: Part A Florida essays and Florida multiple choice; Part B MBE. Summary: Florida keeps a substantial Florida-law layer, so national MBE work transfers only after you add Florida procedure, Florida constitutional law, and Florida professionalism rules. Board note: Florida has announced a NextGen Bar Exam with Florida Law Component beginning July 2028. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Entities State-specific or local focus: Florida Constitutional Law, Florida Civil Procedure, Florida Criminal Procedure, Florida Bar Rules, Professionalism, Wills / Estates, Trusts, Family Law, UCC Article 3, UCC Article 9 Cycle-specific cautions: Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Florida Board of Bar Examiners test specifications: https://www.floridabarexam.org/web/website.nsf/index.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=125BA5AFD5EB7D2385257C0B0067E748 - NCBE NextGen UBE content scope: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## California (CA) Category: State-specific Format: California essays, one performance test, and a multiple-choice component. Summary: California remains its own exam path. The safest study split is national doctrine first, then California essay subjects such as community property, remedies, professional responsibility, trusts, and wills. Board note: California subject scope is published by the State Bar of California and should be checked for the specific administration. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Associations, Professional Responsibility, Trusts / Estates State-specific or local focus: Community Property, Remedies, Wills and Succession, California Civil Procedure, California Evidence Cycle-specific cautions: Trusts / Estates Official sources checked: - State Bar of California scope of the California Bar Examination: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/examinations/california-bar-examination/scope-california-bar-examination - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Georgia (GA) Category: State-specific Format: Georgia essays, MPT, and MBE. Summary: Georgia is NCBE-heavy on the MBE and MPT, but the Georgia essay list has its own local procedure, ethics, remedies, and business-law coverage. Board note: Georgia currently lists UCC Articles 2 and 3 for essays and says Secured Transactions, UCC Article 9, is no longer a Georgia essay subject. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Organizations State-specific or local focus: Georgia Practice and Procedure, Federal Practice and Procedure, Family Law, Professional Ethics, Trusts / Wills / Estates, Non-Monetary Remedies, UCC Articles 2 and 3 Cycle-specific cautions: Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Georgia Office of Bar Admissions FAQ: https://www.gabaradmissions.org/faq - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Delaware (DE) Category: State-specific Format: Delaware essays, MPT, and MBE. Summary: Delaware deserves a separate local-law pass because corporate entities, equity, Chancery practice, and Delaware procedure are not interchangeable with generic UBE review. Board note: Delaware publishes board statements and instructions that should control over generic bar-review summaries. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Entities State-specific or local focus: Delaware Corporations, LLCs / LPs, Equity / Chancery, Delaware Civil Procedure, Family Court, Wills, Trusts Cycle-specific cautions: Trusts / Estates, Family Law / Domestic Relations Official sources checked: - Delaware Board of Bar Examiners essay-topic statement: https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=228138 - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Hawaii (HI) Category: UBE-like Format: MBE, MEE, MPT, Hawaii Legal Ethics Exam, and MPRE. Summary: Hawaii is close to a UBE-style study path, with the main local add-on being the Hawaii Legal Ethics Exam. Board note: Hawaii directs applicants to NCBE for multistate exam subjects and separately lists the Hawaii Legal Ethics Exam. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Associations State-specific or local focus: Hawaii Legal Ethics Cycle-specific cautions: Conflict of Laws, Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Hawaii Judiciary bar exam components and subjects tested: https://courts.ehawaii.gov/legal_references/bar_exam_subjects_tested - NCBE NextGen UBE content scope: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Louisiana (LA) Category: State-specific Format: Louisiana civil-law written examination; not a standard UBE structure. Summary: Louisiana is the outlier. Treat it as a civil-law exam with its own code-heavy architecture rather than a UBE variant with a local supplement. Board note: Louisiana publishes its own Part I scope and schedule through the Committee on Bar Admissions. Core overlap: Contracts / Obligations, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Business Entities State-specific or local focus: Civil Code I, Civil Code II, Civil Code III, Persons, Civil-Law Property, Community Property, Successions, Donations, Trusts, Obligations, Security Rights, Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure Cycle-specific cautions: Trusts / Estates Official sources checked: - Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions bar exam page: https://www.lascba.org/info/BarExam/ ## Mississippi (MS) Category: State-specific Format: MBE, MEE, MPT, and Mississippi essay questions. Summary: Mississippi combines national NCBE components with Mississippi-drafted essays. Do not assume the national MEE subject shift tells you the full Mississippi state-essay picture. Board note: Verify the current Mississippi administration notice because state essay subjects can be identified for a specific exam. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Organizations State-specific or local focus: Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, Domestic Relations, Federal Income Tax, Mississippi Constitutional Law, Mississippi Practice and Procedure, Professional Conduct, UCC, Wills, Estates, Trusts, Future Interests, Conflict of Laws Cycle-specific cautions: Conflict of Laws, Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions: https://courts.ms.gov/bar/baradmissions/baradmissions.php - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Nevada (NV) Category: Transition Format: Nevada essays, Nevada performance tests, and MBE; format and pathway details are changing after July 2026. Summary: Nevada is a transition watch state. Current Nevada essay coverage is local and broad, while Nevada is also publishing materials for its new admissions pathway. Board note: Use Nevada board materials for the exact administration because Nevada is actively publishing transition information. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Corporations, Agency / Partnership State-specific or local focus: Legal Ethics, Community Property, Conflict of Laws, Persons / Domestic Relations, Remedies, UCC Article 2, UCC Article 9, Wills, Estates, Trusts, Nevada Civil Procedure, Federal Civil Procedure Cycle-specific cautions: Conflict of Laws, Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - State Bar of Nevada bar exam page: https://nvbar.org/licensing-compliance/admissions/bar-exam/ - Nevada essay subject matter outline: https://nvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/Subject-Matter-Outline.pdf - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## South Dakota (SD) Category: Transition Format: Current NCBE-heavy exam path with a South Dakota Indian Law component; NextGen planned for July 2027. Summary: South Dakota is mostly national study coverage plus a local Indian Law component, but it has already announced a July 2027 NextGen switch. Board note: South Dakota announced adoption of the NextGen bar exam beginning July 2027. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Associations State-specific or local focus: Indian Law Cycle-specific cautions: Conflict of Laws, Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners: https://ujsbarexam.sd.gov/ - South Dakota Unified Judicial System NextGen announcement: https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/south-dakota-adopts-nextgen-bar-exam-beginning-in-july-2027/ - NCBE NextGen UBE content scope: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Virginia (VA) Category: State-specific Format: Virginia Essay exam plus MBE for most applicants. Summary: Virginia keeps a heavily state-specific essay day. Local civil and criminal procedure, creditor rights, local government, and wills/trusts/estates need their own pass. Board note: Virginia Board rules list the Virginia Essay and MBE subject areas; use those rules over generic study charts. Core overlap: Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Civil Procedure State-specific or local focus: Virginia Civil Procedure, Virginia Criminal Procedure, Domestic Relations, Professional Responsibility, Creditor's Rights, Local Government Law, UCC Article 2, UCC Article 9A, Wills, Trusts, Estates Cycle-specific cautions: Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Virginia Board of Bar Examiners rules: https://barexam.virginia.gov/rules-of-the-board - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Wisconsin (WI) Category: Transition Format: Legacy UBE beginning July 2026 plus Wisconsin law/practice education requirements. Summary: Wisconsin is moving from its state exam to the legacy UBE beginning July 2026, with separate jurisdiction-specific law components for admission. Board note: Wisconsin adoption details are new enough that applicants should confirm UBE and local-law component rules before relying on any summary. Core overlap: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts / Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Business Associations State-specific or local focus: Wisconsin Law and Practice Education Cycle-specific cautions: Conflict of Laws, Family Law / Domestic Relations, Trusts / Estates, Secured Transactions / UCC 9 Official sources checked: - Wisconsin Court System UBE adoption article: https://www.wicourts.gov/news/thirdbranch/mar26/ube.htm - NCBE note on Wisconsin adopting the legacy UBE: https://www.ncbex.org/news-resources/wisconsin-adopts-legacy-uniform-bar-exam - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE ## Official sources used - NCBE NextGen UBE content scope: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope - Official NCBE scope for July 2026-February 2028 and July 2028 forward, including foundational concepts and skills-context treatment. - NCBE help: legacy and NextGen content differences: https://help.ncbex.org/hc/en-us/articles/39895955991707-Is-the-content-on-the-NextGen-UBE-different-from-the-content-on-the-legacy-UBE - Official NCBE help article noting July 2026 MEE removals and the MPT treatment of family law and trusts and estates. - NCBE NextGen UBE overview: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen - Official NCBE overview for NextGen adoption and rollout context. - Florida Board of Bar Examiners test specifications: https://www.floridabarexam.org/web/website.nsf/index.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=125BA5AFD5EB7D2385257C0B0067E748 - Official Florida Board page for the Florida-prepared portion and test-specification materials. - State Bar of California scope of the California Bar Examination: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/examinations/california-bar-examination/scope-california-bar-examination - Official California subject scope for essays, performance test, and MBE topics. - Georgia Office of Bar Admissions FAQ: https://www.gabaradmissions.org/faq - Official Georgia FAQ listing current Georgia essay subjects and noting that UCC Article 9 is no longer tested on Georgia essay questions. - Delaware Board of Bar Examiners essay-topic statement: https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=228138 - Official Delaware Board statement about bar exam essay topics and refinements. - Hawaii Judiciary bar exam components and subjects tested: https://courts.ehawaii.gov/legal_references/bar_exam_subjects_tested - Official Hawaii Judiciary page listing exam components, including the Hawaii Legal Ethics Exam. - Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions bar exam page: https://www.lascba.org/info/BarExam/ - Official Louisiana Committee page describing the nine-part written examination. - Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions: https://courts.ms.gov/bar/baradmissions/baradmissions.php - Official Mississippi admissions page. Verify the current administration notice because Mississippi state essay subjects can be announced for a specific exam. - State Bar of Nevada bar exam page: https://nvbar.org/licensing-compliance/admissions/bar-exam/ - Official Nevada bar exam page linking exam subjects, format, and transition materials. - Nevada essay subject matter outline: https://nvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/Subject-Matter-Outline.pdf - Official Nevada essay subject matter outline for the current Nevada essay component. - South Dakota Unified Judicial System NextGen announcement: https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/south-dakota-adopts-nextgen-bar-exam-beginning-in-july-2027/ - Official South Dakota announcement adopting the NextGen bar exam beginning July 2027. - South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners: https://ujsbarexam.sd.gov/ - Official South Dakota bar examiner portal and current applicant information. - Virginia Board of Bar Examiners rules: https://barexam.virginia.gov/rules-of-the-board - Official Virginia rules listing Virginia Essay exam subjects and MBE subjects. - Wisconsin Court System UBE adoption article: https://www.wicourts.gov/news/thirdbranch/mar26/ube.htm - Official Wisconsin Judiciary article explaining Wisconsin adoption of the UBE beginning July 2026. - NCBE note on Wisconsin adopting the legacy UBE: https://www.ncbex.org/news-resources/wisconsin-adopts-legacy-uniform-bar-exam - NCBE public note about Wisconsin administering the legacy UBE and adding jurisdiction-specific law components.