Minnesota Supreme Court issues Order related to Board’s Competency Study

On June 21, 2021, the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners (Board) announced plans to commence a two-year study of the bar examination to provide the Minnesota Supreme Court with a report and recommendations.  The Board engaged in a comprehensive two-year, and on June 1, 2023, filed its report and recommendations with the Court.  View the report and appendices.

On March 12, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an Order related to the Board’s Competency Study.   The Court accepted the Board’s recommendation to adopt the Next Gen, recognizing that details related to the implementation need to be determined.  Beginning July 1, 2025, and each year thereafter, the Board must keep the Court apprised of proposed rule revisions and standard setting, and unless otherwise recommended by the Board, the first administration will be July 2027.

The Court is also forming an Implementation Committee.  The Committee will begin meeting this summer and will consist of 25 members, as outlined in the Court’s Order.  The deadline to submit a letter of interest to the Clerk of the Appellate Court is April 5, 2024.  The Implementation Committee is to file its report with recommendations for rule amendments related to an alternative curricular-based pathway for assessment on or before July 1, 2026.   The Implementation Committee has also been asked to look at a supervised practice pathway and to make recommendations on or before July 1, 2027.

The Board is grateful to the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Law Schools, the members of the public and the bar who provided the Board with public comment, and the Board’s Working Groups for their collaboration with the Board in this process.

Date Posted: 3/13/2024