Overview
- The NCBE’s all‑digital NextGen rollout on July 28 failed at multiple sites and collapsed at the Yakima Convention Center after sustained network and software problems prevented examinees from starting the test.
- The Washington State Bar Association canceled the state’s July administration and offered affected applicants a tentative September makeup in Tacoma, a transfer to February 2027, or withdrawal with a full WSBA refund.
- About 600–700 Yakima test‑takers were sent home without answering questions while dozens of candidates with approved accommodations were able to complete testing, creating uneven outcomes and extra expenses for many.
- The NCBE said most locations ran normally and the platform performed as expected, but eyewitness accounts and law‑school leaders dispute that claim and are pressing for clearer vendor accountability.
- The failure re‑opens policy debates about emergency remedies and the bar‑licensing model by recalling Washington’s 2020 diploma‑privilege precedent and highlighting long‑standing risks in outsourcing exam delivery.