This article originally appeared in The Bar Examiner print edition, Summer 2026 (Vol. 95, No. 2), pp. 1–2.By Darin B. Scheer
Reflections on the Annual Bar Admissions Conference, Remembrances of a Friend, and a Fond Farewell
Greetings, friends and colleagues in the bar admissions community. For my last column as chair of the NCBE Board of Trustees, I wanted to offer some thoughts about this year’s Annual Bar Admissions Conference (ABAC) and reflect on all that we have accomplished by working together over the past several years.
I have always looked forward to attending ABAC. During my years as a bar examiner, it offered an opportunity to meet new friends in the admissions community, learn about issues affecting other jurisdictions, and gain a better understanding of the synergies that exist between the numerous stakeholders involved in the bar admissions process. I have attended my fair share of these conferences, and I’m proud to say that I’m still learning at each one. The bar admissions process has evolved significantly since I first began this work. Although the development and implementation of the NextGen UBE have represented the biggest change, I have also observed significant developments in accommodations, accreditation, score portability, NCBE’s standard character and fitness application, alternative pathways to admission, uses of artificial intelligence, and numerous other topics that directly affect both jurisdictions and the candidates they serve.
Each year, ABAC offers the opportunity to discuss such important topics; survey the evolving bar admissions landscape; meet and interact with our counterparts and other stakeholders; identify challenges and discuss solutions; and collaborate to improve our profession. This year’s meeting in Philadelphia was no exception. Set in a historic location during the 250th year of our nation’s founding, the scene and timing were highly appropriate to the words of Mark Alexander, Dean of Villanova Law School, who opened with an inspiring plenary about the importance of the rule of law and the aspirational work of forming a more perfect union. His speech, entitled “The Role of Lawyers in Leading Civil Discourse,” provided a perfect backdrop for the sessions and interactions between attendees that followed over the next day and a half.
Sessions contained a wealth of information from a variety of presenters who play important roles in the bar admissions process. The topics covered included the results of the January Beta administration of the NextGen UBE, the updated NCBE standard character and fitness application, accommodations, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, exam score portability, multijurisdictional practice and unauthorized practice of law, cheating, experiential learning programs, and accreditation, alongside several other significant subjects. The conference closed with an impressive panel of leaders from the bar admissions community discussing the future of legal education and the profession. For an overview of this year’s program, click here.
In one of my favorite moments from the weekend, Judge Henry Alaniz (ret.) became the second recipient of the annual Diane F. Bosse Award for Excellence and Service in Bar Admissions in recognition of his many years of service to the New Mexico bar admissions community. Judge Alaniz is a worthy recipient, as evidenced by his unanimous nomination by the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, with support from its executive director, board staff, and the New Mexico Supreme Court. It was a special privilege to watch him receive the award from Chief Justice Julie Vargas.
We also celebrated the life of our dear friend and colleague Anthony Simon, a member of the NCBE Board of Trustees who passed away unexpectedly the week before the meeting. A proud holder of undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University, Anthony was a respected member of his community in Mississippi and NCBE. He did important work for the right reasons. We will miss him.
Anthony’s efforts and impact serve as a vivid reminder that being part of the bar admissions community is about more than the work itself; it is about mutual dedication, deep, cherished friendships, and a shared commitment to something bigger than ourselves. I have often said that I’m not sure whether dedicated people are naturally drawn to the work of bar admissions, or whether the nature of bar admissions work inspires the unusual level of dedication that I witness so frequently. I believe the answer is often both, and our profession is better for it. Reflecting on my two years as NCBE Board chair, I marvel at the amount of hard work and collaboration I’ve witnessed, and all that has been accomplished as a result. The combined efforts of the talented NCBE staff and our subject matter experts and committee members, together with dedicated administrators, bar examiners, other admissions professionals, and members of the judiciary from the many jurisdictions we serve, brought about outcomes truly greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Serving with my colleagues on the NCBE Board has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. It is a privilege for which I am deeply grateful. Board members recognize that these seats do not belong to us. We are merely caretakers of the role, doing our best to further the work of those who preceded us and working diligently to improve the profession for those who will follow. I hope my efforts have contributed to that goal in a meaningful way. It is difficult to adequately express my appreciation for the bar admissions community, but I take a sense of deep satisfaction from knowing that candidates and the profession itself will continue to benefit from your good work. Thank you to each of you for your service, for your collaboration, and for all that we have accomplished together. It has been a joy to work with you.
Kindest regards,
Darin B. Scheer
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