Indiana Chief Justice Rush signed an order Thursday outlining the plans for the state’s bar exam. Because of the continued need to social distance during the global COVID-19 emergency, the court took this unprecedented step.

The test will be administered on July 28. It will include the Indiana Essay Examination, along with a series of short answer questions on topics tested on the Multistate Bar Examination. The order states additional information about putting the exam online, including plans for proctoring, which will be provided by the State Board of Law Examiners by May 28.

“As with all our emergency planning during the pandemic, we are concerned about health and safety,” Rush said in a statement. “Being mindful of applicants and test proctors, we are adjusting the exam so the Board can continue its review of applicants and successful test-takers can join our profession on-time and provide needed legal services.”

Indiana’s decision comes two days after the National Conference of Bar Examiners announced it will be making the Multistate Bar Exam, Multistate Essay Exam, and Multistate Performance Test available to states for their July 2020 bar exams.

To date, 19 jurisdictions have canceled or postponed their July exams, according to the NCBE.