Jd next exam
List of Law Schools with Authorization to Accept JD-Next (with no LSAT/GRE)
Updated December 2023
For the past several years, the University of Arizona has been piloting and studying the results of a new exam for law school admissions called JD-Next. The program consists of a nine-week, virtual, part-time (approx. six hours per week) course on law school skills followed by a test of the skills the course teaches.
Though a standardized test (LSAT or GRE) is still required by the American Bar Association for admission to law school, as of November 2023, 46 law schools have obtained variances (exceptions) to this rule to accept JD-Next. That means that, if you are applying to the below law schools, you may have the option to take the JD-Next course and exam in lieu of the LSAT or GRE. (Be sure to check with each school to which you plan to apply individually, as while the below schools have been granted variances according tothe ABA, each school's timeline and policy may vary.) 44 of the law schools that have obtained variances for JD-Next are listed below. There may be more that are in the process of obtaining variances, and we will continue to update this list.
Law School
Loyola Law JD-Next Acceptance
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is Louisiana's first and only law school to accept the JD Next. Loyola Law’s J.D. program applicants may submit a JD Next, GRE, or LSAT score. Please review our frequently asked questions below and contact the Office of Law Admissions at ladmit@loyno.edu or 504-861-5575 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JD-Next?
JD-Next is an exciting alternative to the traditional standardized test requirements for law school admission. Created at the University of Arizona in 2019, with support from AccessLex Institute, JD-Next serves as a separate JD admissions exam “designed to measure what you can do versus what you may already know.” According to the program developers, the JD-Next exam aims to reduce admission test score disparities for underrepresented groups by offering a different form of testing for law school admission. The JD-Next program has two (2) core components: (1) an eight-week academic course that introduces students to fundamental legal analysis skills, and (2) an examination that may be used for law school admission. The course is fully online and offers educati
Your First Step Toward Law School Excellence
Get a head start before law school with an innovative course and admissions exam proven to raise 1L GPA by 0.20 points on average, build essential legal skills, and showcase your readiness to succeed.
The New Standard in Law School Admissions
JD-Next is an 8-week online course and law school admissions test that goes beyond legacy exams to prepare you for law school.
1L Success
Provides a preview of a 1L course while building the skills you need to succeed.
Proven Results
Demonstrated to increase 1L GPA by 0.20 points, on average.
Fair Assessment
Guarantees fair, accurate results by testing only course-covered material.
Affordable
Costs $399 includes the course, admissions test & 3 free score reports.
The Future of Legal Education Starts Here
JD-Next is preparing the next generation of legal minds with an innovative program using cases encountered in 1L.
Study at Your Pace
Complete an 8-week 1L-style course in approximately 1 hour a day.
Learn Key Legal Skills
Learn briefing and analytical skills with interactive lessons, quizzes, and assignment
JD-Next Information
Seattle U Commandment now accepts JD-Next Exam scores in lieu of LSAT or GRE General Test scores. JD-Next is an ABA-approved, fully online, non-credit course that introduces students to the analytical skills necessary for law school.
The course concludes with an exam that has proven to reduce or eradicate admission test score disparities for underrepresented groups compared to legacy admission tests. Learn more from Aspen Publishing.
Please review the obeying important details if you plan to apply with a JD-Next Exam score.
- Applicants must have a reportable JD-Next Exam score. The applicant must request that score reports be sent directly from JD-Next to Seattle U Law. Note that the December 2025 course/February 1 examination date is the last administration we can accept for the 2026 application cycle.
- All reportable scores for the last five years must be submitted to the Seattle U Law Office of Admission. The Admission Committee considers the highest JD-Next Exam score submitted.
- As with the LSAT, there is no required minimum JD-Next Exam score. All completed applications are reviewed holistically by the Admission Committee, regardless
An American Bar Association council recently voted that an alternative law school admissions test called JD-Next will not be granted “test parity” with the LSAT or GRE, citing the need for more data to determine its reliability in predicting success in law school.
The vote by the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar (Council) determined that the ABA would not fully recognize JD-Next as an approved law school admissions assessment under ABA Standard 503.
However, the Council decided to continue the process of allowing ABA-accredited law schools that wish to use JD-Next in admissions to apply for variances.
The ABA describes JD-Next as a “segment of a law school contracts course with an exam.” According to the ABA, 51 U.S. law schools have already secured variances to use the exam.
Reliable, but with caveats
Prior to voting, the Council commissioned a report on the reliability of the test. Nathan Kuncel, an industrial organizational psychology professor at the University of Minnesota, led the report.
Kuncel said in his report that JD-Next can be used as a “lightly weighted addition” to more traditional elements predicting success in la
Loyola Law JD-Next Acceptance
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is Louisiana's first and only law school to accept the JD Next. Loyola Law’s J.D. program applicants may submit a JD Next, GRE, or LSAT score. Please review our frequently asked questions below and contact the Office of Law Admissions at ladmit@loyno.edu or 504-861-5575 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JD-Next?
JD-Next is an exciting alternative to the traditional standardized test requirements for law school admission. Created at the University of Arizona in 2019, with support from AccessLex Institute, JD-Next serves as a separate JD admissions exam “designed to measure what you can do versus what you may already know.” According to the program developers, the JD-Next exam aims to reduce admission test score disparities for underrepresented groups by offering a different form of testing for law school admission. The JD-Next program has two (2) core components: (1) an eight-week academic course that introduces students to fundamental legal analysis skills, and (2) an examination that may be used for law school admission. The course is fully online and offers educati
Your First Step Toward Law School Excellence
Get a head start before law school with an innovative course and admissions exam proven to raise 1L GPA by 0.20 points on average, build essential legal skills, and showcase your readiness to succeed.
The New Standard in Law School Admissions
JD-Next is an 8-week online course and law school admissions test that goes beyond legacy exams to prepare you for law school.
1L Success
Provides a preview of a 1L course while building the skills you need to succeed.
Proven Results
Demonstrated to increase 1L GPA by 0.20 points, on average.
Fair Assessment
Guarantees fair, accurate results by testing only course-covered material.
Affordable
Costs $399 includes the course, admissions test & 3 free score reports.
The Future of Legal Education Starts Here
JD-Next is preparing the next generation of legal minds with an innovative program using cases encountered in 1L.
Study at Your Pace
Complete an 8-week 1L-style course in approximately 1 hour a day.
Learn Key Legal Skills
Learn briefing and analytical skills with interactive lessons, quizzes, and assignment
JD-Next Information
Seattle U Commandment now accepts JD-Next Exam scores in lieu of LSAT or GRE General Test scores. JD-Next is an ABA-approved, fully online, non-credit course that introduces students to the analytical skills necessary for law school.
The course concludes with an exam that has proven to reduce or eradicate admission test score disparities for underrepresented groups compared to legacy admission tests. Learn more from Aspen Publishing.
Please review the obeying important details if you plan to apply with a JD-Next Exam score.
- Applicants must have a reportable JD-Next Exam score. The applicant must request that score reports be sent directly from JD-Next to Seattle U Law. Note that the December 2025 course/February 1 examination date is the last administration we can accept for the 2026 application cycle.
- All reportable scores for the last five years must be submitted to the Seattle U Law Office of Admission. The Admission Committee considers the highest JD-Next Exam score submitted.
- As with the LSAT, there is no required minimum JD-Next Exam score. All completed applications are reviewed holistically by the Admission Committee, regardless
An American Bar Association council recently voted that an alternative law school admissions test called JD-Next will not be granted “test parity” with the LSAT or GRE, citing the need for more data to determine its reliability in predicting success in law school.
The vote by the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar (Council) determined that the ABA would not fully recognize JD-Next as an approved law school admissions assessment under ABA Standard 503.
However, the Council decided to continue the process of allowing ABA-accredited law schools that wish to use JD-Next in admissions to apply for variances.
The ABA describes JD-Next as a “segment of a law school contracts course with an exam.” According to the ABA, 51 U.S. law schools have already secured variances to use the exam.
Reliable, but with caveats
Prior to voting, the Council commissioned a report on the reliability of the test. Nathan Kuncel, an industrial organizational psychology professor at the University of Minnesota, led the report.
Kuncel said in his report that JD-Next can be used as a “lightly weighted addition” to more traditional elements predicting success in la