For decades, the LSAT was the single gatekeeper to law school. That era is ending. A growing number of top-ranked law schools now accept JD-Next as an alternative admissions assessment, opening a new and more predictable path to a legal education. If your target schools include any of the growing list that honor JD-Next, it deserves a serious place in your application strategy.
What Is JD-Next?
JD-Next is an eight-week online course modeled on a first-year (1L) Contracts class, followed by a four-hour final exam. It costs $299 all-in and requires roughly an hour of study per day. Rather than testing abstract logic puzzles, it measures the skills students actually use in law school: case briefing, legal reasoning, and applying rules to facts.
Which Law Schools Accept JD-Next?
More than 65 ABA-accredited law schools currently hold a variance to accept JD-Next as an admissions test. The list includes well-known programs such as Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Fordham, George Washington, and WashU, with new schools being added regularly — Gonzaga was approved as recently as February 2026. Even at schools that have not yet adopted a formal variance, a strong JD-Next score can serve as a persuasive supplemental addendum to your file.
Why Applicants Are Choosing JD-Next
- It tests real law school skills. JD-Next focuses on case briefing and legal reasoning rather than the logic games that defined the older LSAT format.
- It can boost your 1L performance. Students who complete the course tend to earn higher first-year grades — about a 0.2 GPA increase on average.
- The timeline is predictable. Eight focused weeks replace the three-to-six months many students spend grinding through LSAT prep.
- It narrows score gaps. ABA-reviewed research indicates JD-Next produces smaller score differences across demographic groups.
- It works as a supplement. Even where it is not formally accepted, a strong score strengthens an application.
JD-Next or the LSAT: Which Should You Take?
Here is an honest assessment. If you are chasing T14 merit aid, the LSAT still carries the most weight and is worth the investment. But if your school list includes variance schools that accept JD-Next, the newer assessment offers a faster, more affordable, and more skills-based route — one that may also set you up for stronger grades once you arrive on campus.
How ConnectPrep Helps
ConnectPrep runs one of the most comprehensive coached JD-Next programs available, combining weekly case-briefing reviews, module practice, essay feedback, and a full exam simulation with complete law school admissions advising. Whether you are deciding between the LSAT and JD-Next or want expert support preparing for the exam, our team can help you build a strategy tailored to your target schools.
Ready to explore whether JD-Next is right for you? Connect with our admissions team to map out your path to law school.