Ace the JD-Next.Get Into Law School.
Expert 1:1 coaching built for the 8-week JD-Next course and proctored exam. We teach case briefing, contract law, legal reasoning and the exam strategy that becomes a competitive score. Live online, anywhere in the country.
JD-Next by the numbers
Score range for half of enrolling JD-Next students, on the 400 to 1,000 scale
An 8-week course, then an exam
Published by Aspen Publishing and built on real 1L contract law cases.
An LSAT alternative
Standalone at schools with an ABA variance, and a supplement at many others.
Scored from 400 to 1,000
Plus a percentile and topic-level report that goes to law schools.
1:1 coaching at every stage
Before the course, during it, or as an intensive before the exam.
The LSAT alternative that’s changing law school admissions.
JD-Next is not just another admissions test. It is an 8-week, fully online course published by Aspen Publishing that puts you inside real 1L contract law cases, the same material taught in the first year of law school. The proctored exam at the end produces a scored report that a growing list of ABA-accredited law schools accept in place of the LSAT. It measures what you can do, not what you already know.
Who should consider JD-Next?
- Applicants whose strengths show better in real legal work than in a timed reasoning test
- Non-traditional applicants who want to demonstrate law school readiness through actual legal work
- Students targeting schools that accept JD-Next as a standalone score
- Applicants who want to strengthen an LSAT application with a supplemental JD-Next score
- Career changers who want a preview of law school before committing to the full application process
A real law school course
JD-Next uses actual contracts cases, including Hawkins v. McGee and Hamer v. Sidway, from real 1L casebooks. You read, brief and analyze them exactly as you would in law school. The exam tests whether you can apply legal reasoning, not whether you can crack an abstract puzzle.
The fastest-growing admissions path
Law school acceptance of JD-Next grew 275% year over year in 2025-26. Students enrolled at 30 law schools with JD-Next scores, and for 69% of them it was the only admissions test they submitted.
8 weeks, about 6 to 10 hours a week
The course includes interactive lessons, quizzes, a mid-course exam, written assignments with personalized feedback and a final proctored exam. Your scaled score and percentile report arrive a few weeks after the exam.
What ConnectPrep JD-Next coaching covers.
Our 1:1 program is built for the 8-week course and proctored exam, not recycled LSAT or bar prep materials. We prepare you for the analytical demands of real legal reasoning from day one.
Case Reading & Briefing
Every JD-Next lesson is built on a legal case. We train you to read cases efficiently, find the legally operative facts, pull out the court’s holding, and write clean, precise briefs. It is the same skill the exam tests and every law school classroom expects.
Contract Law Doctrine
Offer and acceptance, consideration, promissory estoppel, expectation and reliance damages, and more. We teach the doctrine clearly so you understand why the court decided a case the way it did, and how to apply that rule to new facts.
IRAC Legal Analysis
The exam asks you to apply law to hypothetical facts. We teach the Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion framework lawyers use to structure analysis, so your written answers are precise, organized and built to score.
Written Argument Construction
JD-Next includes written assignments with personalized feedback. We coach your writing from the start, building the concise, evidence-grounded style that earns top marks and carries straight into your 1L year.
Mid-Course Exam Preparation
The mid-course exam is a critical checkpoint. We prepare you for it directly: reviewing the material, practicing exam-style questions, and building the timing and confidence you need under proctored conditions.
Final Exam Strategy
The proctored final is taken in a secure browser and scored from 400 to 1,000. We prepare you for the environment, the question formats, time management across sections and the strategy behind a stronger percentile.
The ConnectPrep advantage
- Built specifically for JD-Next, not repurposed LSAT materials
- Private 1:1 coaching paced to your strengths, gaps and target schools
- Scheduled around the course: before it starts, during it, or as an exam intensive
- Admissions guidance on how to position your JD-Next score in applications
- Live online for students anywhere in the country
Inside the JD-Next course, and where we fit.
JD-Next is not a passive test. It is a structured course that moves quickly for 8 weeks. Here is what each phase covers and where ConnectPrep coaching slots in to maximize your performance.
Legal Foundations & Case Reading
How courts work, how to read a case and how to spot the legally operative facts. This is the biggest adjustment for most students, and where coaching has the most impact.
Contract Formation & Mid-Course Exam
Offer, acceptance, consideration and mutual assent. The mid-course exam covers everything so far, counts toward your result and predicts final exam performance.
Advanced Doctrine & Applied Analysis
Promissory estoppel, expectation and reliance damages, breach and remedies, plus written assignments with instructor feedback. We sharpen your analytical writing here.
Final Review & Proctored Exam
Full review, secure browser prep and time management, then the proctored exam and your 400 to 1,000 scaled score. We stay with you for application strategy afterward.
How coaching fits your timeline
Before JD-Next starts
Build case briefing fluency and contract law foundations before week one, so you move faster and reach the mid-course exam ready.
Weekly 1:1 coaching
Sessions aligned to the syllabus. We review each case, deepen your doctrine, coach your written assignments and prepare you for the mid-course exam.
Final exam sprint
Full doctrine review, timed practice in the exam format, secure browser prep and strategy, so you walk in knowing exactly what to expect.
Should you take JD-Next, the LSAT, or both?
This is one of the most important strategic decisions a law school applicant makes right now. The answer depends on your target schools, your strengths and your timeline. Here is the honest comparison.
Our strategic recommendation
Many applicants benefit from taking both: the LSAT for schools that require it, and JD-Next as a strong signal of law school readiness. If your schools accept JD-Next as a standalone score, it can be a viable and increasingly competitive path on its own. We help you map your school list and choose the right strategy before you invest time and money in either test.
JD-Next course dates, 2026 to 2027.
JD-Next runs several times a year, and final registration closes a few days after each course starts. Coaching can begin before the course so you start week one ahead.
September 2026
- Starts
- Sep 14, 2026
- Early rate by
- Aug 15, 2026
- Register by
- Sep 18, 2026
- Exam
- Nov 17 or 21, 2026
- Scores
- Week of Dec 14, 2026
December 2026
- Starts
- Dec 7, 2026
- Early rate by
- Nov 7, 2026
- Register by
- Dec 11, 2026
- Exam
- Feb 9 or 13, 2027
- Scores
- Week of Mar 8, 2027
February 2027
- Starts
- Feb 22, 2027
- Early rate by
- Jan 23, 2027
- Register by
- Feb 26, 2027
- Exam
- Apr 29 to May 1, 2027
- Scores
- Week of May 24, 2027
May 2027
- Starts
- May 24, 2027
- Early rate by
- Apr 24, 2027
- Register by
- May 28, 2027
- Exam
- Jul 29 to 31, 2027
- Scores
- Week of Aug 23, 2027
August 2027
- Starts
- Aug 30, 2027
- Early rate by
- Jul 31, 2027
- Register by
- Sep 3, 2027
- Exam
- Nov 4 to 6, 2027
- Scores
- Week of Nov 29, 2027
December 2027
- Starts
- Dec 6, 2027
- Early rate by
- Nov 6, 2027
- Register by
- Dec 10, 2027
- Exam
- Feb 10 to 12, 2028
- Scores
- Week of Mar 6, 2028
Frequently asked questions.
Everything prospective law school applicants ask about JD-Next, the LSAT alternative, and ConnectPrep’s coaching program.
Still deciding?
Tell us your target schools and timeline. We will tell you whether JD-Next, the LSAT or both makes sense.
What is JD-Next?
Can JD-Next replace the LSAT?
What is the JD-Next score scale and what scores are competitive?
How hard is JD-Next?
When are the upcoming JD-Next course dates?
Should I take JD-Next or the LSAT?
What law schools currently accept JD-Next?
What is the best JD-Next test prep program?
How is ConnectPrep’s JD-Next coaching different from self-study?
What JD-Next students say about ConnectPrep.
“Working with Jeremy and Alex through the ConnectPrep JD-Next program was one of the best decisions I made during my law school application process. Alex’s approach was extremely organized and strategic, especially when it came to legal reasoning and issue analysis. He helped me stop overcomplicating questions and focus on identifying the core legal principles being tested. My score improved from a 641 diagnostic to a 798 by the end of the program, and I was later accepted to Quinnipiac Law and New York Law School.”
“Jeremy paired me with Nicole for my JD-Next prep, and she was phenomenal. She explained difficult concepts in a way that finally clicked for me and gave detailed feedback after every assignment. I appreciated how personalized the program felt compared to larger prep companies. I improved by over 140 points and earned admission to Suffolk Law and Pace Law. The confidence I gained from the program carried directly into my applications and interviews.”
“I worked closely with Jeremy and David throughout the program, and the structure they created made a huge difference. David emphasized timing strategy and analytical thinking rather than memorization, which completely changed how I approached the exam. My baseline score was in the low 600s, and I finished the program near the top of the scale. I was accepted to St. John’s Law and Rutgers Law shortly afterward.”
“ConnectPrep’s JD-Next program was incredibly supportive from start to finish. Sarah helped me develop a realistic study plan while balancing work and family responsibilities. She was patient, encouraging, and very detail-oriented during our review sessions. My score improved nearly 150 points during the program, and I ultimately received acceptance offers from Drexel Kline School of Law and Hofstra Law.”
“Jeremy and Michael helped me rebuild my confidence after a disappointing first JD-Next attempt. Michael’s instruction was very practical and focused heavily on recognizing patterns in legal reasoning questions. The weekly practice sets and review sessions kept me accountable and steadily improving. I raised my score from a 658 to near the top of the scale and was accepted into the University of Miami School of Law.”
“One thing I loved about ConnectPrep was how collaborative the instructors were. Jeremy and Rachel regularly checked in on my progress and adjusted the study plan whenever needed. Rachel was especially helpful with contracts and analytical reading sections. I improved by more than 120 points and gained admission to Chicago-Kent College of Law and New England Law Boston.”
“I had tried self-studying before joining ConnectPrep, but I wasn’t improving consistently. Working with Alex changed that completely. He taught me how to approach questions systematically and avoid overthinking every answer choice. The sessions were focused, motivating, and efficient. My score jumped significantly, and I was accepted to Seton Hall Law and Brooklyn Law School.”
“Nicole and Jeremy created a program that felt completely individualized to my strengths and weaknesses. Nicole’s feedback was always thoughtful and specific, and she genuinely cared about helping me succeed. By the end of the program, I had improved over 130 points from my starting score and received acceptances from Loyola Chicago School of Law and Suffolk Law. I would absolutely recommend ConnectPrep to anyone preparing for JD-Next.”
JD-Next is one route into law school, but it is rarely the only decision a candidate is weighing. ConnectPrep supports the full path with LSAT tutoring, law school admissions advising, and the wider suite of graduate and professional test prep.
JD-Next and law school prep guides.
Not sure yet? Try a free JD-Next practice test.
Twenty five questions with a full explanation for every answer, plus the complete 100 question practice bank as a free download.
Start the practice test 2026 guideJD-Next vs. LSAT: Which path is right for your application?
Format, schools, costs, score scales and which test gives you the best shot at your target schools.
Read the guide New 2026 guideThe NextGen Bar Exam: every state’s switch date and passing score
First results, switch dates and passing scores for all 56 jurisdictions, and how the 9 hour exam is built.
Read the guide All programsGraduate test prep hub
GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and JD-Next: the right program for every law, business and medical school path.
Explore Talk to an advisorNot sure which path?
We will review your target schools, strengths and timeline, then tell you which test gives you the best shot.
Book a free consultationReady to ace the JD-Next?
Book a free consultation and we will map your law school target list, recommend the right test strategy and show you exactly how JD-Next coaching works.
Need 1:1 help preparing? ConnectPrep works with students at every level:
