Serving students nationwide through in person and online sessions
New dataLaw school acceptance of JD-Next grew 275% in 2025-26

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.

Private 1:1 coachingLive online nationwideAligned to every 2026-27 session

JD-Next by the numbers

4001000
750-820

Score range for half of enrolling JD-Next students, on the 400 to 1,000 scale

30law schools enrolled JD-Next students
275%year-over-year growth in acceptance
69%submitted JD-Next as their only test
Source: JD-Next, 2025-26 admissions cycle data ›

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.

What is JD-Next

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.

Our coaching program

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.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

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.

05

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.

06

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
8-week course structure

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.

Weeks 1 to 2

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.

Weeks 3 to 4

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.

Weeks 5 to 7

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.

Week 8 & Exam

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

Pre-Course Prep

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.

During-Course Support

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.

Exam Intensive

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.

JD-Next vs. LSAT

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.

Feature
JD-Next
LSAT
Format
8-week online course plus a proctored exam
One test day: four 35-minute sections, plus a separate writing sample
What it tests
Reading and analyzing real contract law cases, legal reasoning and written analysis
Logical reasoning and reading comprehension
Score scale
400 to 1,000, with a percentile and topic-level report
120 to 180
Cost
$399 early, $459 standard, $499 late (course and exam)
$253 per test (2026-27 testing year)
Where it counts
Standalone at schools with an ABA variance, supplemental at many others. 30 law schools enrolled JD-Next students in 2025-26
Every ABA-accredited law school
Top-ranked schools
Limited so far. WashU in St. Louis accepts it alongside the LSAT and GRE
Accepted everywhere, and required at most
Time commitment
About 6 to 10 hours a week for 8 weeks
Varies by student and target score
Best fit
Non-traditional applicants, strong readers and writers, and applicants targeting JD-Next schools
Applicants aiming for top-ranked schools or schools that require the LSAT

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.

Map my school list
Course schedule

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.

Upcoming

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
Upcoming

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
Upcoming

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
Upcoming

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
Upcoming

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
Upcoming

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
$399 early$459 standard$499 lateAlways confirm current dates at jdnext.org before registering. ConnectPrep coaching is available for every session.
JD-Next questions, answered

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?
JD-Next is an 8-week, fully online law school admissions course and proctored exam published by Aspen Publishing. It introduces students to 1L-style legal reasoning through real contract law cases. When you finish, you receive a scaled score from 400 to 1,000 and a detailed score report you can send to law schools as an alternative or supplement to the LSAT. In the 2025-2026 cycle, students enrolled at 30 law schools with JD-Next scores, and law school acceptance of the exam grew 275% year over year.
Can JD-Next replace the LSAT?
Yes, at schools that hold an ABA variance to use it as a standalone admissions test. For 69% of students enrolling with a JD-Next score in 2025-2026, it was the only admissions test they submitted. For schools that require the LSAT, a strong JD-Next score can still serve as a supplemental addendum. ConnectPrep helps you map your school list and choose the right approach before you invest time in either test.
What is the JD-Next score scale and what scores are competitive?
JD-Next scores are reported from 400 to 1,000 with a percentile ranking and topic-level breakdowns. In 2025-2026, half of enrolling JD-Next students were admitted with scores between 750 and 820. There are not yet widely published score medians by school the way there are for the LSAT, so ConnectPrep advises you on competitive targets for your specific schools.
How hard is JD-Next?
JD-Next is designed to mirror the rigor of the first year of law school. Students who have never briefed a case, analyzed contract doctrine or written a legal argument usually find the analytical demands significant, and the course moves quickly. Building case briefing fluency and doctrinal understanding before and during the course makes a real difference.
When are the upcoming JD-Next course dates?
The September 2026 session started September 14, with the exam on November 17 or 21. Upcoming sessions start December 7, 2026 (exam February 9 or 13, 2027), February 22, 2027 (exam April 29 to May 1), May 24, 2027 (exam July 29 to 31) and August 30, 2027 (exam November 4 to 6). Final registration closes a few days after each course starts. Always confirm current dates at jdnext.org. ConnectPrep coaching is available for every session.
Should I take JD-Next or the LSAT?
It depends on your target schools. If your schools accept JD-Next as a standalone score and your strengths show better in real legal work than in a timed reasoning test, JD-Next may be the better primary test. If you are aiming for top-ranked schools or schools that require the LSAT, the LSAT remains essential. Many applicants take both, using the LSAT where it is required and submitting JD-Next as evidence of law school readiness. See our LSAT prep page ›
What law schools currently accept JD-Next?
In 2025-2026, students enrolled at 30 law schools with JD-Next scores, including Washington University in St. Louis, which accepts it alongside the LSAT and GRE. The current list of variance schools is maintained at jdnext.org and grows every cycle. ConnectPrep advises you on how your target schools currently treat JD-Next scores.
What is the best JD-Next test prep program?
Look for prep built for the JD-Next course and proctored exam itself rather than repurposed LSAT or bar materials. ConnectPrep’s 1:1 JD-Next coaching covers case briefing, contract law doctrine, IRAC analysis and exam strategy, live online for students nationwide. Because it is private and paced to your timeline, it adapts to your strengths, weaknesses and target law schools in a way self-study cannot.
How is ConnectPrep’s JD-Next coaching different from self-study?
Many students take the course without support and struggle with the jump from standard academic work to legal reasoning. 1:1 coaching fills the gaps the course itself cannot: personalized feedback on your case briefs, clear explanations of doctrine you find confusing, targeted practice for the exam format and coaching on your written arguments. You enter each week ahead of the material instead of catching up.
Student success stories

What JD-Next students say about ConnectPrep.

★★★★★Hundreds of five-star reviews across ConnectPrep programs
“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.”
Melissa R.JD-Next student
“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.”
Brian T.JD-Next student
“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.”
Priya M.JD-Next student
“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.”
Kevin L.JD-Next student
“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.”
Samantha D.JD-Next student
“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.”
Marcus A.JD-Next student
“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.”
Lauren S.JD-Next student
“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.”
Ethan C.JD-Next student

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.

Free consultation

Ready 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.

(914) 288-5718info@connectprep.comLive online, students nationwide