What Is
JD-Next?
JD-Next is the 8-week law school admissions course and assessment accepted by 60+ ABA schools as an LSAT alternative. Everything you need to know about how it works, who should take it, and how to prepare.
What Is JD-Next?
JD-Next is an 8-week online course that ends in a law school admissions assessment. Rather than testing abstract reasoning, it teaches first-year law skills including case analysis, legal reasoning, and analytical writing, then measures how well you apply them. More than 60 ABA-accredited schools now hold a variance to accept JD-Next in place of the LSAT or GRE, and any school may consider it as an addendum to an application.
JD-Next was created at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law with support from the AccessLex Institute. It is now operated by Aspen Publishing, a UWorld company. The program runs four times per year.
The philosophical difference from the LSAT matters more than any single feature. The LSAT asks what you can already do under timed pressure. JD-Next asks how well you learn to think like a law student over eight weeks, which is closer to the work of an actual 1L class. Research tied to the program reports an average first-year GPA increase of about 0.20 among participants.
How JD-Next Works
JD-Next has two parts: an 8-week online course and a proctored assessment. Both count. Treating only the exam seriously is the most common and costly mistake applicants make.
Scoring at a Glance
- ▸Scale: 400 to 1,000 with a percentile rank
- ▸No minimum score required at any accepting school
- ▸Half of recently enrolling students scored between 750 and 820
- ▸800+ applicants were admitted at a 68% rate in the 2025–26 cycle
- ▸All reportable scores from the last five years must be submitted, same rule as the LSAT
JD-Next vs the LSAT
The rows below are facts, not a recommendation that one test is better for you. That depends on your target schools, timeline, and strengths.
| Category | JD-Next | LSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 8-week online course plus a proctored assessment | A single standardized test, in-person or remote |
| What it measures | Applied 1L legal skills taught during the course | Logical reasoning, reading comprehension, analytical skills |
| Scoring scale | 400 to 1,000 with percentile ranking | 120 to 180 with percentile ranking |
| Time commitment | 8 weeks, 6 to 10 hours per week | Typically several months of self-directed prep |
| Exam length | ~4 hours, 80 questions (60 scored) plus unscored essay | ~3 hours plus a writing sample |
| How often offered | Four sessions per year | Multiple dates throughout the year |
| Cost (approx.) | ~$399 early registration, 2026 cycle | ~$238 base registration (confirm current LSAC fees) |
| Acceptance | 60+ ABA schools by variance; all schools as an addendum | Accepted at all ABA-accredited schools |
| Logic games | Not present | Removed as of August 2024 |
| 1L GPA impact | Average +0.20 GPA reported among participants | No course component; no equivalent effect reported |
The Key Strategic Question
- If your target schools do not yet hold a JD-Next variance, the LSAT remains your primary test, with JD-Next as a potentially powerful addendum.
- If your schools accept JD-Next standalone, 69% of currently matriculating students submitted no LSAT score at all.
- Many applicants benefit from both: LSAT for schools that require it, JD-Next as a demonstration of readiness for the rest.
- Always confirm each school’s current policy directly. Acceptance is changing rapidly and policies vary by institution.
Which Law Schools Accept JD-Next?
Applicants often see conflicting numbers here. Understanding the distinction between two different figures is important before you build your plan around JD-Next.
Variance vs Addendum: The Practical Difference
- Variance school: Submit your JD-Next score instead of the LSAT or GRE. Treated as a standalone qualifying assessment under ABA Standard 503.
- Non-variance school: Submit JD-Next as supplemental material. It strengthens your file but does not replace the LSAT requirement.
- Both scores submitted: Some variance schools still default to the LSAT as primary if you submit both. Confirm the school’s policy directly.
Before finalizing your strategy, confirm current policies with each school’s admissions office and verify whether they hold an ABA variance at jdnext.org/for-schools/jd-next-variance-schools/.
Who Should Take JD-Next
JD-Next is not a universal replacement for the LSAT, but it is a strong fit for specific applicants. Here is an honest profile of both sides.
- ▸You learn better by doing than by drilling abstract problems.
- ▸Timed logic puzzles have historically worked against you on standardized tests.
- ▸You want to demonstrate law school readiness directly through coursework.
- ▸Your target schools hold a JD-Next variance and you want to apply without the LSAT.
- ▸You want to strengthen an existing application with a powerful addendum.
- ▸Your primary target schools do not yet hold a JD-Next variance. Confirm this first.
- ▸You are aiming at T14 programs where LSAT adoption remains the standard.
- ▸Your timeline does not allow for an 8-week course commitment before your deadline.
- ▸You already have a competitive LSAT score and your schools do not add weight to a JD-Next addendum.
How to Prepare for JD-Next
Because JD-Next includes a course, many applicants assume there is nothing to prepare for. That is the most common and most costly mistake. Students who score well treat the eight weeks as the highest-leverage academic work of their application.
The Single Most Important Thing to Understand
- The exam rewards applied reasoning and clear legal writing, not memorization. Practice the way the test actually thinks.
- The mid-course performance report at Week 4 is the signal most students ignore. Use it to find weaknesses while you still have time to fix them.
- Personalized written feedback is built into the course. Students who revise against it consistently outscore those who move on without adjusting.
Week-by-Week Preparation Focus
We Coach the Course, Not Just the Exam
ConnectPrep is one of the nation’s leading JD-Next prep programs. Our 1:1 coaching covers the full 8-week course with weekly sessions, written assignment review, and a target-school strategy built around your specific schools and timeline.
JD-Next 2026 Course Dates
JD-Next runs four times per year. Choose the session that aligns with your application deadlines, factoring in that most schools have windows that close months before their entering class begins.
Early reg closed
Late reg closes: Jun 5
Early reg closes: Aug 14
Early reg closes: Nov 6
Always verify current dates and pricing at jdnext.org before enrolling. Dates above reflect the official schedule as of June 2026 and are subject to change.
JD-Next FAQ
Answers to the questions law school applicants ask most often about JD-Next.
Is JD-Next easier than the LSAT?
Not exactly, it is different. JD-Next removes the timed logic puzzles many applicants struggle with on the LSAT and replaces them with eight weeks of real law school coursework and applied legal writing. It rewards consistent effort and learning rather than test-taking tricks. The right question is not which test is easier, but which plays to your strengths and which your target schools accept.
How long is the JD-Next course and exam?
The course runs eight weeks at roughly 6 to 10 hours per week, approximately one hour per day. The final assessment is about four hours long and includes 80 multiple-choice questions (60 scored) plus one unscored essay that law schools receive alongside your results.
What is a good JD-Next score?
Scores range from 400 to 1,000 with a percentile ranking. Among students who recently matriculated using JD-Next scores, the range ran from 640 to 1,000. Half of enrolling students scored between 750 and 820, and applicants who scored 800 or higher were admitted at a 68% rate. A score in the high 700s or above is generally competitive, though no school sets a minimum.
Do law schools prefer the LSAT or JD-Next?
It depends on the school. Schools with an ABA variance can accept JD-Next as a primary admissions test. Others accept it only as an addendum. Some treat the LSAT as primary if both are submitted. T14 adoption is still developing. Confirm each school’s current policy directly with their admissions office.
How much does JD-Next cost?
JD-Next 2026 pricing: Early Registration approximately $399, Standard Registration $459, Late Registration $499. Registration includes the full 8-week program, course materials, the admissions assessment, and three score reports. Need-based fee waivers are available. Always confirm current pricing at jdnext.org.
Can I take JD-Next and the LSAT?
Yes, and many applicants do. A common strategy is to use the LSAT for schools that require it and submit JD-Next as an addendum demonstrating law school readiness, or to take JD-Next as a primary test for variance schools while using the LSAT for others. If you submit both to a variance school, confirm whether they will weight JD-Next as primary or default to the LSAT.
Which law schools accept JD-Next in 2026?
More than 60 ABA-accredited schools hold a variance to accept JD-Next as a primary admissions test. As of spring 2026, JD-Next students were actively matriculating at 30 institutions including Arizona State, George Washington, Vanderbilt, and the University of Wisconsin. The full current variance school list is at jdnext.org.
Who created JD-Next?
JD-Next was created at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law with support from the AccessLex Institute. It was developed with input from more than 40 law school deans to measure law school readiness through skills-based assessment rather than traditional standardized testing. It is now operated by Aspen Publishing, a UWorld company.
Ready to Start Your JD-Next Prep?
ConnectPrep is one of the nation’s leading JD-Next prep programs. Our 1:1 coaching covers the full 8-week course with weekly sessions, written assignment review, and a strategy built around your target schools.