JD Next Law Schools

JD-Next is a multi-week online course and assessment, built to predict first-year law school performance, that a set of ABA-approved law schools accepts alongside or in place of the LSAT. As of the current cycle, 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023) participate. It suits applicants who want a course-based route into law school.

By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Figures on this page were verified in August 2026 or point readers to the current source.

What is JD-Next and which law schools accept it?

JD-Next is an online program that combines a multi-week course in reading and reasoning through contract law with a standardized assessment at the end. It was developed with support from the AccessLex Institute and the University of Arizona to give law schools an alternative predictor of first-year success. A group of ABA-approved schools has received approval to admit students on the strength of a JD-Next score. 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023).

How does JD-Next work as an admissions credential?

Instead of a single timed exam like the LSAT, JD-Next asks applicants to complete coursework that mirrors first-semester legal study, then measures how well they apply those skills. Participating schools use the resulting score to admit or evaluate applicants, sometimes without any LSAT or GRE. Because the ABA authorizes this route through school-specific approvals, the exact terms vary by program. 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023).

Which law schools accept JD-Next right now?

The roster of JD-Next schools has grown each cycle and includes both national and regional programs. The table lists participating schools and whether each still asks for a second test, using the sources named because these terms change frequently.

The current ranking is best read directly from the source. See the U.S. News Best Law Schools list for the up-to-date order, and each school's ABA Standard 509 report for its median LSAT, GPA, and acceptance rate.

How do you take JD-Next and add it to your applications?

1. Confirm your target schools accept JD-Next for your cycle. see the linked source (see the linked source).
2. Register for a scheduled JD-Next course session and complete the multi-week coursework.
3. Sit the JD-Next assessment at the end of the course.
4. Send your JD-Next results to each participating school as its instructions direct.
5. Decide whether to also submit an LSAT or GRE score, since some schools still consider one. your target schools' published 25th-50th-75th percentile figures.

Frequently asked questions

Which law schools accept the GRE?

Many ABA-approved law schools accept the GRE in place of the LSAT, and the list overlaps with but is not identical to the schools accepting JD-Next. Top programs feature in both groups. Check ETS's roster for GRE acceptance and the JD-Next site for course-based admission, since each is maintained separately. about 128 U.S. law schools, including every T14 school.

Can you get into law school without the LSAT?

Yes. JD-Next is one of several routes that let you enroll at an ABA-approved law school without an LSAT score, along with the GRE and a few school-specific waivers. Whether a given school will admit you on JD-Next alone depends on its approved policy, so confirm the terms directly. 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023).

Is the GRE easier than the LSAT?

The GRE and LSAT differ more than they rank in difficulty, and JD-Next is different again because it is a course plus an assessment rather than a single timed test. Some applicants find a graded course less stressful than one high-stakes exam. Try a practice measure of each format before choosing your path. 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023).

Sources

• ABA-Approved Law Schools
• ETS, Law Schools that Accept GRE Scores
• JD-Next Variance Schools
• LSAC LSAT Percentiles

Verified August 2026.