What is Law School Like?
Author: Melissa Freimark
Among the many questions that cross your mind as you consider a career in the legal field is about the first step in the journey – what is law school like? How do you know if a legal career is for you without investing tens of thousands of dollars (if not hundreds of thousands!) going to law school?
Cue JD-Next! JD-Next is an innovative online law school prep course program and entrance test that provides a cost-effective and realistic preview of what law school will be like. The program prepares applicants for the rigors of law school and offers a fair and accurate assessment of an applicant’s academic readiness for law school. So not only do you get to see if law school is for you, the course can also help you on your law school application and help you achieve a higher GPA during law school.
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Regarding the test portion of the program, it’s designed to take the place of a traditional entrance exam or enhance your overall application packet if you take a traditional entrance exam as well. To date, JD-Next has completed multiple program cohorts with thousands of score reports being submitted to ABA-recognized law schools. As the program continues to build, many prospective law school students are wondering if they should take the program and include their test score as part of their law school application.
Since the program is designed to prepare you for law school and teach you things you will learn in your 1L year, the final test is designed to test you on what you learned, thereby illustrating your ability to learn law rather than on abstract logical questions that more traditional exams are designed to do. This design helps level the playing field so each student is assessed on the same information they were given during the program, showing you can succeed in law regardless of your background.
FAQs: JD-Next Course and Test
How does this program help me see what is law school like?
This course uses a few of the classic contracts law cases, which also appear frequently in law schools across the country. You’ll have access to video explanations from experts in the field explaining the various topics covered, you’ll receive feedback on writing assignments and have access to Course Assistants who have been through law school themselves. Everything you need is included, so there are no extra materials to purchase. Plus, in two scientific papers, we have found that participation in the JD-Next course, and especially completion of the course, causes a substantial improvement in law school grades (up to .2 increase!), and improves students' confidence in their first year of law school.
How widely accepted is the JD-Next exam score?
To date, over 55+ law schools have received a variance from the American Bar Association to accept JD-Next in lieu of the LSAT or GRE. This number continues to grow. It is recommended that students reach out to their chosen law school to hear directly how the JD-Next score is used. Students do have the option of submitting their JD-Next score to any law school in addition to their legacy exam score, to provide a fuller picture of your candidacy. As schools often say, the more data points, the better.
Why is JD-Next different than legacy exams?
The JD-Next exam is 4 hours with one 10-minute intermission. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions (70 are scored & 30 are unscored for evaluation of questions) and one ungraded essay that universities will receive with your score report. JD-Next is intentionally different from the LSAT and GRE.
The entire test is derived from information students learn in the 8-week course that precedes the test. This unique approach has been scientifically proven to be a strong predictor of law school success with levels of predictive validity as high or higher than traditional legacy exams.
The higher a prospective student scores on the JD-Next test, the better this student will likely perform in law school. More exciting, JD-Next test results have been shown to reduce, if not eliminate the documented admission test score gaps between underrepresented groups and majority groups. This increases admission rates of minority test takers in a climate where the use of affirmative action has been deemed impermissible.
If a law school doesn't accept JD-Next, should I still take the course and submit my exam score?
Each law school is different in their usage and/or acceptance of JD-Next. As a prospective law student, you must determine whether the benefits of the course and/or your test score will aid in your entry to law school and in achieving success once there.
Research shows that prospective law students who successfully completed the JD-Next course can expect, on average, an increase in their law school GPA by 0.2. So, for many students the value of
the course alone makes the JD-Next program a worthwhile endeavor. For those students looking at the program to specifically help them get into law school, it again comes down to conducting your own research with these various law schools to determine their usage of the JD-Next test score.
Verdict?
As with many things, taking the JD-Next course and/or exam comes down to your personal goals and choices. Making the commitment of approximately one hour per day for an 8-week period to complete the JD-Next course is something that should not be taken lightly. Conversely, at an investment of $399 - and with scholarships available - the opportunity to take a program proven to raise your law school GPA while simultaneously enhancing your chances of law school entry is a firm yes for many people.
Whether your score result is submitted singularly or as part of a broader application packet, there is no downside to JD-Next with many significant upsides, including no more wondering what is law school like.
In the end, each student will make their individual choice, doing so with the full knowledge that a new and perhaps better alternative to law school admissions exams and preparatory course has finally arrived.
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