Groundbreaking Law School Entrance Examination Gains Momentum in Legal Education
Aspen Publishing has recently celebrated a significant milestone in the world of legal education following its acquisition of an exclusive license for JD-Next, a pioneering law school admissions test. The American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admissions Council has officially granted a variance to thirty-three esteemed law schools, permitting them to employ the JD-Next law school entrance examination as an alternative or additional assessment method alongside traditional tests such as the LSAT and GRE.
The JD-Next Revolution in Legal Education
While the American Bar Association (ABA) refrains from endorsing any specific examination, Aspen Publishing enthusiastically champions the JD-Next law school learning program and examination as a transformative force in legal education. Joe Terry, Vice President and Publisher for Aspen Publishing, noted, "There is a definite groundswell of support and interest that this program is receiving, and we are excited to see where it leads."
Developed over an intensive five-year period in collaboration with over 40 law schools, colleges, and universities and thousands of students nationwide, JD-Next aims to bridge the gap in law school preparedness. It offers a reliable measure of a student's capacity to excel in law school. The program, delivered entirely online, consists of an eight-week course encompassing doctrinal concepts and legal skills workshops. The course's culmination is a comprehensive final exam designed to assess participants' comprehension of the material. Notably, peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that JD-Next minimizes the racial disparities observed in other standardized tests.
Application Deadline and Future Prospects
For law schools aspiring to leverage JD-Next, the application deadline for obtaining a variance is October 13, 2023. Schools seeking further information can contact Aspen Publishing at jd.next@aspenpublishing.com. It's worth noting that all law schools can incorporate the JD-Next program into their admissions process, even without an official variance. This flexibility benefits students by providing additional preparation through the JD-Next course and examination. At the same time, law schools appreciate the valuable supplementary data points offered by the subsequent test results, which have demonstrated a predictive edge, even when considered alongside other test scores.
Marc L. Miller, Dean of the University of Arizona Law, articulated the essence of JD-Next by stating, "JD-Next was designed to measure what prospective law students can do versus what they may already know. We are confident in the results achieved with this program and feel the future is bright as awareness and interest continue to grow."
The approval of JD-Next by the ABA and its increasing adoption by law schools mark a significant shift in the landscape of legal education, promising a more inclusive, effective, and equitable path for aspiring law students.
