JD-Next: Research and Evidence

Explore multiple validity studies that show how JD-Next is a rigorous and reliable predictor of law school readiness and success, providing a fair and more equitable approach to admissions assessment.

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The Science and Validity of JD-Next

JD-Next is supported by peer-reviewed research and independent validity studies that examine how effectively the program measures law school readiness and predicts early academic outcomes.

This page brings together the core research and supporting materials that inform how JD-Next is used within a holistic admissions process. These materials focus on three areas:

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Validity and reliability: evidence that the assessment consistently measures skills required for success in a first-year law school classroom
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Predictive outcomes: research linking JD-Next performance to first-year academic indicators, including course performance and bar-related outcomes
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Program design and context: documentation of the JD-Next learning model, its alignment with real law school skills, and its role as an additional admissions signal

Taken together, this body of work positions JD-Next as a validated, evidence-based tool that provides law schools with structured insight into applicant readiness while maintaining a measured and academically grounded approach to admissions evaluation.

Studies

Study/Resource	Focus Area	What it Examines	Core Insights
JD-Next: A Valid and reliable tool to predict diverse students' success in law school	Validity and reliability	A peer reviewed article. Psychometric strength and consistency of the JD-Next assessment	Demonstrates JD-Next as a valid and reliable measure of law school readiness
The Research Behind JD-Next	Outcomes	A White Paper discussing the relationship between JD-Next performance and bar-related outcomes	Indicates a meaningful association between JD-Next performance and bar passage indicators
JD-Next: An Alternative to Legacy Admissions Test	Program and validation overview	A White Paper examining the structure of the program, research foundation, and use in admissions	Establishes JD-Next as an evidence-based admissions assessment and additional admissions signal
The Association of Participating in a Summer Prelaw Training Program and First-Year Law School Students’ Grades	Skills development	A peer reviewed article examining the impact of structured pre-law training on readiness and early law school success	Supports the value of skill-building prior to 1L, aligned with JD-Next’s model
CABL Std. 503 California Association of Black Lawyers	External validation and policy context	Feedback and commentary from legal education stakeholders	Provides context on how JD-Next fits within broader admissions and policy discussions in a letter from the CABL to the ABA Council on Legal Education & Admission to the RE: JD-Next as a third admissions exam under Standard 503

Overview of Studies

JD-Next: A Valid and reliable tool to predict diverse students' success in law school

This peer-reviewed study evaluates the validity and reliability of the JD-Next assessment. It examines whether the assessment consistently measures the skills it is designed to assess, including reading, rule synthesis, and legal analysis. The findings support JD-Next as a rigorous and reliable tool for evaluating law school readiness.

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The Research Behind JD-Next

This research explores the relationship between JD-Next performance and bar passage outcomes. It provides early evidence that performance on the assessment is associated with indicators tied to longer-term academic success. This outcome reinforces JD-Next as a meaningful data point within a broader admissions framework.

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JD-Next: An Alternative to Legacy Admissions Test

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of JD-Next, including its structure, learning model, and research foundation. It explains how the program develops and assesses real law school skills and how the resulting assessment can be used as an evidence-based alternative or an additional admissions signal.

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The Association of Participating in a Summer Prelaw Training Program and First-Year Law School Students’ Grades

This study examines the impact of structured pre-law training on student readiness and early academic performance. Its findings align with the JD-Next model, which focuses on developing core law school skills prior to matriculation and assessing proficiency in those skills.

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CABL Std. 503 California Association of Black Lawyers

This document provides external commentary and context from stakeholders within legal education. It reflects broader discussions around admissions practices, innovation, and the role of alternative assessments. It helps situate JD-Next within the evolving admissions landscape.

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