Schools with A Variance to Accept JD-Next

JD-Next is accepted at many law schools, either as a standalone score or as an application addendum. View the law schools officially approved by the American Bar Association to accept the JD-Next final exam as a replacement for the LSAT exam.

VARIANCE APPLICATION

What is an ABA Variance and Why it Matters?

The American Bar Association (ABA) has granted a variance to ABA-accredited law schools, enabling them to accept the JD-Next admissions test as an alternative to the LSAT for admissions decisions. This important recognition validates JD-Next as a reliable and valid assessment of applicant potential for success in law school.

View ABA Variance Documentation →

Law Schools Granted Requests for a Variance from Standard 503

SCHOOL NAME	ABA APPROVAL DATE
Akron, University of	2/21/2025
Arizona State University	11/17/2023
Arizona, University of	5/31/2023
Arkansas at Little Rock, University of	5/17/2024
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School	11/17/2023
Baltimore, University of	11/1/2025
Boston College	11/17/2023
Brigham Young University	8/18/2023
California Western School of Law	8/18/2023
California-Davis, University of	8/18/2023
Cardozo, Yeshiva University	11/17/2023
Case Western Reserve University	8/18/2023
Charleston School of Law	8/18/2023
Cincinnati, University of	8/18/2023
City University of New York, University of	8/18/2023
Cleveland State University	8/18/2023
Cooley Law School	11/17/2023
Creighton University	8/18/2023
Dayton, University of	8/18/2023
Denver, University of	8/16/2024
DePaul University	5/17/2024
Drake University	8/18/2023
Emory University	11/17/2023
Florida A&M University	2/21/2025
Florida International University	8/18/2023
Florida State University	8/1/2025
Fordham University	5/17/2024
George Mason University	11/8/2024
George Washington University	11/17/2023
Georgetown University	8/18/2023
Georgia, University of	8/18/2023
Gonzaga University	2/1/2026
Hofstra University	8/18/2023
Illinois, University of	5/17/2024
Indiana University-Bloomington	11/17/2023
Loyola University-New Orleans	8/18/2023
Maine, University of	11/17/2023
Marquette University	5/1/2025
Maryland, University of	11/8/2024
Massachusetts/Dartmouth, University of	11/17/2023
Miami, University of	8/18/2023
Mississippi College	8/18/2023
Missouri, University of	2/21/2025
Nebraska, University of	8/18/2023
New England Law/Boston	2/23/2024
Pace University	2/21/2025
Pacific, University of the	8/18/2023
Pittsburgh, University of	8/18/2023
Richmond, University of	8/1/2025
San Diego, University of	11/17/2023
Seattle University	2/23/2024
South Dakota, University of	8/18/2023
Southern Methodist University	8/16/2024
St. Mary's University	8/18/2023
Suffolk University	8/18/2023
Syracuse University	8/18/2023
Temple University	8/18/2023
Texas A&M University	8/18/2023
Toledo, University of	11/17/2023
Tulsa, University of	8/16/2024
Vanderbilt University	8/18/2023
Washington, University of	2/23/2024
Wayne State University	11/8/2024
Western New England University	11/17/2023
Widener University Delaware Law School	8/18/2023
Willamette University	2/21/2025
Wisconsin, University of	11/17/2023

When a Variance is Not Needed

Many law schools are eager to incorporate JD-Next into their admissions processes, though implementation policies vary. Some institutions prioritize JD-Next scores, while others use them to complement traditional LSAT results. The following situations do not require an ABA variance:

✓

For an applicant to submit a JD-Next test score as a supplement to an LSAT or GRE score
✓

When a law school relies on ABA Interpretation 503-3 to admit applicants
✓

When the JD-Next test is being used for purposes other than making admissions decisions
✓

For a law school to use the JD-Next course and/or test to prepare applicants or determine admitted students' readiness for law school
✓

For law schools that are not accredited by the ABA

Apply for a Variance

The process is simple and straightforward. To request a variance, complete the form here:

VARIANCE APPLICATION