Schools with a Variance to Accept JD-Next

The American Bar Association (ABA) is a national, nonprofit organization that accredits law schools in the United States. To receive accreditation, law schools must meet the ABA's rigorous standards that govern law school admissions, curriculum, faculty qualifications, student support, and bar passage outcomes.

ABA Standard 503 requires accredited law schools to use a “valid and reliable” test for admission. A JD-Next variance means a school has ABA authorization to use JD-Next under Standard 503, as the ABA has determined that JD-Next is a reliable and valid measure of an applicant's potential to succeed in law school.

Applicants who are considering whether to apply to a particular law school with a JD-Next score should consider several sources of information: whether the school has an ABA-approved variance, the history of the school’s acceptance of JD-Next students as documented in publicy-available 509 reports, and the school’s policy towards JD-Next as reflected on the school’s website. An applicant who remains undecided after consulting these sources is advised to contact the school’s admissions office for further clarification.

View ABA Variance Documentation →