The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) has been used to assess the competence of law school applicants since 1948.
The two-and-a-half-hour test is designed to evaluate an aspiring law student’s logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing style.
According to one study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, the LSAT could predict a student’s first and second year grades within a 15% variance.
Despite the LSAT’s history and accuracy, the American Bar Association (ABA) has allowed at least one quarter of America’s accredited law schools to do away with the test.
In place of the LSAT, applicants can attend and complete a mock contracts class produced by Aspen Publishing. The online class, referred to as JD-Next, requires the perspective student to learn one of the basic subjects of the first-year curriculum and then take a law-school-style exam. The exam grade can be used in lieu of the LSAT score during the admission process.
According to an article in Reuters,
JD-Next proponents say it’s an important new tool for law schools because it captures participants’ law school aptitude without reproducing the racial score disparities seen on other standardized tests. A 2019 study of the LSAT found the average score for Black test-takers was 142 out of a possible 180, compared with 153 for white and Asian test-takers. LSAT critics say the exam is biased, while others say score gaps reflect larger racial disparities within the education system.
A similar philosophy has lead the ABA to consider fully accrediting online law schools. See my post Law School Deans Sign Letter Opposing ABA Accreditation for Online Degrees.