The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) recently announced the launch of ‘Before the JD II’, a major new research initiative examining undergraduate students’ decisions about their future careers and postgraduate education.
Building on the original ‘Before the JD’ study published by AALS in 2018, this new research comes at a pivotal point for higher and legal education. Amid surging demand for legal education, many forces are exerting significant pressure on higher education including rapid technological change, shifting admissions practices, curtailments in financial aid, and increasingly complex public opinion about the value proposition for college and graduate degrees.
Through a comprehensive survey of bachelor’s-degree-seeking students across all class years, the study will address key research questions, including:
• What students plan to do after completing their undergraduate degrees.
• When they begin considering and deciding on next steps.
• How they prepare for their intended career paths.
• Which resources and opportunities they access and use.
This project demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening law schools and the legal profession. LSAC's applied research team is leading the research and analysis in collaboration with the AALS research team, which is receiving support for this important work from AccessLex Institute, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), and NALP.
LSAC and AALS expect to be able to share findings by the end of 2027.
Building on the original ‘Before the JD’ study published by AALS in 2018, this new research comes at a pivotal point for higher and legal education. Amid surging demand for legal education, many forces are exerting significant pressure on higher education including rapid technological change, shifting admissions practices, curtailments in financial aid, and increasingly complex public opinion about the value proposition for college and graduate degrees.
Through a comprehensive survey of bachelor’s-degree-seeking students across all class years, the study will address key research questions, including:
• What students plan to do after completing their undergraduate degrees.
• When they begin considering and deciding on next steps.
• How they prepare for their intended career paths.
• Which resources and opportunities they access and use.
This project demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening law schools and the legal profession. LSAC's applied research team is leading the research and analysis in collaboration with the AALS research team, which is receiving support for this important work from AccessLex Institute, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), and NALP.
LSAC and AALS expect to be able to share findings by the end of 2027.
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