Over the past few years the number of online degree programs has expanded exponentially and many people have taken the online Bachelor Degree and MBA programs that are available. More recently, a number of online Law Degree programs have also sprouted up leading many people to wonder...is it really possible to obtain your law degree online? More importantly, are these Juris Doctor degrees worth anything and can you really practice law with them?
The Straight Scoop About Online Law School
Several online universities such as the University of Phoenix, Concord/Kaplan Law School and DeVry offer distance learning Law Degrees. These programs are comparable in cost to other online doctorate level degrees with fees ranging from $30-90,000 depending on the program. Typically students may take them either part or full-time with the full Juris Doctor degree being completed in 3-5 years.
Classes for most of these programs are offered online with reading and other materials bought by the students. Some offer in-person classes as optional additions. Professors interact with students online and assignments are usually submitted via email. The courses required for online Juris Doctor programs are typical of full-time programs and include such subjects as Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Property and Torts among others. Upper level classes include such subjects as Constitutional Law, Evidence, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, as well as other mandatory as well as recommended coursework.
The programs typically require the student to take the LSAT and to submit transcripts from undergraduate programs as well as write essays to gain acceptance. Overall the admissions criteria and standards are lower than major name Law Schools with students obtaining admission that might not qualify if applying to a nationally recognized bricks and mortar school.
Someone that is interested in studying law and going through all the major JD required courses can obtain a solid law school education by doing a degree online. The ability to make your own schedule, the flexibility of spreading the degree over time and the reduced cost when compared to bricks and mortar programs makes it an attractive alternative if you are simply seeking the Juris Doctor for your own benefit and for the educational experience it offers.
The Big Problem With Online Law School
There is however, a very important and fundamental downside to pursuing your Juris Doctor online. As of now, 49 states require a person to obtain their JD Degree from an accredited institution by the American Bar Association (ABA). Without this accreditation you cannot sit for their bar exam and become a practicing attorney in their state. The exception to this is the state of California which allows certain distance learning Juris Doctor students to sit for the bar exam if they've fulfilled certain requirements but only from certain specific Online Law Degree programs.
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