Become a Lawyer Online
While there are many degrees available online, learning law to become a lawyer is one of the hardest ones to do. Most schools found online for law are not accredited; in order for you to become a lawyer using the online method it must be sanctioned by the American Bar Association. The ABA in 49 of the 50 states do not allow students who have taken online classes to sit for the bar exam, however there is still a way to become a lawyer online. One state allows a person with an online law degree to sit for its bar exam, that state is California. You may get a degree and practice law as long as you follow the steps California has made for its students.
Instructions
Become a Lawyer Online
1. Get a bachelor's degree. There is no set degree type that is required, however, the school must be accredited by the Department of Education. California recommends that you receive a full bachelor's degree, however, the minimum requirement to sit for the bar is only 60 credit hours. Additionally you may be tested to ensure that you are on the same level as a regular law school student.
2. Find a law school that is registered to provide online education and that has gone through the steps to be registered with the California Bar Committee. There are quite a few who have accomplished the registration process. You can find these schools by searching the Internet. When you do find the school you want to go to, it is imperative that you take the time to investigate the school. This school will need to give you an education that is equal to the education that normal law school students must accomplish. This will be important to your success when sitting for the bar exam.
3. Register at the California Bar Committee as a law student. In order to do this you will be able to go to the website they have set up for registrations. When visiting this site you will see all the necessary applications and testing requirements are online as well. However, be prepared to pay for anything you will need while on the site.
4. After completing your first year of classes, take the First-Year Law Students' Examination. This test requires you to first use the California Bar site to register yourself for the exam, you must have this done by May 15 of whatever year you are applying. After you have registered for this exam, you will not have to register again for any subsequent examinations. Most students will register for this exam during their first year of classes to ensure they get the date that they want for the exam. The test may be taken online if you have taken the time to register your laptop with the California Bar Committee.
5. Finish your law school education. California requires that you receive passing grades and that you have 864 hours of study and preparation throughout each year. If you are a student in a foreign law school and you want to sit for the bar, you must still study at a California law school in order to qualify the bar examination.
6. Take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam and get the Moral Character Determination. These are a requirement of the California Bar and must be registered for in advance. Both may take some time to be accepted for and the Moral Character Determination can take about six months to get the results of, so you may want to start the process during your third year of law school.
7. Sit for and pass the bar exam. Once you have done this you can practice law in California. If you wish to practice law in any other state, you will need to show proof that you have successfully practiced in California for at least five years consecutively.
8. If you plan to practice in California, you will need to move to the state. You may find a position in a law firm, however, most attorneys who received their education this way usually work in private law firms.
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