Students are now pursuing more law degrees online.
With the birth of the Internet, you now have the opportunity to pursue your degree online from the comfort of your own home. Distance learning law degrees, in which students obtain a JD, the professional graduate degree generally required to practice law in the United States, are becoming more common. With the restrictions of the American Bar Association, however, distance learning programs are a feasible avenue to becoming a lawyer only if you want to practice in California.
American Bar Association Restrictions
Currently, the American Bar Association (ABA) does not accept the accreditation of any institution that provides a JD degree through distance learning. (See Reference 1.) Since 49 states require that graduates earn a degree approved by the ABA in order to take the Bar exam required to practice law, graduates of distance learning law programs cannot practice in those states. (See Reference 2.)
Practicing Law in California
California is the only state that allows graduates from distance learning law programs to take the Bar exam. In order to do this, however, students must have completed their pre-legal education and have graduated from a distance learning program that requires at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year. The distance learning program must also be registered with the California Bar Committee. (See Reference 3.)
Alternative Options
Students or graduates with distance learning law degrees can still attempt to practice law in other states by first practicing in California. After practicing for a few years, it may then be possible to transfer to another state. Alternatively, some who receive JD degrees do not wish to become lawyers. If this is the case, the law degrees of these graduates would depend not on the state, but on the degree acceptance requirements of the university or employer. Graduates from online JD programs can then work in the legal field, or even in arenas as diverse as healthcare administration or business management. (See Reference 2.)
Accepted Distance Learning Programs
Currently, the California Bar Association accepts distance learning law degrees from only five schools: Abraham Lincoln University School of Law, California School of Law, American Heritage University, Concord Law School of Kaplan University, and California Midland School of Law. (See Reference 4.)
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