A young woman reading a law book.
Pursuing a law degree opens up many new career windows with, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pay rates that are far above the national average. Law is also a very competitive field due to the number of law school graduates each year and is often quite expensive to pursue. However, for those budget-conscious individuals who are adamant about earning a law degree, there are a number of accredited online programs that provide the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level work in the field and that also lay the groundwork for taking the bar exam.
Kaplan University Concord Law School
The Concord Law School at Kaplan University, which launched its first fully-online law degree program in 1998, has been accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Prospective students have three degrees to choose from: a Juris Doctorate (JD), an Executive Juris Doctorate (EJD) or a Small Business Practice (LLM). The JD program is part-time and takes approximately four years to complete, with a curriculum grounded in traditional law and bar courses mixed with a high level of online feedback and interaction. The program is ideal for those who are working a full-time job and need flexibility in their school scheduling. The EJD program, on the other hand, is a part-time, three-year program that is designed for those who are interested in a challenging law education, but do not want to deal with the regulatory requirements associated with becoming a member of the bar. The LLM degree is designed for recent graduates and licensed attorneys who want a more in-depth knowledge of the legal issues that are specific to small businesses.
Concord Law School
Kaplan University
800-439-4794
concordlawschool.edu
Walden University
Walden University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is also a member of the North Central Association (NCA), which is one of six officially recognized regional bodies in the United States, authorized to accredit colleges and universities. Walden offers a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree that takes about two years to complete, depending on individual progress and the number of credits transferred in from other institutions. The curriculum is intended to give students a solid background in legal concepts, case law, terminology and modern trends that will provide a strong foundation for those who wish to pursue a JD. Students will take a combination of foundational, core and specialization courses that include Introduction to Public Administration, Ethics and Social Justice, Public Sector Economics, Public Policy Analysis, Fundamentals of Law and Public Policy, and Contemporary Cases and Issues in the Courts. Graduates will have a greater understanding of the way in which legal decisions and the law, impact public policy.
Walden University
866-492-5336
waldenu.edu
Taft Law School
The Taft Law School has been operating since 1984 and was founded to provide affordable legal education to adults with full-time employment who, due to various constraining factors, are unable to attend a bricks-and-mortar university. Taft Law School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is a nonprofit educational association located in Washington, D.C. Taft offers a Bachelor of Science in Laws and two Master of Laws programs (one with a concentration in taxation and the other in American jurisprudence). The school also offers two Juris Doctorate and Executive Juris Doctorate degrees (one through telecommunications courses and the other through independent study). Various law courses offered include administrative, constitutional, corporate securities, criminal, civil, labor/employment, intellectual property, sports, health care, property, antitrust and bankruptcy, among others. In addition, students facing economic hardships are eligible for financial aid programs offered by the school.
Taft Law School
3700 South Susan St., Office 200
Santa Ana, CA 92704
800-882-4555
taftu.edu
Tags: Juris Doctorate, Taft School, Concord School, Kaplan University, Walden University, accredited Higher