Online College Degree: a Pathway to the Legal Field!
Is it really possible to launch a career in law starting with an online college degree?
High-quality online colleges have banished most of the stigma of distance-education. Now even training for intensely technical disciplines, like those in the legal field, is available online. The American Bar Association (ABA) does not accredit online law degree programs. That means it is not possible to earn a law license via an online degree, except in California. All states, except for California, require bar exam candidates to be graduates of law schools accredited by the ABA.
Also, many online law degree programs still require a certain component that is hands-on, in-person, not remote and online.
Earning only online college degrees may not make it easy to become a lawyer, but it is possible. There are dozens of other legal occupations that don't require passing the state bar. For those other legal careers, an online college degree maybe a great fit.
An Overview of Online College Degrees in the Legal Profession
Online associate degrees are available in law-related areas such as legal assistant or paralegal studies, court reporting, legal studies, law enforcement, and criminal justice. Associate programs combine general education courses with specialized courses that support a working understanding of the law, such as contracts, torts and personal injury, legal research and writing, and professional ethics. An online bachelor’s degree in legal studies, criminal justice, or paralegal studies can be used to help prepare students for law school or entry-level positions within the legal field. Bachelor's-level coursework is typically heavy in political science, communications, and writing.
Online master’s and certificate programs in law can be designed for non-lawyers who want to understand the law and its place in business and society, or for licensed attorneys who would like to specialize in an area such as international law or intellectual property issues. The Master of Laws (LLM) degree program usually takes one year to complete and requires that students complete a thesis. The Juris Doctor degree provides students with the skills and credentials to become practicing lawyers, while other doctoral degrees in law-related areas prepare graduates for academic positions in research or education. Many law schools allow students to specialize in a specific area, such as advocacy, public law, or business law.
Many online law school programs require the completion of an on-site internship in the student’s local community. Since the legal environment is a very unique work setting, prospective legal professionals can benefit from this hands-on experience. Internships may take place in settings such as legal aid organizations, corporations, or attorney general offices.
Source: Guide to Online Schools