Many students have aspirations to practice law, but find that work, school, and time constraints make traditional law school impossible. Recently, however, more options for online legal study have opened up. Online courses and programs are more flexible than their traditional counterparts, and are therefore accessible to more students. Still, there are few things to keep in mind.
Becoming a practicing lawyer usually requires a Bachelor’s degree, a law degree (Juris Doctorate), and a passing score on a state bar exam. Online law schools, however, are not accredited, and graduates of online JD programs can only sit for the bar in the state of California. If you don’t want to practice law in California, online schools can still help you achieve your goals. Some students, for instance, earn a Masters of Law online and also take the majority of courses required for a Juris Doctorate. Then, the remaining portion of law school might be completed more quickly.
Not all prospective students are actually interested in becoming practicing lawyers. If that is the case, there are many online options for a law education. Kaplan, for instance, offers an Executive Juris Doctorate, which is designed for professionals who need a law background but won’t be practicing.
While in school, students often focus on one particular branch of law. Some examples include:
- Education Law
- Health Care Law
- Constitutional Law
- Immigration Law
- Tax Law
- Environmental Law
- Insurance Law
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law
Because of the complexity of the legal system, professionals with a background in law have a wide range of career options in a variety of fields. Students interested in law and legal degrees can view some of these opportunities at The Legal Career blog. Not all graduates with a law degree practice law. In fact, law and legal degrees are common in many professions including politics, lobbying, non-profit groups, corporations, and public advocacy.