Online Law Schools: JD Programs... Forum

[newchapter]

Choosing an online Law School. Very skeptical entering into online instruction. Any suggestions, pros and cons to online institutions? ABA accreditation complexities? Any rankings with the various online JD programs? Any information would be helpful and please feel free to add any further input that might be of use.

Grazie!

[Nova]

Dont do it

[Br3v]

Dont do it

[epiphinous7]

Dont do it

[John_rizzy_rawls]

Dont do it

[20141023]

.

[dowu]

Dont do it

[jselson]

You won't be able to practice law from your home in your PJs, so why "go" to a law school that lets you do it?

[rinkrat19]

ABA accreditation complexities?

ABA accreditation of online schools is actually very simple: They're not.

Any rankings with the various online JD programs?

They're all ranked zero. Or infinity. Whichever's worse.

[dingbat]

Except for CA, you will not be admitted to the bar. In California, you can be admitted, but you can't get a job.

The only time it makes sense is if you already have a business and having a law degree makes sense (e.g. if you're a financial planner who also wants to be able to create/sell wills)

Theoretically, it makes sense if you want to start your own practice, but in reality that us a really dumb move.

Maybe if your family has a successful law firm and you're guaranteed a job working for mom/dad?

[rinkrat19]

More detail on the California bar: If you didn't go to a real law school, you first have to take the "baby bar" exam, which is very hard and most people fail (23% pass rate). Then if you pass that, you have to take the real California bar exam, which is known as one of the hardest in the country.

And then you won't get a job.

[stillwater]

ABA accreditation complexities?

ABA accreditation of online schools is actually very simple: They're not.

Any rankings with the various online JD programs?

They're all ranked zero. Or infinity. Whichever's worse.

i laughed at this. but it is true. online schools aren't ranked nor should be ranked. they are a flat out bad choice ... if you have designs on employment.

[Scotchandsoda]

People are having a hard enough time getting legal jobs from an ACTUAL school. What chance do you think you have with an online degree? -__-

[rouser]

my cousin's babysitter went to online law school but got median-pwned

[rad lulz]

Just get top 5% at online school and transfer to Harvard

[ddacey]

..[*]

[newchapter]

Wow..... well it seems as though the over all consensus is "Don't do it",,,,,,, lol. Thank you everyone for this input. While I've never been a fan of online instruction, even in college, my reasoning for doing this was financial as well as having to care for a 14 month old. I agree with most of you in your opinions and it doesn't seem as recognized. A friend of mine just finished her JD at Abraham and is sitting the bar exam this year. Therefore, I thought it would be worth looking into.

Any other advice with reading material prior for 0L? Will be moving to Denver, CO sometime this year. Any advice Pro/Con regarding Law Schools there?

[wtrc]

Re original post, depends on what you want to do. If you aren't guaranteed a job already before law school (best friend has a successful practice, family business, etc.), you are wasting your money and time. Seriously.

If you are guaranteed a job, go ahead with it, but all online programs are probably the same.

[rinkrat19]

Wow..... well it seems as though the over all consensus is "Don't do it",,,,,,, lol. Thank you everyone for this input. While I've never been a fan of online instruction, even in college, my reasoning for doing this was financial as well as having to care for a 14 month old. I agree with most of you in your opinions and it doesn't seem as recognized. A friend of mine just finished her JD at Abraham and is sitting the bar exam this year. Therefore, I thought it would be worth looking into.

Any other advice with reading material prior for 0L? Will be moving to Denver, CO sometime this year. Any advice Pro/Con regarding Law Schools there?

Hopefully your friend educated herself about the absolutely abysmal bar passage rates of "Abraham Lincoln University."
With passage rates that low, they wouldn't stay ABA-accredited for long even if they were a real school.

There should be plenty of info about the Colorado schools...try the search forum or post specific questions in the proper forums.

[newchapter]

Thank you....

[timbs4339]

I'm curious, what do you envision yourself doing with your law degree? How would you feel if you graduated and couldn't find a job practicing law?

[RhymesLikeDimes]

As the bar passage rates should tell you, this is not an instance of "same education, just without the pricetag of a name-brand." The instruction sucks, your classmates are going to be dunderheads, and there is likely no alumni network in place.

University of Denver isn't very good, but UC-Boulder is a good school, especially if you want to work in CO. And I believe it's only ~35 minutes from Denver.

[newchapter]

Point taken...

[justonemoregame]

Why does ALU even publish those numbers on its website? Is it the mighty regulatory powers of the DETC?

[haus]

At some point a JD program offered partially, or maybe even entirely, online will be a viable option, but it is unlikely that this time will be anytime soon.