Considering getting your law degree online? Before you make your final decision, take a look at the pros and cons of pursuing a law degree online as opposed to attending a more traditional law school. Below I will highlight three advantages and three disadvantages you could encounter in studying for your law degree online.
Advantages of Getting A Law Degree Online
Convenience. If you are in a position that you are unable to attend a traditional law school but have a desire to obtain your law degree, getting a law degree online could be the perfect solution. You will be able to complete all your course work at home or anywhere you can get internet access. This is perhaps the biggest advantage to getting your law degree online.
Less stringent admissions standards. With online law schools, admission can be easier. For instance, some online institutions do not require entering students to take the law school admissions test (LSAT) to be accepted into their program. For those students who struggle with excelling when taking standardized tests, obtaining a law degree online may be the perfect solution.
Flexibility in start dates. Generally, with traditional law school admission, students are only allowed to begin law school at the beginning of the fall semester. With online law degree programs, there are varying start dates that will allow online law students more flexibility in starting law school. For example, Concord Law School has four different start dates for entering students.
Disadvantages of Getting A Law Degree Online
Perception of the online law degree in the job market. For many types of positions in the legal profession, credentials such as attending a prestigious law school are essential to your job prospects once you have graduated from law school. Attending a law school online may be perceived as much less reputable than if you attend a traditional law school. However, if you intend to engage in private practice or work for a government entity, as long has you have received your law degree and have been licensed to practice law in that state this is often enough.
Lack of comrade between fellow classmates. Getting through law school is quite challenging. One of the things that can help a lot is having your classmates to commiserate with and study with. Getting your law degree online eliminates that social aspect of law school. Also, once you have graduated from law school and passed the bar, having those former classmates to bounce ideas off of while you begin your practice can be critical to success. Again, securing a law degree in an online environment may hinder this component of your legal career.
Limited state bar admission. Bar admission following attendance of an online law school is limited to California (because California does not require students to attend an ABA-approved law school to sit for the bar exam). So, if you have a desire to practice law in a state other than California, you will more than likely have to practice law for several years (5 to 7 years) in California before other states will allow you to sit for the bar examination in their state. If you already live in California or are willing to relocate to California for several years, then attending law school online should not present a problem in this area.
Earning your law degree online has advantages and disadvantages. So, before you decide that going to law school online is the route you will take to your legal career, make sure you carefully consider the pros and cons of getting a law degree online.