Postgraduate Law degrees By Distance

Hi, I'm back! Masters in Legal Studies: Law & Public Policy distance program with California University of Pennsylvania is going well. Very agressive but I couldn't be happier. Dr. Nemeth knows his stuff and guides his students by hand through each phase. I have ten more months to go before I graduate, and so far I am an A average, lets hope it stays that way.

I am going on to work on a post graduate degree in some facet of law. At this point, I dont care much what area I pursue, as long as it is in Law. I asked this question before but since the education environments changes so rapidly and new programs are constantly being added, I have decided to ask again.

I looked into Northwestern California University School of Law already.

Do you know of any distance education post graduate law degrees? I looked into a few of them and most require an LL.M or a JD to enter. I dont have either an LL.M or a JD. I will, however, have the Masters Degree in Law & Public Policy I mentioned earlier.

Either the S.J.D, the J.S.D or the D.C.L (Doctor of Comparative Law) would be considered as options. Even if the program is one that has a minimal class attendence reqirement.

Thanks Guys & Girls,
Shay

 

How about the University of Leicester's PhD in law? You'd probably end up earning the LL.M. along the way. They want a first degree in law or with a substantial law content; maybe your master's would do?

As a last resort, you could detour through a two year graduate entry route LL.B. from London. Then you'd be eligible for many, many programs inside and outside the U.S.

P.S. If I EVER finish the LL.M., I am seriously going to consider the Leicester program myself.

 

Nosborne: I reviewed the Leicester University website and the Ph.D program in Law does seem doable. I wonder if the program could be completed without visiting the campus though. I particularly like the Ph.D through research but at this point with only 10 months more to go to receive my Masters, I'd really be interested in any post doctorate degree with a legal emphasis.

I notice Nova Southeastern University has a Ph.D in Alternate Dispute Resolution. I am interested in something of that nature too but the program is so expensive, I'll be a grandmother before I am done paying for it.

What is your advice and/or opinion?

 

ADR is one of the most important and exciting developments in American law in the last 200 years. However, it is NOT, strictly speaking, "law". Nor does it need to be; settlement facilitators, mediators, and arbitrators are frequently non lawyers, whuch is one reason ADR works so well.

For a no-residence D/L law doctorate program in English, I suggest you check out the old standby, UNISA. I think there might be a suitable program at one or more Austrailian universities as well.

 

I've done a lot of research into D/L ADR programs in the past year or so and I've still not quite found that one perfect one that trips my trigger (or, if I have, it's too expensive).

While I agree that one needn't be a lawyer to do it or be good at it, I sure do believe that every lawyer should be trained and skilled in it... and should employ it at every opportunity. It's terribly important, I think. That having been said, I'm no fan of contract language wherein the parties sign away their right to have their day in court if it's needed. ADR should be a first attempt -- perhaps even mandated by agreement -- but ultimately when ADR fails (and the definition of failure, in my opinion, should include being unwilling to participate in ADR without being considered in breach for that alone) one needs to know one can still take it before a judge; and, importantly, to also know that nothing discussed, disclosed or offered during ADR will be admissable. But I'm digressing.

Somewhere I've got a link to a terrific little college in the Northeast whose web site I remember stumbling onto one day -- an old, historic institution, if memory serves -- that offers a really, really nice ADR program that's hooked to a company... I think in Ohio, if memory serves... whose seminars are included in the coursework. One leaves the program about as well-versed in and good at ADR as one could ever hope to be. But it's pricey, as I recall. I'll try to find the link (that is, assuming no one in these forums recognizes the program from my description and beats me to it by posting it here... which I'm hoping will happen so I don't have to go find it).

EDIT: Thinking back on it, I'm not even sure it's D/L, either. Now I'm gonna' have to go find that link, aren't I? (Participating in these forums has its costs, doesn't it?)