Distance Law or Distance Learning?

I'm new to this forum and in following the threads, I don't believe I've seen my particular quandary addressed. In 1983, long before I gained the knowledge of this forum, I obtained a degree in Business Administration from PWU. At the time I did not need a degree from a RA university and it fit my needs. Currently, I'm a certified paralegal and also a small businessman. My goal is to someday practice law and I'm somewhat forced to do the DL route. I've been accepted by University of London for the LLB study program and also Northwestern California University for the JD. I have approximately one years worth of credit from a RA state university. My question is this....Should I get a RA bachelors degree and then pursue distance law through NWCU (I don't have a problem going the California route) or should I begin with NWCU and stay with what I already have. I'd appreciate any and all advice.

 

If NWCU is the school you would get your JD from with or without an RA degree, why waste your time with an RA degree?

Get started at NWCU now.

 

How did you get admitted at NWCU? They usually require 60 semester hours in an accredited, BA qualifying program. Did you CLEP out?

It all depends on whether you intend eventually to practice law outside California. Some states, including California, have minimum prelaw education requirements and many of these states require either a bachelor's degree or 90 semester hours toward a bachelor's degree.

Remember that your NWCU J.D. plus California Bar admission plus a few years of practice experience will qualify you to take the Bar in about two dozen states. It would be a shame to get there and discover that you don't meet some prelegal education requirement.

As to practice in California with the London LL.B. This HAS been done but the only case I know of had a B.A. before he began with London and completed a resident LL.M. course at an American ABA law school before he qualified to take the California Bar. I don't see much advantage to this approach.

If, on the other hand, you successfully complete the NWCU program, including passing the Baby Bar, there will be no problems, questions, of difficulties in qualifying for the bar exam. You will also be better prepared to take an American bar exam because you will have earned an American law degree. Believe me, the two systems are DIFFERENT!

On the whole, I'd go with NWCU.

 

I think the ideal plan of action is to complete a BA from COSC or one of the other Big Three schools. You could likely complete it in 6 months or less. Then when ANYONE asks do you have a Bachelor's?, the answer is simply yes! See the site www.bain4weeks.com .

 

The California State Bar should have evaluated your prelaw education before NWCU extended its offer to you, right? So you won't be blindsided that way.

I dunno. If I were a permanent Californian and I could start right away with NWCU, I think I'd do it. I'd revisit the decision after the first year and the Baby Bar. It wouldn't have been too expensive up to that point to keep me from withdrawing if I decided that it just wasn't for me. Also, I'd want to get done with law school as soon as possible. Nothing would keep me from earning the B.A. later.

 

Thank you all for your astute suggestions. I'll contact the California Bar to make sure I'm not blindsided sometime down the road by the 60 or 90 hr. requirement. I did not CLEP any credit and I have approximately 45 credit hrs. in a RA university. I think I'll begin at NWCU and get my JD and then follow Steve's advice of getting a BA at COSC in a field that I'll specialize in after becoming a California JD. I hope to eventually practice in another state (I currently reside in Texas. I know that state is a lost cause but there are other southern states that I could go to.). Thanks Nosborne for talking me out of London's LLB. Again, thanks to everyone for your replies.

 

The London program is very well regarded but I don't see how it could meet your needs very well.

IMPORTANT!! You MUST register with the California Bar as a law student within () days of commencing law study. The Bar will evaluate your pre legal education when it receives your registration.

Details and forms are at www.calbar.ca.gov under bar exam and law student registration.