Online J.D. Programs

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Pattherat007, Mar 12, 2005.

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  1. Pattherat007

    Pattherat007 New Member

    Good Day,

    Does anyone know of any non-bar J.D. programs online. I am a History/Government Teacher looking to expand in the area of Law.

    Any help would be great.

    Thank You!
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Sure. There are probably a dozen of them out there. The (legitimate) U.S. ones all come frome California and a complete list of these schools is available at the California State Bar website at www.clabar.ca.gov under Bar exam and law schools in California. These programs are all California Bar qualifying but most of the schools also offer a seriously watered down, shortened, incomplete, IMHO borderline fraudulant so-called "non Bar J.D." as well.

    Run a search on this forum if you want to hear me scream about such programs!

    There are also good D/L Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) programs from various schools in England, including my own present school, the University of London, www.londonexternal.ac.uk

    The University of South Africa also offers a D/L LL.B. and I imagine that some Australian schools do, too.

    Good luck!
     
  3. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

  4. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Here are two...

    The best, in my often not-so-humble opinion, D/L J.D. program -- at least for the money, and quite possibly the best all 'round, just generally -- is Northwestern California University School of Law, in Sacramento, California. The non-bar-qualifying program there is just the bar-qualifying program, but without the fourth year (which is just a part, but by no means the salient part, of Nosborne's argument against getting a J.D. with no plan to take the bar or practice law).

    You should know that there's a growing movement among states, in order to stop the problem that diploma mills cause, to make it illegal to wear a degree on your nametag (or business card or resume, etc.) that hasn't been accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Dept of Education, and/or its Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

    On the chance that your state may someday enact such legislation (or that you'll move to a state that does) and you'd like to avoid a stay in the slammer for merely listing your J.D. on your resume, you might want to consider the slightly more expensive and DETC-accredited William Howard Taft University Law School in Santa Ana, California. Its non-bar-qualifying "Juris Doctor - Executive Track" program, too, is basically just the CalBar-mandated, bar-qualifying four-year program, but cut-off after the third year.

    And count your blessings that Nosborne didn't go off on you -- okay, that's way too strong... let's just say "comment on" -- your wanting a J.D. with no intention of taking the bar or practicing law. (And I agree with him, by the way... though I suppose I'm more tolerant of it than he.) I suggest you do that search he talked about and read-up on it. He makes good points.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 13, 2005
  5. Jake_A

    Jake_A New Member

    Great news! Very, very welcome, indeed! (Someone please alert Wyoming, please). LOL.

    Thanks.
     
  6. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    What hasn't happened yet, so far as I know, is any state regulation on the use of the degree initials "J.D." by non lawyers. You can't call yourself "M.D." unless you are a doctor, I don't think and there are some Court rules saying that "J.D.", "Esquire", "Counselor" in a context that suggests having a law license constitutes the practice of law.
     

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