Any suggestions on a really good online J.D. Program

I'm a somewhat older potential student desiring a law degree (and wanting to pass the bar and practice). But the only practical way I can go about this is online. What are your opinions about the best online school to go through to do this? I've heard Concord (or Kaplan) is a good school.

 

This probably won't work for you. The only online law degrees are non-ABA accredited. This limits you to taking the bar in California. Since you live in Texas this won't work, unless you're willing to relocate to California.

 

I don't know that there's any online law school that is accepted by the Texas bar. There are a couple of schools in California that allow you to sit for the bar in California but I don't know about Texas. You had better have a reallyreally good understanding of the rules before you sign into any program.

 

What part of law do you want to practice? Have you thought about becoming a paralegal? There are ABA and non-ABA paralegal DL programs. I know two attorneys that sold their practices to get into lower stress paralegal positions; they are still doing what they love to do, helping people, making money, and experiencing a much lower level of stress. Oh, and there are no ABA-accredited DL programs...

 

The Texas Board of Law Examiners' FAQ page says:

http://www.ble.state.tx.us/FAQ/main_faq.htm

And in the Rules -

http://www.ble.state.tx.us/Rules/NewRules/rulei.htm

Here's the Texas State Bar Association's 'becoming a lawyer page' -

http://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Additional_Information_For_The_Public/Becoming_a_Lawyer/Becoming_A_Lawyer.htm

A quick and preliminary glance through these sites suggests that Texas might not have any formal licensing requirements for paralegals. It's apparently up to each attorney who they hire to assist them. Paralegals can join the Texas State Bar Association's Paralegal Division, but aren't required to. The State Bar has standards for paralegals, but it looks like they are suggestions to lawyers who hire paralegals and not legal requirements.

The Paralegal Division is here -

http://txpd.org

If you are considering enrolling in a distance learning paralegal program, you might want to talk to the Paralegal Division people first to verify professional requirements and that the program you are considering is viable.

 

If you want to do it online California is the only route to go. The ABA gatekeepers have got a death grip on everything else. You may consider taking a year from Northwestern California University of Law and then taking the baby bar. Their tuition is reasonable compared to Concord and you wouldn't have too much invested at the end of the year to not justify stopping if it's just not right for you.

Sideman JD

 

The University of London External Programme offers an LLB via distance education. The LLB is an undergraduate degree in the UK. You can apply to the NYS bar after graduation. Also, search the forum for a thread about a law student who successfully petitioned the court in MA regarding eligibility for bar admission with a law degree from Concord Law School (I think is the name).

 

I am not so sure about this. If my memory is correct, an external LLB degree will not meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for the New York Bar Examination. See sections 520.3 and 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals.

 

It has always been my understanding that an external LLB is not acceptable in NY. I once checed the application and at that time applicants with foreign degrees needed to certify that their degree was earned on campus. Unless there has been a change it also used to be the case that an external LLB plus a residential LLM was also insufficient in New York State.

 

If the external LLB is not acceptable in NY I stand corrected. I thought I read it was eligible but I cannot seem to locate the URL at the moment.

Surely, though with the LLB and going through the NCA process and passing whatever examinations and then the appropriate provincial bar examinations in Canada it must be possible to gain admission to some US states provided the appropriate state bar examinations are successfully written.

 

J. D. Online or locally in So Cal...

I am interested in applying for admission to a Juris Doctor program. I am now 44 years of age, and have not completed an undergraduate course of study. I would like to know if there are any less conventional, but acceptable, undergraduate educational programs that fulfill the applicable admissions requirements in order to be an eligible for a Juris Doctor program, such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), in lieu of a four-year-degree.

 

Online Law School - Degree - Northwestern California University

I did one year of the program and loved it. I dropped out only because of a family situation where I didn't have the time to study.

You need 60 units of college or they let you take specific CLEP exams in lieu of the units.

 

I agree that NWCU is the best and cheapest option out there. Kaplan on the other hand I would never consider because the cost v. benefit isn't there IMO . . . way too expensive for an unaccredited law school (ABA).

 

@scottreesman-I pm'd you with information yesterday. If you want more info feel free to pm me back.

@GoodYellowDogs-That's great that you got the one year of law school out of the way. Should you ever go back you've decreased your study time by one solid year. Did you have the chance to take the FYLSX? If not, I think you remain eligible indefinitely and I'd suggest you take it before you continue on in your studies should you ever choose to restart.