Studying Law by Apprenticeship

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tom Head, May 17, 2002.

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  1. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Not interested in this for myself, obviously, but--thanks to a lead from (of all things) The Straight Dope--I was referred to a section from the Occupational Outlook Handbook that states, rather clearly, that "In 2000, six States accepted the study of law in a law office as qualification for taking the bar examination"; in other words, six states allow folks to take the Bar and practice law without any worry about a J.D. Any idea which six states the Handbook might be talking about?

    This could be relevant for DL purposes--someone could do a distance learning non-Bar qualifying J.D. or LL.B. while apprenticing in a law office, cite the apprenticeship to take the Bar, and use the cumulative knowledge gained from the apprenticeship and distance learning program to pass it, and (on top of everything else) have a law degree to hang on the office wall at the end of the day. Not a bad arrangement, if it can be done.



    Cheers,
     
  2. Homer

    Homer New Member

    I believe Virginia, Maine, Colorado and Vermont offer such arrangements. Further, I believe New York has some ancient law that permits one to sit for the bar after one year of study followed by a clerkship. As for the sixth I have no clue but, based on pure speculation, I'd bet it would be California.

    Having attended a variety of institutions and programs, I can unequivocally state that, in terms of actual class attendance, I found the law school experience to be particularly unique. It's one which DL simply cannot duplicate, IMHO.
     
  3. Howard

    Howard New Member


    According to that great legal documentary "LA Law," California is, indeed, the sixth state that allows for the practice of law after an internship.
     
  4. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

  5. Craig

    Craig New Member

    Hmm, that could be positive or negative with regard to DL. :eek:

    From my experience in law school, I think DL (with some modifications) would do very well in lieu of the purported legal education these days. Many law schools (especially those with "critical legal studies" departments) seek to undermine the legal system by using it against itself.

    Yes, the law school experience is one that has produced such legal lights as Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz, just to name a few. :rolleyes:

    The apprenticeship model has produced Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and all the other Founders who were attorneys. (Could we clone George Wyeth?)

    Now, to be fair, most lawyers who are selfish, greedy, dog-eat-dog, amoral louts, are that way when they enter law school. The legal education experience just accentuates these characteristics. :)

    Question: What do you call a busload of lawyers on the bottom of the ocean?
    Answer: A good start! :D

    Craig
     
  6. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    And a couple more shinning examples of our legal education system are: Marjorie Knoller (University of Baltimore) and Robert Noel (McGeorge School of Law)
     
  7. Homer

    Homer New Member

    Yeah, okay....enough of this! If you don't cease and desist I'll be forced to start citing "shinning examples" of our education system =in general=, such as Kenneth Lay (Ph.D. economics) and Jeff Skilling (Harvard MBA).

    Thanks!
     
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Ouch!!!

    North
     
  9. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Tom Head asks, regarding states in which one can qualify to take the Bar through private study: "Any idea which six states the Handbook might be talking about?

    John Bear replies: See page 261 of Bears' Guide, a book whose subject index was compiled by someone with the same name as you.

    An intriguing thing I was told, but have never confirmed, is that 1955 was the watershed year, in which, for the first time, more bar exam takers had been to law school than had studied privately (as, indeed, at least four US presidents did). But that was a time when most, perhaps all of the 48 states, permitted such a thing.
     
  10. Nosborne

    Nosborne New Member

    Washington State has an active "law clerk" program. Take a look at www.wsba.org
    This is NOT an easier way to do it. You must locate an experienced attorney or judge willing to supervise your legal education for FOUR years and you must have an accredited bachelor's degree before you begin your law study.
    You must be examined according to the Bar schedule and you must make progress to their satisfaction.
    This ain't D/L, folks. It is in-person training according to a timetable that is not your own.
    The one major advantage is that you can be paid for your paralegal efforts while studying.

    Nosborne

    N.B. Abraham Lincoln did NOT qualify for the Bar in this way. He studied on his own until he felt he could pass the Bar exam. Things were simpler then; you could become a physician the same way...
     

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