Anyone ever thought of becoming a lawyer ?

I'm finishing my undergraduate degree this year and I'm starting to look ahead. My initial plan since I started higher education was to become a lawyer. I know this has to be done by going through law school in the US. It's easily over $120k in tuition for a law degree and I started to do some research and found UK Unis to offer a 2 year graduate entry route for their LLB. The average cost is about 13k pounds/year. Couple this LLB from the UK with an LLM from the US for overseas trained lawyers, I'll be able to sit for the New York Bar exam.

So here comes the 'online' part ! I've not found anything from the New York bar exam website that says if they would accept the LLB (from the UK) which was done through distance learning/online. I've only encountered the '3 year duration for law degrees' (which can be cured by taking an LLM from the US - this will be done physically)

So I'm wondering does anyone experienced or know others who have done the University of London's Law degree through the graduate route and completed an LLM to become a lawyer in the US ?

Besides UoL, there's other UL Unis that offer qualifying LLBs through distance learning as well. I thought those might be an alternative instead of coming out 120k/year in tuition for Law school in the US.

:slaphappy::slaphappy::slaphappy:

 

I thought of attending law school. The ROI just wasn't there for me. I've been in HR over ten years at this point. Taking time off for law school coupled with low starting pay, I would almost certainly see a pay cut if I did it. And I really can't afford to take three years off and a perpetual pay cut following.

So, I have a few notes on your proposed path:

So your program has to meet both substantive and durational guidelines. The LLB would have to be of comparable substance and duration. The admission rules note that the LLM can be used to "cure" one of these deficiencies, but not both.

Where you are most likely to run into a problem is right here:

LLM (and any deficiencies in the LLB) aside, this is pretty clear. You need to be admitted to practice law in another common law country. And the UK, unlike the US, doesn't let you just take a written exam at the conclusion of your legal studies and be fully admitted to the bar without limitation. If you were really committed to this, I suppose you could research using your University of London LLB and qualifying for the bar in Ontario (Toronto is a decent city) and then trying to get New York on board.

 

I once thought of doing law school, but decided not to.

 

Everything that I have ever read says that the market is horrible for many newly minted lawyers. You need to ask yourself what would make you stand out from the thousands of newly graduated students (your competition) that do have JD's?

I also had plans to finish an LLB and then pursue an LLM, and I wouldn't have had to pay a dime for anything. After realizing how bad the market was, it didn't matter how much money I was saving by not taking the normal JD route -- because the time it would take to finish the LLB/LLM, and sit for the bar (about 4-5 years minimum) is time that I am losing out on earned income. After that 4, 5, or 6 years of work is done, you will be entering a market that is pretty dismal in many situations.

I implore you to further search the legal job market before you plunge into this.

 

A free book that might be helpful

Howard Gray, a Barrister in England, has written a book called "Law in Four" dealing with many matters related to pursuing a British law degree, residentially and externally, and he addresses the US situation. He has given me permission to send it to anyone who asks, without charge. You (and anyone else here) can get one by emailing me directly -- not requesting it on the forum -- and I will email you the digital copy (about 170 pages).
--John Bear [email protected]

 

That's a very generous offer. As to the original question, I've imagined that the study of law would be endlessly fascinating. I've also imagined that the practice of law would be dreary and soul killing.

 

There are affordable law schools in the US also.

Since you mention new york, City University of New York (CUNY) is $12k per year.

A Non-Tier 1 State school's in state tuition is usually under $20k/year for law school.

 

I know the job prospective of a lawyer is quite bleak in the US ! But i thought it would be a way to enter the cooperate world. At most, i could just return back to NGO settles if things don't plan out. I'm just trying to find a cost effective way of getting a law degree. I'll prob have a look at some in state law schools and their COA. I just received an email today from Oxford for an interview into their 2 year LLB program. If I manage to hook that, i might just spend some $$ to enter their program.

 

I thought about law school long time ago, but after calculation of ROI. I still do not think law school nor JD degree is for me. Especially, only about less 30% JD holders practice law, and law school in the United States is not cheap.

 

The Oxford stuff sounds interesting. Please keep us posted.

 

I think if you score an LLB from Oxford you are playing in a more elite pool of attorneys if you do enter practice in the U.S. I would imagine an Oxford trained lawyer is going to have a reasonable shot at competing with Ivy League law graduates.

But it sounds like a really interesting opportunity. Good luck!

 

Many times

I was a paralegal for many years and I will soon start teaching paralegal courses at a career college, which has made me realize no matter how many times I try to escape, I am drawn to legal work. The cost of law school has deterred me. If younger (and unencumbered), I would do it, especially if I knew it was the career for me. The reality is you will likely be looking at a solo or small office career.

There is an ABA approved online/hybrid law school: ABA approves variance allowing William Mitchell to offer

There is also the California route.

 

First of all, thank you for the William Mitchell link. That is very exciting and it confirms a suspicion I've had for the past three years or so.

I got accepted to Syracuse Law a few years ago when I was sort of questioning if I had reached my career peak. I didn't go because I don't want to take three years off from work (especially since I am likely to take a pay cut after graduation). I've also avoided the California route because I have this feeling in my bones that distance study will become a more viable option for part-timers in the future. While Syracuse Law is nearby, it's still an hour drive away (on a good day). From the law school grads I've spoken to, it doesn't sound like such a commute would really position me for success especially in my first year.

A model like this is very, very interesting. One week per semester? I can do that. Study my butt off at home and at work? I can do that too (we have release time for professional development).

The market for lawyers is tragic. Law school tuition is through the roof. Law schools have the potential to tap, what I would guess is, a significant portion of the population; adult learners who want to go to law school but for whom full-time study isn't practical and there are no viable part-time programs nearby. They are leaving money on the table by not allowing at least partial DE. This variance is a very good step in a very positive direction.

If I earned a law degree I would likely remain with my current employer. I would likely stay within HR/Labor Relations. People like me wouldn't take jobs away from other lawyers. If anything, I would be pissing off the perfectly qualified HR applicant who didn't have a law degree who I would trounce in an interview (if I did move to another company).

I can't believe I'm suggesting that maybe more lawyers will make work better. What's happened to me?

 

The suggestion that maybe more lawyers will make work better is a good one. Most people think of lawyers as just practicing law, but law degrees can be used in other fields, even those that don't require a bar card. The study of law gives the student a new perspective in world view that can only help in other worlds, outside of the practice of law.

 

I never wanted to be a lawyer, but I thought about doing a masters in legal studies or some type of post-baccalaureate or undergraduate certificate.

 

I have thought about becoming a lawyer. However it would be difficult to gain a position with a law firm unless one goes to a top ranked law school. Also one thing I wonder about with many professional careers, such as doctor and accountant, is to what extent automation will eliminate those jobs.

 

After like 3 weeks of intense soul searching, I've decided to cross law school out. it just didn't make financial sense to be over $100k in debt if I went to a law school in the US. But still down for the interview with Harris Manchester College in Oxford U. See how that might go.

 

That's not a DL program, though, right?