Distance Learning Law Schools

I'm concerned about another aspect of the programs the OP listed. While both are dirt cheap (9K!! for the entire program) neither offers federal financial aid. That means that whoever takes those courses has to have an alternative source of income--typically work--which is yet another burden and distraction. I knew an attorney who got her degree part-time at B&M night school while working full time but it took her six years. Now, with tuition so cheap maybe it's possible to do the reverse--work part-time and law school full-time. But even a part time job strikes me as burden when doing a distance course. Distance education is difficult for many people because there isn't the same support network, trying to throw a job on top of law school--man, I could see that getting ugly quickly. And then not even the LSAT required.

Yes, people can do it and I am sure do it successfully but education should be setting one up for success, not failure.

 

As a "new" lawyer I'll add my two cents in. First, I would check out this program. I'm not sure if that works for you but it's another option. It would need to be coupled with an LLM from a ABA law school but would open up the Cali, NY, and GA bars for you. Given that you've mentioned UK/Canada it might actually be a better option. If that isn't possible, "rock out".

It's a glut of lawyers out there but there's still money to be made (if that's your concern). The biggest mistake you could make is taking on a ton of debt to get a JD. At least 75% of the attorneys in my peer group have 100k+ in student loan debt. Probably at least 50% have 150k+.

I graduated from what some consider the lowest ranked law school in the nation. My clients could care less. They only care about how "great of a lawyer" you are and how hard you advocate for them. If you put in the work, you'll be fine.

 

There's really nothing wrong with a Cooley J.D. That's just the Top Law Schools echo chamber consensus which is based on a very narrow definition of a "successful" legal career.

There are no truly "bad" ABA approved schools just badly overpriced ones. (The vast majority, in fact.) But the cost of a J.D. from any school varies according to the scholarship the student receives. A free or nearly free J.D. from Cooley is certainly a better investment than a full-price J.D. from most of the USNWR Top 100. And if Big Law lifestyle doesn't appeal, a free Cooley J.D. is a better deal than a full-price J.D. from ANY other school or a half-price J.D. from most of them.

There is a foolish attitude that anything not a federal clerkship or career job, law professorship, or Big Law partner track associateship is somehow "shitlaw" and the domain only of losers. If you owe six figures, those jobs are about the best hope of escaping a life of financial misery. But if you don't owe more than about $35-50,000, there is huge array of other kinds of law where you get to practice and (believe it or not) help people. Odinary citizens, small to medium size businesses, nonprofits, local and state government, criminal defense, any of which can be a financially and emotionally satisfying career.

Federal financial aid is available for the Taft Law J.D. delivered by telecommunications, I believe.

 

A shark is a shark!

 

I'm VERY proud of my Cooley JD. There's no doubt that I've been trained well. I practice criminal defense in Georgia. They only people that seem to "care" are other attorney's that feel they are elitist. It's always funny to me when we (seems like it's a young attorney thing) try and gather intel on each other like years of practice and school attended. I've matched up against plenty of attorneys that graduated from Emory and UGA and CRUSHED them. Granted, I have much more "real world" experience than a lot of my peers because 1) it was required by Cooley in order to graduate and (2) my amount of student loan debt was very small, which allowed me to do some pro bono work to gain experience.

 

Exactly.

And a graduate of Taft Law who passes the California Bar and gets admitted will be in the same (enviable) position you are in.

Good for you!

 

That may be true, in theory. But in practice, how many people actually get a "free or nearly free JD from Cooley" ?

According to Cooley's own numbers for the JD Class of 2013, 170 out of 197 grads (or 86%) took out loans for law school. The average loan amount for those 170 people was $128,332. That figure does not include undergraduate loan debt.

According to Cooley's own numbers for the JD Class of 2013, most of their grads do owe six figures. They report that 27 grads took out no loans, and 45 borrowed less than $100,000. That leaves 125 out of 197 (or 63%) that did borrow more than $100,000 (again, not including undergraduate debt).

By your logic, then, most Cooley grads will need to land a top legal job escape a life of financial misery. What are their chances?

Here's a hint: Law School Transparency gives Cooley a "Large Firm Score" of 0.7%, and a "Federal Clerkship Rate" of 0.2%.

 

It can be done. I didn't go to law school, DL or otherwise. But I did an AA, BA, and BS at USNY; an MBA at National; a PhD at Union; and completed another doctorate, all (except the MBA) by independent study. And the MBA was part classroom, part independent study. Plus, all of those degrees were earned while working full-time. I've never been a full-time student. Oh, and toss in the PMP and the SPHR, both done by independent study, too.

 

My cousin also has his JD from Cooley. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Connecticut Bar Association. As well, I don’t believe his clients, in either state, are concerned with the source of his JD … his performance is what matters.

 

You are right, major, and that's what makes a traditional legal education a losing proposition for 98% of current law students.

 

Yes, from what I have read the University of London program is excellent academically, very difficult and a little frustrating. Not an easy route by any means.

 

Congratulations to your wife on her notable accomplishment. She certainly serves as an inspirational example. And on a lighter note, look at all those legal fees you'll be saving!

 

That could be said for well over half of law schools in America right now. I believe you missed the point that nosborne48. You referenced the main two categories that he specifically spoke on. Everyone thinks you need to work at a large law firm or do a clerkship in order to make a decent amount of money. That's not true. When I was (just moved to a gov gig) a solo practitioner I made enough money to live comfortably even if I had 100k in student loans. Granted, I had to work my tail off and there was little room for free time. It depends more so on the person and not the school.

 

Oh, I absolutely agree that 95% of current law students at ABA approved institutions should not be there. But the 5% who won't end up owing six figures can possibly make it work.

 

Woo Hoo! Awesome news Steve! One less "active" student in the family now!

 

Well, she certainly cannot let you get leg up on her arriving at a Doctoral degree first! The SJD looks very much like a UK-styled Research Doctorate. I assume this is typical for the terminal degree in Law.

Based on your background I would think you will introduce your eldest to three very cost-saving and efficient friends CLEP, DSST, and Excelsior-Exams. My children are still very young but I have the test-out approach as a nebulous concept in my mind -- at least for the Bachelor's degree (or most of it).

 

Another point that needs to be mentioned is that these on-line degrees law degrees are not as cheap as they first appear. One thing that needs to be considered carefully is all the hidden costs that may be rolled into tuition at an ABA school. For example, the "baby bar" alone costs $800. And if one doesn't live in CA already then the trip to CA and hotel etc could easily run an extra $1000+ depending on where one is traveling from. So that $3000 tuition the first year all of a sudden balloons to $5000. Now, this still may be cheaper that in-state tuition where one lives but it's these type of costs that one should consider carefully.

My comment on this point, like my comment on financial aid, isn't intended to be discouraging so much as adding a dose of realism. One the surface, 10K for a law degree seems to good to believe and the reason for that is because it is indeed to good to believe. It still may work out in the long run to be a better and even substantially cheaper alternative to traditional ABA law schools but one should be aware of all the pertinent details before signing up.