Online Law Schools
#1
I am seriously considering earning a JD. I am looking for an accredited law school. Sources tell me that it is possible to get an accredited degree online but getting one thats ABA apporved is different and that is the catch since only California will allow you take the Bar exam with a non-ABA Approved program.

Any help?
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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#2
Virtual Bison Wrote:Any help?

Unfortunately, the short answer here is "no."

The ABA controls the game board most places. As you said, unless you want to practice in California the rest of your life, it's "ABA or No Way" nearly everywhere else.

Whatever flack we generate here for the RA cartel goes double for the ABA cartel. The ABA refuses to join the 21st century, bans online programs for JD degrees entirely. There is a small handful of ABA schools with online LLM degrees, but no JD programs.

There has been some discussion elsewhere about doing an overseas LLB by DL, then doing an American LLM for overseas students. In theory this cuts your butt-in-seat time to just the one year for the LLM, and the total time by several years as well (because nearly all JD programs require a bachelor's degree).

So assuming you could get into an ABA LLM program for overseas students with a 3-year foreign LLB, you would be looking at four years of school total instead of seven total for the traditional American bachelors and JD. Faster and cheaper, in theory.

I haven't heard of anyone actually doing this. I suspect the few ABA schools who have such programs limit the slots to actual foreigners, not Americans who want to save money or otherwise beat the system. ("Highly selective," in eduspeak.) Otherwise everyone with a limited budget would be doing it this way.

Considering that anyone who doesn't like it can sue--and have their case heard by judges who went to ABA law schools--the situation isn't likely to change any time soon.
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#3
Step one is always to check the rules for admission in the state where you want to practice.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/barexam.htm

Every state makes its own rules, and they aren't always consistent or logical. An often cited example is Ohio, which requires an "accredited" bachelor's degree as well as an ABA law degree. So any time you stray outside the lines you run the risk of limiting where you can practice in the future, or at least increase the difficulty of getting admitted.

But in today's job market it's not the best idea to limit yourself to one jurisdiction. The advantage of an ABA law degree is that you are eligible to sit for the bar in just about every state. And in many states (those with "reciprocity") once you pass in one state you can get admitted on motion in a reciprocating state without sitting for another bar exam--if you have an ABA law degree.

If you are thinking of living dangerously check the discussion here: http://www.llm-guide.com/board/120

Law school is neither quick, easy nor cheap. You really want to be sure you know where the target is before you start firing.
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#4
Don Dresden Wrote:Law school is neither quick, easy nor cheap. You really want to be sure you know where the target is before you start firing.

I would never discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams, but those are definitely particularly important considerations under current economic conditions. I happened across this blog in my travels, which seems to reflect the outlook of a lot of discouraged law grads these days:

The Jobless Juris Doctor

Some good posts there, including this:

Quote:No Transparency: Law Schools Prefer Opaque

Looks like the Law School Transparency Project isn't getting any cooperation from law schools. What did they expect? If law schools told prospective students the truth, enrollment would drop. Why change a good scam if you don't have to?

The project asked law schools to provide detailed job statistics, for example explain how they are claiming 98% employed at graduation numbers when 95% of the class says it's unemployed. Here's how many replied:

However, just 11 law schools met the Sept. 10 deadline for responses, and only three said they were considering providing the requested data -- American University Washington College of Law, University of Michigan Law School and Vanderbilt University Law School. Ave Maria School of Law indicated it would decide later this week whether to respond, according to the transparency project.

Here's why the schools will never do this unless forced to by the ABA:

Under the project's model, participating schools would report employer type, employer name, position name, bar passage requirement, full-time or part-time status, office location, whether the student worked on a law journal and the salary paid each alumnus nine months after graduation.

How is it that law schools can get away with selling a $120,000 + investment without providing all this information? Clearly, the schools can't be shamed into providing the information, since they don't care about anything but money. The ABA needs to step up to the plate and require this.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ...hbxlogin=1

"Transparency" seems to be one of the magic words these days. It would be nice if the socialist drones who so vociferously demand it from private businesses would do the same from the government and the higher ed cartel.

Also, from the same blog, this cartoon, which sadly is more truth than satire:

[Image: pervert_judge.jpg]
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#5
Thanks.

That cartoon was not that far off. I know a lot of lawyers and they all have either one vice or another, including the guy who handled my divorce. He was a good lawyer but I always smelled liquor on his breath.
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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#6
Robert Gordon has a new online LLB program you might find interesting.
[Image: 220px-Robert_Gordon.jpg]

No, not that Robert Gordon.

Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen Scotland, home of the Aberdeen Business School.

http://www4.rgu.ac.uk/abs/postgraduate/p...?pge=85107

Quote:The Online LLB is a new and unique* course designed for those who wish to obtain an LLB but are unable to attend an on-campus course. The course provides a flexible learning route for graduates (or equivalent) to obtain a professional Bachelor's degree qualification in an important and well-respected discipline. LLB degrees can be used for entry or advancement into the legal profession or other areas such as energy, government or journalism sectors. ...
* No other university in Scotland currently offers an Online LLB
...
The proposed fee for the entire course is £9,600 [US$15,481.37 at today's rate] (for those starting in session 2011-2012). This will not increase with inflation and is a fixed fee for 2011-12 starts, assuming completion within four years of enrolment. ...

Also related press release here: Online route to a law degree
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#7
Dickie Billericay Wrote:No, not that Robert Gordon.

[Total thread derail follows!]

Considering the kind of money some of these celebrities pull down (and the size of their egos) I'm surprised there haven't been a few universities named after a wealthy rock star benefactor or two. Sonny Bono Junior College? Paul Reubens Tech?

Until then, I guess we'll have to settle for the aforesaid Robert Gordon, as well as...

Madonna University

Hendrix College

(Ian) Anderson University

(Wendy O) Williams College

(Jim) Morrison University

University of (Robert) Palmers Green

(Eddie) Rochester (Anderson) Institute of Technology

Brigham (Angus & Malcom) Young University

(John) Lydon University
(Steve) Jones International University
(Paul) Cook College and Theological School
(Glen) Matlock College of Education, University of Derby

Heh heh, all four original Sex Pistols. Top that.
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#8
Dickie Billericay Wrote:No, not that Robert Gordon.

It's easy to get your Gordons confused. Remember the time Walter Cronkite confused "Robert Gordon" with astronaut "Gordon Cooper"?

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#9
Martin Eisenstadt Wrote:Heh heh, all four original Sex Pistols. Top that.

(Eric) Clapton Girls' Technology College
(Ginger) Baker College
(Jack) Bruce College

[Image: 120066531_959133871d_z.jpg]
Eric Clapton, Columbia State University owner Ronald "Dr. Dante" Pellar, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker

Top that!
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#10
Armando Ramos Wrote:Remember the time Walter Cronkite confused "Robert Gordon" with astronaut "Gordon Cooper"?

Age-related cognitive decline (geriatric senility) is a terrible thing. Remember the time John Bear confused George Gollin with an expert?
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