If you’re thinking about becoming a lawyer and earning your Juris Doctor (JD), there are quite a few roads you can go down. Becoming a lawyer or, honestly, becoming anything in today’s digital age, is no longer what it used to be. You don’t have to sit for hours on end on campus, trying to bring their curriculum into your day versus your day into their curriculum. With little flexibility from on-campus courses, a lot of people have moved toward the idea of online learning, which is key.
Here you’ll learn all you need to know about the idea of taking an online course to earn your big JD degree and then go out into the real world and smash case after case. Without further ado, it’s time to dive in.
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Understanding the Online JD Path
Before diving into online programs, it’s important to understand what a JD actually is. A Juris Doctor is the professional graduate degree required to practice law in the United States. Typically, JD programs take three years to complete full-time, though some online formats offer part-time or flexible schedules.
What makes the online route a little different is that the American Bar Association (ABA) only recently began approving hybrid or fully online JD programs. So, not every online law degree will qualify you to sit for the bar exam. That’s a big deal because without passing the bar, you can’t legally practice law in most states.
This is why choosing the right program is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, which you’ll understand more about below.
Finding a Great Online JD Program
Not all online legal education is created equal. To start a successful career with great law degrees, you need a program that not only teaches legal theory but also sets you up to pass the bar and gain real-world experience.
Here’s what to look for in a strong online JD program:
When you have all of this sorted out and you feel confident about the school you’ve found, then you need to look at your budget as well and enroll in the course that you feel makes the most sense for you.
What You’ll Study and Learn
Just like traditional programs, online JD degrees cover the fundamental pillars of U.S. law. You can expect to take courses in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Torts, Contracts, Property Law and Legal Writing and Research.
You’ll also have access to elective courses, depending on your interests, with everything from environmental law to intellectual property or even space law. Many programs include practical components like clinics, moot court or externships, even for online students.
So if it’s the law that you’re into, it’s the law that you’ll get.
Building Skills Beyond the Classroom
Succeeding in an online JD program takes more than just showing up to virtual lectures. Since much of your learning happens independently, you’ll need to develop strong time management and self-discipline.
You need to take matters into your own hands, especially when it comes to online courses. Law school demands a lot of reading, writing and analysis. Keeping everything in order is key so organization needs to be your number one priority. Also, you’ll be interacting with professors and peers online, so being clear and professional in emails, forums and discussions matters.
Then comes the matter of tech knowledge. From legal research databases to video conferencing tools, you need to be comfortable using digital means. The fact that you’re confident with an online course though, should be proof enough that you’re tech-savvy. Lastly, law isn’t just about memorizing rules, which is what many believe, it’s about interpreting them, applying them and often, arguing them from multiple angles.
Tips for Making Online Legal Education Work for You
Starting a legal career through online education is a big decision and it helps to approach it with a solid strategy so that you can ace your bar exam when you take it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Give it a Go
If you have always wanted to become a lawyer but you weren’t sure how to bring it into your day, perhaps you already have a job and you couldn’t make the on-campus times or you’re an older student looking for more flexibility with other responsibilities you have, then an online JD degree might just be the ticket. It will allow you to learn all there is to know about law and eventually give you the knowledge to take names at the bar exam.
