Choosing an Online Law School
This can be tricky, earning an online law degree from the comfort of your home sounds easy, right? Think again. No online law program or school is accredited by the ABA (American Bar Association), and all states but the state of California require you to receive an law degree from an ABA accredited university in order to even take the bar exam. This doesn't mean you wont pass the exam; it means if your university; an online college or not is not accredited by the ABA then you wont be eligible to even try for the bar. I personally think this is unfair, if you pass you pass, that should really be the measuring stick, not where or how you learned.
In California you are allowed to take the bar exam assuming you meet certain requirements, like living in California, or willing to relocate to take the exam. That's not all, there's a catch, if you have an online law degree, take and pass the California Bar Exam you can only practice law in the state of California.
The California Bar Exam is offered each year in February and July, which includes three days of essay questions, multi-state components and practical exercises. Once you pass and have practiced law for over five years some states will allow you to take their bar exam. Another option would be to get a Master of Law degree which is accredited by the American Bar Association.
If you choose to study for an online law degree, remember to be realistic, any law firm will know your online law degree is not accredited by the ABA and it might effect your career until you can prove its the individual not the education that makes a good lawyer. Another drawback is being limited to practice law in one state.
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