Accredited Online Degree Available But Earning an Online Law Degree is a Bit Tougher

While there are many accredited online degree schools available for a variety of disciplines, earning an online law degree can prove to be a bit more difficult. Getting a law degree requires that you earn a bachelor's degree in an approved discipline before you are eligible to even apply for law school. The four-year degree is definitely attainable but there are far fewer online entities offering accredited law programs to earn a JD or Juris Doctor degree.

Why You Want a Law Degree


First of all, you should determine why you want it in the first place. Is it just to elevate your status at work or to help you attain a better paying position? Do you want to work in the field of law and feel that this degree will help your prospects? It is important to know your motivation behind earning an online degree as 49 out of 50 states in America do not recognize this type of distance learning degree and will not allow you to take the bar exam to legally practice law. Only California allows you to take the bar exam with the online degree.

If you plan to use your online law diploma in other countries, you will have to research and see what online degree schools are accredited and accepted in those countries. Also, you will have to research the governing bodies in those countries to see if an advanced online law degree will be recognized too.

Many people earn an online law school degree but do not actually practice law. Rather, they use the advanced degree to help them better handle their job. For instance, if you want to work in law but not practice as a lawyer, you could become a paralegal or mediator. This degree can help social workers navigate the complicated and slow legal system when it comes to protecting their clients. Even patient advocates for veterans, children and geriatric patients can benefit from a legal degree earned from an accredited online university.

It is admirable to want to further your education and career by studying law online. However, before you do, thoroughly research and see how you can use that advanced online law degree. If your goal is to be a practicing lawyer, it is important that you are aware that most bar associations will not recognize degrees by online degree schools, no matter how good they are.