Online Law Degree Approved by American Bar Association
The Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego has trekked into the wilderness of ABA-approved online law degrees. It has created the first online law degree to be offered by an ABA-approved school – ever.
As online schools change the landscape of college options, the American Bar Association (ABA) has watched from the sidelines, carefully considering whether any online law program is worthy of its approval. Until recently, none has met the ABA’s tough standards. This has concerned those who feel that student entry into law school has become elitist, with a lack of adequate representation of women and minorities.
But now, the Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) offers an online degree — the LL.M., or Master of Laws degree. The focus of this advanced law degree is on international tax and financial services, with a line-up of distinguished law professors and an interactive format designed to intertwine the latest educational technology with top legal talent.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law seeks to be a pioneer in utilizing faculty excellence and a well-engineered multimedia program to bring the training of lawyers into the technology forefront, introducing the opening up of new options for those who wish to make a difference by extending justice and legal expertise where it is needed.
Although TJSL’s online degree is pricey at roughly $1,000 a unit, the school has constructed a successful model for future online law degree programs.
This taming of the online law school wilderness by TJSL and others will hopefully lead to an opening up of online legal education to those who are qualified and motivated to make a positive difference in their communities and the world.
online degree, online law degree, law school, online schools, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, American Bar Association, Master of Laws, international tax law, financial services, technology, education, educational technology, lawyer, San Diego, bar exam
Popularity: 35% [?]
Posted by vida
May 12th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Until there is a JD program online that is accepted by the ABA, there is no real online law degree in the way people view law degrees.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Even worse and this is from the website:
“To qualify for admission to the TJSL LL.M. Program, students submitting an application must have earned their first law degree (LL.B. or equivalent) outside the United States.
the TJSL LLM program is NOT open to people who went to school in the US.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
You may be interested in an article about online law schools in the New York Times entitled, Virtual Jurisprudence (April 2004). The article focuses primarily on Concord Law School; and it highlights the future benefits of a virtual law degree and the not-so-lofty reasons why the American Bar Association is not motivated to fully approve any online law school, no matter how high the quality of that virtual school’s education. I hope you find the article illuminating.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Regarding the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, the quote PHEEEE provided was taken out of context. TJSL offers 3 different LL.M. programs, including the LL.M. in American Legal Studies for Foreign Law Students. Obviously, the qualifications for that program include being a graduate of a foreign law school. TJSL has stringent requirements for any foreign student applying for their other law degree programs.
In addition, TJSL is fully approved by the American Bar Association.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I am interested in how many states will allow you to take their bar exam with an LLM done at your School ??? Pa Ky ???
May 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Although Concord Law School is one of our listed colleges, TJSL is not. You may directly contact Thomas Jefferson School of Law for additional answers to your question. But since they are an ABA-approved law school, eligibility for the state bar should not be a problem, provided the bar exam applicant has successfully graduated from TJSL and has met all other requirements.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 am
Perhaps ABA should consult with educators familiar with on line learning. Being and expert in law does not necessarily make one an expert on pedagogy or educational psychology.
I have taught online and know how engaging it can be. Like anything, it can be used correctly or incorrectly. However, every online discussion and posted work in every online classroom can be saved for future accreditation review as a simple matter of archiving the existing data. It is more difficult to do this with live classrooms. Indeed, it would be a monumental task.
ABA has to come out of the 19th century and realize that law schools have 21st century students, problems and needs.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Fight for what is right
I just don’t see why we need to be subject to this standards such as the ABA rules. Plus, besides the the ABA is a volunteer program that lawyers are not require to register. Is just merely serves as a token that you are in and that is it.
Why can we study the same way our founder fathers did. Look at Lincoln for example; he didn’t go to law school, he learned by self-taught. The problem occurs that these schools think they are the only ones that can teach the law. These agencies such as the ABA or society has brain wash us that the only way to attain in legal education is by going through the whole blahbie blahbie traditional law school method. And in my opinion, I don’t believe that this is the only way to have a legal education. Remember… education happens at all times. We learn every day as we grow old. And you know what they say, ” Experience is what counts at the end” We all have the capabilities to reason and analyze problems in a lawyerly like manner. The only thing that stopping us from thinking like lawyers is the RULES OF LAW that is it. If you know how to add 1+1 and come up with the answer; then you already know how to break and apply the rule of law to a case.
Let’s say for example that your car got broken into in the middle of the night. You went outside and you discover that your passenger window is completely broken into pieces and your brand new system such as your CD player you just bought– is now gone.
How would you determined whether the suspect is criminally liable for this offense? I tell you how you need to do it. You’ll do it by analyzing the facts, plus applying the law to the facts. But first you need to find out whether Burglary is a crime in your state (which am sure Burglary it is) Let’s brake this rule.
Burglary
Is The breaking
and entering
of the dwelling house
of another
in the the nighttime
with the intent to commit a felony or larceny therein
Let’s play.
How do you think prosecutors prosecute someone of such crimes? They do it by finding every single piece of the rule. Which most law schools they call it ” Legal Reasoning” Well now that you know that– all you have to do is to prove that you have every single piece of the rule.
Let’s see if we have every piece of it.
Ask yourself this question. What is the issue here? Can the suspect be charge with the crime of Burglary?
Your issue is BURGLARY >.. ANYTHING YOU SAY< must be explained. Such as the 1+1=2.
Larceny occured when he detached the CD player from the car itself and took it with him. Therefore suspect is criminally liable and thus burglary is establish.
You see how simple this is.
But you have be very analytical. If they ask you one thing, talk about one thing only. Don’t deter yourself from adding stuff out your head that the facts does not state BE VERY ANALYTICAL!!
Do you see how simple this is? Of course, writing can be a pain the rear end. But focus on the story, don’t worry about grammar and all that non-sense crap they teach us at English class. Focus on CLARITY and don’t forget your audience. Make the story your own. Make the facts come alive. And LEARN THE RULES. If you do this, you will do awsome in your essays.
As one professor said “FORGET ALL THE RULES of GRAMMAR and FOCUS ON CLARITY”
As you can see, everything is possible. Now, let me ask you somthing… Do we need to go to law school and spend thousands of dollars to teach us how to analyze the rules of law and think like a lawyer? No we don’t. What we need is to bring back the way our founders father did when they studied law.
I know that law can be complex but if you know the rules, you’ll will do just fine. Understanding law at first, it might a scary thing at first– but if Abraham Lincol did it– so can we. Law school is nothing but a waste of money that about the time you graduate you will indebted to all those loans you have attained to fund your education. They come up with this great sayings that law school is a great investment and blah, blah, blah… Yeah, is a great investment for them. Because you are the one making them rich. You are one that’s going to be stuck paying for all those loans for the rest of your life. I know a friend of my friend that he was telling him that he wishes he hadnt go to law shool because now he is stuck with this $100,000 plus interest loan that he is going to have to pay for the term of 30 years. And that about the time he starts seeing his profit he will be 45 years old. And let me tell you, right after law school do you think you are goin to make the big bucks?!!? think again my friend. You might be lucky if you get hire at a reasonable salary. My point is that all states should create a statute mandating these agencies stating that– All persons are created equal and that if its citizens of said jurisdiction is there in the persue of study of law and desires to become a lawyer, advocate or officer of the court,can do so without limitations and that it is his right as a citizen to take such examination without being discriminated by any means or his intellectual ability to perform such examination thus making him/she intitled to such test or examination therein.
Thanks for reading.
Jason.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Jason, I totally share your views. Its scandalous how the ABA continues to insist on one rigid framework for what qualifies as a law degree. It ain’t all that difficult. If you can pass the same exams, no matter what system you followed to get you there, what is the problem???
Many other degrees are now acceptable via the online route. The subject matter of law though dense is not so difficult.
The pressure must continue to mount so that this alternative for learning becomes accepted if only for the simple fact that it suits the schedules of many intelligent people who would not be able to study law otherwise.
ABA needs to get with it, stop protecting private interest and change policy.
Regards,
Tareq
May 15th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Online Law degree should catch on. Online degrees are a savings in gas, time and energy. Brilliant concept which will definitely be the future of higher education. As for the TJSL online degree at a price of $100k. Yes, immediate debt but if you look online at the average salary of a tax attorney you’ll find plus bonuses its comes in at about $150 - 250k/per yr.
Scott~
June 7th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
According to the ABA official website there are NO ABA approved online law schools.
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
why not create a competing association?
September 8th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I am about to change the criteria. ABA your History.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I would like to commence studying as early as possible.
Thank you very kindly.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
1. According to the ABA there are no ABA accredited online law schools.
2. In order to sit the bar in many states you need to go to an ABA accredited school. There are exceptions. Massachusetts allows grads of Mass Law Andover to sit the bar but they are not ABA accredited.
3. In many states a LLM is not sufficient to sit for the bar exam. You need a JD or higher credential or you need to pass the bar in a state with lower requirements and practice for a number of years for reciprocity to kick in, then take the bar.
As of right now the only U.S. state that allows online grads to sit the bar immediately after graduation is California, and you must have a JD from those schools. If you want to practice in CA for a few years you may be able to get reciprocity from other states.
Nothing trumps the knowledge you’ll get by checking with your state board of regents and your state bar association before committing to any law school, online or brick and mortar.
Best.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I’ve been included in taxes for lengthier then I care to admit, both on the personal side (all my working life story!!) and from a legal standpoint since passing the bar and pursuing tax law. I’ve offered a lot of advice and redressed a lot of wrongs, and I must say that what you’ve posted makes impeccable sense. Please uphold the good work - the more individuals know the better they’ll be equipped to handle with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I reside in CA and I want to go online to earn my J.D.,after reading the string of informative comments, can anyone suggest what i need to do best. I am confused and afraid that i might get stuck in an online law school and later on end up in a problem since non of these online schools are ABA approved. I cannot go traditional school because of time constraints. What is the best thing anyone??? my time is running out. thanks mark
January 14th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Mark, and others interested in online Law programs, here is my two cents. You have all been on point, I live in Florida and I have been interested in pursing a degree in Law, but because of my work constraints and the value I place on my wife and children, I have chosen Concord Law School at Kaplan University, I am currently enrolled in the EJD program and this is definitely the right law program for the working person. It is true that you can complete a law degree online in about 4 years. The online program is very simple to follow; you have “real time” lectures, weekly and reading assignments. All of the lectures are achieved. Concord Law School is not ABA accredited but you can take the CA bar. There are already some states that allow you to take their BAR, and there will be more to follow. There is a very talked about case of a graduate from Concord Law School who passed the JD program with a very high GPA and also passed the CA BAR and scored very high who, challenged his state (MA) to allow him to take the BAR and won and subsequently his is practicing attorney in MA. Concord Law School at Kaplan University also offers: Concord’s Juris Doctor Program is grounded in the core bar courses, with the first two years devoted entirely too required courses. Terms are one year long and students must successfully complete a total of 92 units, at least 22 to 24 units of coursework in 48 to 52 consecutive weeks each of the four years. Graduates of the JD program will have met the legal education requirement of the Committee of Bar Examiners, State Bar of California, and may apply for admission to the State Bar of California; it also offers an The Executive Juris Doctor program is a 72-unit, three-year, part-time program. After the first year, during which the EJD students take the same foundational courses required of the Juris Doctor student, there is a great deal of flexibility in course selection. In the second and third years, EJD students are encouraged to construct a curriculum plan centered on their interests and career needs. Enrollees also have somewhat more flexibility in their pace of study as they are not required to adhere to the strict guidelines of the State Bar of California. In addition the objective in the EJD program is to ensure a solid background in core areas while providing the student with the latitude to create a study plan that reflects his or her goals and interests. Students master the foundational courses of Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, and Legal Writing and Test-Taking in the first year. In years two and three, EJD students have the flexibility to choose broadly from the course offerings or focus their study through a series of tracks: Traditional Track with fewest number of required courses; offers the greatest breadth of study; Technology Track for individuals with a background or interest in technology; this track includes required courses and elective options at Kaplan University; Criminal Justice for individuals with a background or interest in criminal justice; this track includes required courses and elective options; and a Health Law track. I currently attend the EJD program because I will develop my wife’s Dental Practice to me this program works best. I did start in the JD program because I do not plan on practicing law, but for others who do, this is it, this is definitely the future of education-online or what they referrer to as distance learning. On last comment, people who oppose online Law programs are the ones who are bitter that they had to sit for four years in a brick and mortar school. The point is, if you are able to complete a law program no mater what means you used, (granted that you do complete the same courses), and take the BAR and pass it, does it matter how I learned it?
Good Luck!!
January 29th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Can someone please elaborate on which exact states these are that accept reciprocity after practicing in California for a number of years ~ & can someone please elaborate on which states allow you to sit for their bar after completing an JD with LLM!! Thank you so very much ~ I’m ready to go!
January 29th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
i.e. which states allow you to sit for their bar after practicing in Cali. for a number of years ~ Thank you.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:20 am
This article was well done. This site was very informative.I am grateful for this information.
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:08 pm
It’s a shame the ABA is so limiting to individuals wanting to seek a law degree online. Online college education has become increasingly ever so popular. ABA needs to understand why? It is due to time constraints. We have time constraints because the economy is in a financial critical status. Employment is slim and for those who have employment, are stuck dedicating 90 % of their time working for their employer in order to prevent risking their financial obligations. The financial obligations include the following: Rent, mortgage, gas, groceries, etc. Most of us are afraid to compact college education in a traditional setting at a university because we are afraid it will cause conflict of interest in our work schedules. Therefore, having to risk compromising either or. I currently attend an accredited school for criminal justice at Colorado Technical University obtaining an Associates in Science of Criminal Justice. I love it as it is worth it. It allows you the time to set your schedule accordingly without having to compromise much. Yet, in my hearts of desires, I truly desire to attend law school. I have been told I need to be a lawyer for my career. I know too much about the laws, the court system, etc. More over, I’m stuck in a predicament. I cannot go to an accredited ABA law school because I have to work to keep a roof over my head. I’m stuck choosing a more suitable college education to fit my priorities and time schedule. I would love to be a criminal defense attorney, but I have to be practical. I think the ABA needs to further study the new tradition of college education and perhaps consider the possibility of adding more accredited online law schools so that those individuals who are fit for a position can obtain them. Society has changed and so does everything else. It’s time for the ABA to move forward too.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:26 am
ON the American Bar Association website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/compguide2005.html
The website lists the various requirements of each state to sit for their bar exam. You can sit for bar exams in other states after passing the bar exam in California. Currently California is the only state that allows you to sit for the bar exam directly after receiving your JD from an online law school. Once you pass this exam then other states will allow you to sit for their exam, but there might be limitations, such as you might need to practice law for a period of time.
I agree time and money is limited and the education you receive is just as good as mortar and brick school. And speaking of which, just because you went to a mortar and brick school and passed the bar doesn’t mean you are a good lawyer. I say open it up and let everyone sit for the bar exams, either they pass or they don’t. What it boils down to is control and money. The Bar Association is sitting behind the fact that the socratic method is what makes a lawyer and you loose that with online law schools. Well California School of Law offers the socratic method, you attend virtual class on Tues/Thurs, so it can be done. Once, again, just because you passed a brick and mortar school doesn’t mean you’re good, it just means you know how to take tests. I know many people who are terrible at testing, but are excellent at what they do. I say, American Bar Association, GROW UP AND MOVE ON and realize their are a great deal of people out there who have a lot to offer, don’t deny the world our talent……
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I would like to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts, experiences and so on. The information has been helpful to me but disappointing to know that the ABA is extremely controlling. I am unable to go to a brick and mortar law school only because of my responsibility of raising my daughter alone due to divorce and of course working. I can only pray and hope that there is something that I can do to help diminish ABA’s control over mankind’s needs and desires.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I’m considering Northwestern California Law School for my JD degree. Has anyone heard of this school? It’s very affordable and it fits my crazy work schedule. It’s 102 units compared to 92 from Concord Law School and also 4 yr program. Please advise. Many thanks