100% online law degree

[sanantone]

even with the experience, *almost* all states require an ABA accredited on top of that experience. I don't recall the exact number, but I believe it is less than 5 that will accept one of the California unaccredited schools with the experience (or other pre-reqs) met.

I counted 33 states or territories that will allow someone to sit for the Bar without an ABA-accredited law degree. They just need to have been admitted in another state, and there's usually an experience requirement.

Ugh. The link didn't paste right. Let me try on my laptop.

[jsd]

According to this, if i counted right, it's 24 (+ DC) that either allow CA non-accred with either work experience or additional coursework from an ABA school. So much better than my <5 claim, which I believe was true at some point but thankfully looks to have expanded in the past few years I've been on this forum and originally looked into it.

https://classroom.synonym.com/states-cal...99971.html

[sanantone]

According to this, if i counted right, it's 24 (+ DC) that either allow CA non-accred with either work experience or additional coursework from an ABA school. So much better than my <5 claim, which I believe was true at some point but thankfully looks to have expanded in the past few years I've been on this forum and originally looked into it.

https://classroom.synonym.com/states-cal...99971.html

I was looking at ABA's 2021 guide. They put out a comprehensive guide to bar admissions every year. It's technically 32 because Virginia's only other option is law office study. I didn't eliminate the couple of states/territories that will only allow unaccredited, in-state law school degrees. If you take out Puerto Rico and Massachusetts, because they only allow "in-state" unaccredited degrees, then there are 30 states that will let you sit for the bar with an unaccredited, out-of-state degree.

https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/...-guide.pdf

---

Most of the states that will allow a non-ABA JD or LLB from another state will require experience. A few states only require bar admission in another state, and a few states only require a specified number of hours at an ABA-approved law school. The hours are usually acquired in an LLM program. Also keep in mind that, while some states will accept a non-ABA degree, they won't accept a non-ABA degree completed online or by correspondence.

[jsd]

great info, though it does illustrate just how more complex using these degrees can be than just graduate and pass the bar. But at least there are much more options, which I'm happy to have learned.

In the supplemental remarks, some states have some other very specific clauses as well, like vermont requires evidence that the school was seeking ABA accreditation at the time of your enrollment.

what a headache state-by-state licensure is (and certainly not a headache limited to just the ABA).

[Alpha]

With all of this said, it makes it seem to me that the St. Mary's program is really just a small step in the larger process of getting the basic Law degree into the mainstream of online programs.  Law degrees have been deliberately held out of the larger move to online higher education.  I'm not sure that I've ever heard a convincing argument for why the JD degree can't be effectively taught online.
LSAT Scores Up, But Legal Job Market Unprepared To Absorb Number Of Potential Law Students | Above the Law

[ashkir]

What if he moves? Can he just sit for the bar in the new state?

Up to himself if he moves. A majority of educated Californians don't leave California. The migration out of California is mostly fueled by the uneducated.

[Pats20]

What if he moves? Can he just sit for the bar in the new state?

Up to himself if he moves. A majority of educated Californians don't leave California. The migration out of California is mostly fueled by the uneducated.

It’s gotta be the weather. 

[acethroughcollege]

What if he moves? Can he just sit for the bar in the new state?

Up to himself if he moves. A majority of educated Californians don't leave California. The migration out of California is mostly fueled by the uneducated.

What I meant was what happens to his ability to practice law. People do move for many different reasons. Sometimes family obligations or job obligations or other life changes precipitate a move.

[Alpha]

What if he moves? Can he just sit for the bar in the new state?

Up to himself if he moves. A majority of educated Californians don't leave California. The migration out of California is mostly fueled by the uneducated.

What I meant was what happens to his ability to practice law. People do move for many different reasons. Sometimes family obligations or job obligations or other life changes precipitate a move.

Maybe it's an oversimplification but it seems to me if he moves to the right place he'll be OK but if he moves to the wrong place he's pretty much screwed.

[Alpha]

In the process of discussing this story I came upon another story regarding Alternative Legal Services Providers
https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/...rvey-finds

Someone with a bit of entrepreneurial spirit might avoid the whole "law school thing" altogether
https://www.paralegaledu.org/alternative...providers/
https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/to...-programs/