UNH Law’s Hybrid Juris Doctor in Intellectual Property

[nyvrem]

https://law.unh.edu/academics/degrees-ce...l-property

[SweetSecret]

Are you pointing this out because it's hybrid or because of the IP? There are many of these hybrid programs. I'm still hoping ABA loosens up a bit and considers doing a 100% online program through a school that can offer a JD at a good price.

In other news, I have connections to the local law school. Word of the street is, at least in my state, there's talk of releasing a new credential that would let people with far less education represent others in court. Apparently, this is being considered because of so many people not being able to afford a lawyer and a lack of public defenders. The law school professor who initially told me about this was not happy about it at all. Sort of makes me wonder if going to law school will really be worth it 10 years from now.

[sanantone]

I think there are only a handful of ABA-accredited, hybrid JD programs. I've only seen five so far.

Isn't there a state that has a legal license that only allows people to help with legal documents? I was thinking of independent paralegals, but I remember there being a different name.

[sanantone]

I found it! Washington has limited license legal technicians. They also have limited practice officers.

[SweetSecret]

I found it! Washington has limited license legal technicians. They also have limited practice officers.

Yes, that is the one. I spoke to the law professor again tonight and had it confirmed. The professor is worried that the the limited license legal technicians would not have enough legal education to deal with clients from a wrap-around perspective of how one thing could affect something else.

The other issue that is interesting, in my current state, is that paralegals are separate from legal secretaries. Anyone can be a legal secretary, but to be a paralegal has a lot more educational and work experience requirements. Paralegals are also required to be part of the state bar. Here though, they must be supervised by a lawyer and cannot own a law firm in any way including partnerships.

Basically, if my state legalizes the Limited License Legal Technicians, some of the paralegals may go for that simply because it would then allow them to operate without being supervised and to own a law firm including partnerships. I can't really say though that this would help the public much given that the majority of the state is so poor.

[mysonx3]

I think there are only a handful of ABA-accredited, hybrid JD programs. I've only seen five so far.

What are these five programs?

[SweetSecret]

I think there are only a handful of ABA-accredited, hybrid JD programs. I've only seen five so far.

What are these five programs?

https://mitchellhamline.edu/academics/j-...d-program/

http://jdinteractive.syr.edu/

https://onlinelaw.udayton.edu/

https://www.jmls.edu/academics/jd/jd-online.php


The big news is the ABA is now allowing their general ABA accredited schools to have students earn 1/3 of the required JD credits for a program online. As a result, a number of "weekend" JD programs are popping up.

"Weekend" JDs w/ online components

https://law.shu.edu/part-time-jd-degree/index.cfm

https://www.luc.edu/law/academics/degree...eekendjd//

https://www.law.du.edu/admissions/about-...jd-program

https://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/courses/onlin...index.html#
*** Says up to 15 credits online based on ABA, but ABA just changed this to 30 credits, so the school should allow for 30.


Additionally, if you don't care about ABA requirements then a non-accredited JD programs also might be an option, if you plan to practice in a state like California. They still require taking the baby bar. There is a loophole where if you practice a certain number of years you can often be accepted into the bar of other states without having gone to an ABA law school. From my understanding the top notch of these is Saint Francis law which is very particular about who they accept.
https://stfrancislaw.com/

Another non-ABA school that I know is very popular with both us and Canadian students is Bond University in Australia.
https://bond.edu.au/intl/future-students...nts-canada

I can't remember who it was but one of the members here recently posted a CBE version of a JD online that was non-ABA accredited too.

[jsd]

There is a loophole where if you practice a certain number of years you can often be accepted into the bar of other states without having gone to an ABA law school.

0 state bars currently have reciprocity with California (i would assume the way CalBar accepts non-ABA schools might be one of the reasons for this), but 3 states will let you take an attorneys exam (shortened version of the bar for practicing attorneys) if you don't have an ABA degree and want to "transfer" from CA. Like you said, you'll need to have been practicing in CA for a number of years as well (3-10 years depending on state). Maine, Maryland, and Rhode Island are the 3 states.

[SweetSecret]

0 state bars currently have reciprocity with California (i would assume the way CalBar accepts non-ABA schools might be one of the reasons for this), but 3 states will let you take an attorneys exam (shortened version of the bar for practicing attorneys) if you don't have an ABA degree and want to "transfer" from CA. Like you said, you'll need to have been practicing in CA for a number of years as well (3-10 years depending on state). Maine, Maryland, and Rhode Island are the 3 states.

The state I live in also allows non-aba graduates to take the bar. I think they require 5 years of practice in another state.

Speaking of, Guam is on the ABA list. I have heard the compensation and lifestyle there is really nice. 

For anyone wanting more info on this here's a great link:
https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/...eckdam.pdf

[jsd]

What state is that? I know Virginia has some more lax state bar rules and you can study under a judge or attorney (within the state) instead of an ABA school degree (you can do that in CA as well -- in the past i think Washington State and Vermont also allowed that, but I'm not sure if those two still do. I haven't kept up on that method), but they won't let you sit for the bar or the attorney's exam with a non-ABA school even with experience elsewhere. You'd have to still do the judge/attorney apprenticeship, meaning the non-ABA school was just additional unnecessary work (unless you specifically want to work in CA or transfer to the 3 states i mentioned). As of 2018, only the three I mentioned will let you take the attorney exam without an ABA degree, based on years of experience.