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+--- Thread: Non-Traditional Law school route. (/Thread-Non-Traditional-Law-school-route)
Non-Traditional Law school route. - AlvinG - 07-01-2023
Hello, my names Alvin. I’m 28, non-traditional student. I began going to community college in 2020 when Covid was in full swing, online. Did 1 full year towards a criminal Justice degree.
30 credit hours community college: English 1, English 2, intro Sociology, intro to psychology, Art 101, Crmj 101, 102, 201, 202, 1340 -A’s
60 credit hours Sophia LLC: Macro economics, micro economics, history 101, 102, art history 101, 102, biology, chemistry, environmental science, College Algebra, statistics 240, intro to business, financial accounting, intro to IT, Web development, principles of finance, project management, Heath elective, communication elective, fundamental of design.
My main goal is to attend law school. My GPA is good, and I’ve already been studying for the LSAT. But, I have a few issues. Intelligently, I don’t care for Big law. I don’t care if they’ll pay me 300k a year, because I know I’ll be gone 80+ hours every week. I’m good. So, Tier 14? I don’t need it. I was thinking of going to a top 100 aba accredited, based off scholarship merit, but!!!!! I can’t stress this enough, I owe 20k in medical bills and can’t under any circumstance take out a plus loan to attend. Basically I’ll be rolling the dice heavily that I’ll get a scholarship.
So, from that point I started looking into PLAN B. California’s non-Aba, California accredited law schools. I seen you can attend with just an associates degree, but it can’t be pier pont bog AAS. It has to be an AA or an AS. Or, you can attend with 60 credit hours of college work. Where I’m at a crossroads is they don’t mention ACE credits, Sophia credits, straight line. They do mention CLEP. I’ve called the schools and no-one has given an answer or had any knowledge of ACE.
With CLEP, you take a handful of exams which give college credit, but you’ll be considered a “special student.” I’m personally not scared of the baby bar, but I’d rather not have to take it. It does firmly say “even if you have 59 credit hours, you can’t take 1 clep exam, you must take all.” So, I don’t know how they’ll view my ace credits mixed with 30 B&M.
Timeline: Take 10 months to complete my degree with SNHU (general studies bachelor) take the LSAT and get into law school (possibly have my dreams crushed if I can’t get scholarships or funding. But, it’ll be ABA and respected if I can.)
Or
Cut ABA out, go to an inexpensive JD with the goal of practicing in California. Go right now, today, and begin on the 10th. It’s a 4 year program, roughly the same time frame but it’s a guarantee (if I put in the effort and use all resources/tutoring). I’ve seen the statistics, it looks like every person who takes the Cali bar ends up spending thousands on bar prep.
I don’t need ABA because I’m not planning to go military JAG or big law. I know a non-aba lawyer who went to Nashville school of law taking night classes. Non-aba by night, paralegal by day. He earns well over 200k private. I’ve never really been a person to care about prestige or titles. I just want to be a Lawyer and to eventually go private my self.
Costs $150,000 vs $16,000.
Help me!!!
RE: University of Central Lancashire (UK) LLM under $3K? - bjcheung77 - 07-01-2023
@AlvinG, Welcome to the board. You should start a new thread with the information in the template and last post addendum here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-New-to-DegreeForum-How-this-Area-works
To answer your question, you may already have resolved it, by going the SNHU route and completing your desired Bachelors there. You want to review all the requirements for your state board for law licensure and entry requirements, such as the Bachelors with any pre-law courses, GPA, etc.
RE: University of Central Lancashire (UK) LLM under $3K? - AlvinG - 07-01-2023
(07-01-2023, 03:28 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: @AlvinG, Welcome to the board. You should start a new thread with the information in the template and last post addendum here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-New-to-DegreeForum-How-this-Area-worksThank you! Sorry for replying within a quote. It’s my first time haha. I’ll definitely create that thread and follow the outline/rules.
To answer your question, you may already have resolved it, by going the SNHU route and completing your desired Bachelors there. You want to review all the requirements for your state board for law licensure and entry requirements, such as the Bachelors with any pre-law courses, GPA, etc.
This community/forum is extremely helpful.
Non-Traditional Law school route. - AlvinG - 07-01-2023
Bumping the thread, in-case anyone has any advice they’d like to give! Thank you!
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - LevelUP - 07-01-2023
You may want to check out this thread
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Tips-for-Getting-Into-Law-School
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - AlvinG - 07-01-2023
(07-01-2023, 06:24 PM)LevelUP Wrote: You may want to check out this thread
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Tips-for-Getting-Into-Law-School
100%, everything you’ve listed is spot on. I personally hold no negative view on non-aba, and I believe it’s up to each individual to make it worth while. ABA is definitely the standard, but I shudder at the idea of $100,000+ in debt to possibly only earn $55k-80k per year initially. If you want a seat at someone else’s recognized firm, ABA is likely the key to enter.
I’m going to apply to a few non-Aba, and I’ll let everyone know how they view ACE credits.
Side note: My wife’s a nurse, pell grant paid for her schooling with zero debt. She earns $55hr, and $82.50hr in overtime pay. This is why I’m so adamant against law school debt personally. She begs me to become a nurse haha, but I hate scrubs!
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - debrag - 07-02-2023
(07-01-2023, 07:49 PM)AlvinG Wrote:(07-01-2023, 06:24 PM)LevelUP Wrote: You may want to check out this thread
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Tips-for-Getting-Into-Law-School
Side note: My wife’s a nurse, pell grant paid for her schooling with zero debt. She earns $55hr, and $82.50hr in overtime pay. This is why I’m so adamant against law school debt personally. She begs me to become a nurse haha, but I hate scrubs!
You'd have to be a band 9 in the UK to get anywhere near that nurses pay
That's like director of nursing, nurse consultant etc. Very few of these roles. Not even private or agency get that. *sorry for going off topic*
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - allvia - 07-02-2023
Why not just work towards getting a bachelor through UMPI or EU? I'd think they'd both likely to be less expensive and quicker than SNHU. If you're bright enough to feel ready for law school with an associate degree, you're likely one of those people able to get through a BABA in management and leadership degree in one term from UMPI (the major reported back here as quickest to complete - BLS with management minor may also be option).
Also, keep in mind that being a holiday weekend - responses to your post may be delayed.
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - bjcheung77 - 07-02-2023
@AlvinG, you can do a specific degree instead of a general studies degree at SNHU. If you're just going for a general studies degree, they're too expensive. I would suggest doing the UMPI BLS and you want to make sure to get at least 60 graded credits. Another option for that is to do UMPI BLS, and then add a BA or BABA to that afterwards... You want to look at the institution and state requirements, some will only grade the last 60 credits and some grade everything.
RE: Non-Traditional Law school route. - PrettyFlyforaChiGuy - 07-02-2023
If you wanted to dip your feet into the pond a bit first, UMPI offers a Pre-Law minor: http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=546&returnto=190