Components of a Successful Career in Law
You have to go to law school to practice law. No matter what specialization you choose - general legal studies, business, immigration, family law, criminal defense, intellectual property, corporate, civil, trademarks, human rights, or copyright law - you must have a law degree to practice any type of law in the United States.
In one specialty, such as business, you will focus on several topics solely in the business law field. Business law encompasses a wide range of sectors in which you can work. You may work on-site or in-house, in the same building as your client, remotely through online consultations, or you may work for a federal or state government agency. Those who look to head a team of human rights lawyers, publish in law reviews or journals, and gain access to the centers of power in the United States or reach the top of their field in their community often earn the highest law degrees available to make this happen, such as the Doctor of Juridical Science or the Master of Laws degree. These types of law degrees take dedication and prove that you are devoted to the field, as well as making you an expert beyond the Juris Doctor.
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How to Earn an Online Law Degree
Start your preparations early, while you’re still getting ready to graduate from high school. Enroll in a good university for your undergraduate degree, whether it is in legal studies or English - offered fully on-campus or fully online. This is required. It isn’t necessary to major in criminal justice or political science. Instead, a four-year, bachelor's degree in English, political science, or philosophy will give you a solid foundation for the reading, writing, and logic you’ll have to practice in law school, as well as an understanding of political situations you could find yourself in. A bachelor's degree in legal studies doesn't necessarily give you a leg up in regard to your future law degree, so there's no reason to insist on focusing on any type of law in your undergraduate years. This is even better news to those who wish to earn their degree online, as there are hundreds of online options for various degrees all over the US.
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What is the Difference Between a Lawyer and an Attorney?
Good! You’re aware that there is a difference in functions between both terms. However, in America, there is less of a difference than you might think. In the end, an attorney practices law in court, whereas a lawyer may not. An attorney must pass the bar so that they are able to represent clients in court. They must earn a law degree before doing so.
A lawyer, on the other hand, generally has a legal education, but has not necessarily passed the bar and cannot represent someone in court.
Typical Law Degree Requirements
To receive your Juris Doctor law degree, you have to complete the following:
- Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 while you complete 90 credit hours
- Complete at least 90 credit hours
- Take and complete every required course
- Satisfy the course requirements, which are writing intensive
- Satisfy the “in residence” requirement
- Satisfy the experiential course requirements
- Complete all course requirements within five years of your first enrollment - it can take as little as three years to complete the Juris Doctor and some degree programs offer 3+3 for a bachelor and law degree online or in a traditional classroom, so you can take six years rather than three years to complete both while attending full-time
Typical Law Certifications Needed
If you know what specializations you’ll be taking, you’ll need to complete both elective and extracurricular courses in these specializations.
If you’re going to practice labor and employment law, you’ll need a Certificate in Workplace Law. To earn this certification, you’ll need to complete core courses in Labor and Employment Law. You’ll also have to take and complete foundation courses in Business Associations and Administrative Law. You'll have the opportunity to take several optional specialty courses (a requirement of four minimum hours) in International Human Rights, Immigration Law, Worker’s Compensation, and Public Employment Law. Again, many of these may be available online, but there are rarely full programs that are 100% online.
Other certificates, such as the Business Law Certificate, have similar requirements.
Academic Standards for Law Degrees
As a student earning a law degree, you need to demonstrate a mastery of your topic. For this, you need to earn at least a 2.0, 2.25, or higher for your cumulative GPA for your law degree courses. If you meet this minimum, you’ll progress to your second-year classes.
This may mean that this degree takes over your life and keeps you from attending events on your social calendar, but all of these requirements have been put in place to ensure that you understand the material you are learning so that, as you move through the program, you’ll master each successive year and be able to graduate within three years.
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In addition to maintaining a required cumulative GPA, you must maintain a minimum course load of 12 credits for at least six semesters, meaning you will usually be expected to attend full-time. This can be made easier by adding an online component to your degree.
This brings class attendance and outside employment to the table. Regular, punctual attendance is mandatory. You should not hold a job in your first year. Next, you will be required to graduate no later than five years after the date you enrolled in law school.
Exam/Experience Needed for Law Degrees
You may know in high school that you want to be a lawyer. Don’t wait until you’re in college and taking undergraduate courses to begin preparing. Take courses that require organized research and precise writing. Classes where you have to critically examine classmates’ writing will also equip you for the rigors of law school. Persuasive writing classes are another plus for you.
You’ll also have to take the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. Most law schools in the U.S. do require this exam to be taken and passed before admission to their programs.
Important Questions to Ask (FAQ)
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Law Bachelor’s Degree Online?
As with any response about how long something takes, the stock answer is, “It depends.” Most Juris Doctor programs require around 90 credits, with 80+ of them in law coursework. You’ll also take electives, which focus on intellectual property, employment discrimination, education law, contract drafting, and health and latter law. You’ll also be required to take Skills courses, such as legal analysis and writing.
Law school classes taken on a campus take about three years to complete. If you’re going to take yours online, you will have to follow a general schedule. However, your progress will depend on how aggressively you pursue your courses. Expect your program to take you four years from enrollment to graduation.
How Much Does an Online Law Bachelor’s Degree Cost?
You don’t have to go into major debt to earn your Juris Doctor. By looking for law school programs with tuition rates you can afford, you can keep your final costs down.
At one school, you pay $519 per credit hour for a Juris Doctor; $495 per credit hour for an Executive Juris Doctor. Overall, you’ll pay less than $11,000 per academic year, for four years. For your final amount, this would be $47,520.
Does the Online School Have the Major You’re Considering?
Once you know what you’re going to major in and that you’ll be going to law school, you need to identify which schools you’re most interested in. If you have already completed assessment and aptitude tests, you know your choice is right.
It would be heartbreaking to find a college, enroll, and pick your classes. . . only to find that the school doesn’t have pre-law, let alone law courses. With this in mind, contact the admissions offices of each college you are interested in. Ask every school if it has the major you want that will prepare you for law school.
How Many Students Graduate “On Time,” in Four Years?
For economic reasons only, this question is vital. It costs money to take four, five, or six years of college classes. In your fifth and sixth years, it takes even more money.
Today’s freshmen now have a less than 50% chance of graduating within four years. More than two dozen universities reported this statistic in their graduation data.
Take more than 12 credits per semester. By doing so, you speed up your graduation date. Work only part-time during the school year. Take summer session classes to get ahead (and spend less money on those summer classes). Don’t change majors more than once, if at all. Always seek your advisor’s recommendations.
What Kind of Accreditation Does the Online Program Hold? How is it Regarded in the Field?
Once you answer the question about school majors, ask the schools you’re interested in about their accreditations.
For law schools, the American Bar Association provides accreditation to law schools that meet its rigorous requirements. If you plan to take the bar, you must attend a school that is accredited by this organization.
Accreditation means that the program and school are legitimate and have gained the certification of accreditation agencies. This means that accredited schools you’re interested in have high-quality programs and faculty. You will learn material for your future profession that will help you to make a good future living.
Next, check to see that the accreditation is well-regarded. It should be regional, which means the standards are higher and more strict. You’ll be required to take more liberal arts coursework. National accreditations for online programs cover the whole country. This accreditation may cover distance or online courses.
Professional Law Organizations
ATLA
ATLA
Formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), this association is the foremost in the nation for lawyers who represent plaintiffs. ATLA works to promote a fair, effective justice system, providing support for lawyers.
AILA
AILA
This association (AILA) advocates for a fair, just immigration policy and law. AILA also advances the high quality of immigration and nationality law, working to enhance the professional development of its members.
NAELA
NAELA
NAELA focuses on elder law, which works to provide services to the elderly and aging population within the United States. NAELA also promotes “special needs law,” which stresses legal services to adults with disabilities, as well as their caregivers. NAELA lobbies for laws and policies to improve the lives of people with special needs and senior citizens.