Many aspiring law students remain unaware of the possibilities of using online education to complete their Law Degrees. Though not easy, it is possible and incorporating online courses into your degree program especially for those with work and family responsibilities, can ease the burden of time constraints as well as the costs of earning this degree.
Typical Law Degree Path
Currently only one state, California, allows for graduates from distance learning (online) law schools to sit for the bar exam, and after working as a lawyer for a few years it may be possible to practice law in some other states. Fear not though, because an inability to relocate to the state of California does not rule out the online options. In order to practice law, students need to complete a 4 year bachelor’s degree program, obtain a law degree or Juris Doctorate and earn a passing score on the states bar examination. The convenience and cost effectiveness of online options available for tackling the core requirements for each of these steps is priceless.
Online study is an important option for students looking for schedule flexibility. Often times those seeking a law degree are already gainfully employed or working in some capacity at a law firm. Taking online course will allow for obtaining a degree without having to sacrifice means of income. Since the required bachelor’s degree can be in any of several relevant subjects, online study can easily be used as a tool for completion. Some online schools also offer bar exam preparation courses. Alternatively, students may prepare for a position as a paralegal or other form of legal assistant, courses for which are easily managed online. They may choose to obtain employment, and then continue their studies. These are just a few of the many ways to break into the legal field while utilizing the convenience of online education.
Areas of Law and Attorney Fields
The areas for specialization in the field of law are many. Here is just a sampling of options, many of which are available through online course study
- Admiralty and Maritime Law
- Adoptions Law
- Child Custody and Support
- Copyright Law
- Corporate Law
- Crash Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Dispute Resolution Law
- Disabilities Law
- Divorce Law
- Government Prosecutor
- Injury Law
- Public Defender
- Real Estate
- Social Security
- Tax Law
Areas of Law Practice in Demand
While some areas of law are suffering in the current recession, other areas are thriving. Several of the law practice areas are in demand with a rapid increase on the horizon.
- Civil and Commercial Litigation — which covers all things associated with recouping financial losses or the use litigation as a cash flow tool to avoid paying money owed
- Environmental Law —requires lawyerswho can advise clients on green initiatives and sustainability issues.
- Bankruptcy Law — many consumers no longer have the means to pay their monthly debt and mortgage obligations and more and more business to seek legal help in restructuring their assets.
- Intellectual Property — New developments in science and technology have created the need for lawyers specialized in helping to protect the intellectual capital of businesses, authors, inventors, musicians and other owners of creative works
- Labor and Employment Law — unemployed workers facing financial ruin are more motivated to pursue litigation additionally companies in an economic downturn are more likely to file law suits to collect on monies owed.
- E-Discovery Attorneys — help identify, preserve, collect, process, review and produce ESI (Electronically Stored Information) in litigation actions as more and more information is being stored in this manner.