Currently, the landscape of legal education is going through a momentous transformation. The road to obtaining a legal degree was traditionally a rigorous, in-person commitment that lasted for three years. It was a “monastic” experience that was characterized by leather-bound books and lecture halls that were built in tiers. The 2 year law degree online program has been made possible by the rapid development of online learning and the growing need for flexibility.
These accelerated 2 year law degree online programs provide a bridge between aspiration and reality, whether you are an aspiring attorney who wants to speed up your admission into the courtroom or a professional who is hoping to strengthen a corporate career by gaining legal experience.
In today’s world, the Juris Doctor (JD) is not the only thing that matters. In recent years, the term “law degrees” has encompassed a wide range of qualifications, such as the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) for those who are not attorneys and the Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) for individuals who wish to acquire information at the doctoral level without having to take the bar test.
The processes of these more accelerated courses of the 2 year law degree online are discussed in this article, along with the schools that are leading the push and the practical reality of condensing three years of intellectual discipline into twenty-four months. The 2 year law degree online schools are more varied than they have ever been before, ranging from ABA-accredited powerhouses to specialized organizations that have received state accreditation.
Table of Contents
The Current State of the Law School Landscape
Various Courses and Programs Available
Law schools in the present day are no longer “one size fits all.” There are three basic sorts of 2 year law degree online programs, and you will face them depending on your expectations:
- JD stands for “Juris Doctor,” which is the professional degree that is necessary to become a licensed attorney. Few law schools offer an accelerated 2 year law degree online, and the ones that do are very tough.
- For professionals (human resources, healthcare, and technology) who need to learn law but don’t wish to practice it, the Master of Legal Studies (MLS/MSL) is a 2 year law degree online that can be completed within the 24 months duration.
- LLM stands for “Master of Laws,” which is an advanced degree for individuals who already possess a legal degree and is typically utilized for the purpose of specialization (for example, in the field of intellectual property or tax law).
Subjects such as Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, and Legal Research and Writing are among the most often taught classes in these programs. “Intersession” or “Summer” terms are frequently added to accelerated 2 year law degree online programs in order to guarantee that all 86–90 needed credits (for a JD) are completed during the span of a 2 year law degree online program.
General Criteria for Admission to Law Schools
Although every institution is different, the majority of 2 year law degree online programs require the following:
- Bachelor’s degree from an institution that has been granted accreditation.
- Tests of Standardization: The LSAT or GRE is normally required for JD programs; however, there are several MLS programs that do not require this score.
- You should demonstrate that you are capable of completing an accelerated 2 year law degree online by submitting a personal statement and resume.
- Recommendation letters generally consist of two or three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.
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How to Pay for Your 2 year Law Degree Online?
Law school is an investment, regardless of whether you are pursuing a 2 year law degree online as part of an accelerated speed program or if you are taking the entire year of the program online. You do have several options available to you in order to fund yourself through the process of earning a 2 year law degree online program to complete. The majority of these options include:
- The Free Application for Federal Student Loans (FAFSA) is available for ABA-accredited programs.
- When it comes to non-accredited or specialized colleges, private loans are frequently utilized as a means of assistance.
- Several 2 year law degree online program offer scholarships as a means of attracting students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance.
- Employer sponsorship is a common practice for students in the Master of Laws program whose employers make use of their legal skills.
Guidelines for Success: What You Should Know Before Applying for a 2 year Law Degree Online
- Be prepared to devote more than fifty hours of study time each week; a 2-year JD is equivalent to full-time employment.
- If you wish to be a lawyer, having a degree that is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) is considered the “Gold Standard.” You may only be able to practice in some states (like California) if you do not have it.
- Ensure that you have a dependable high-speed connection and a quiet location in order to participate in “synchronous” (live) video classes. Technology is a prerequisite.
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Schools Offering 2 year Law Degree Online
1. Southwestern Law School (Online JD):
The first fully online, accelerated two-year JD program to be offered by Southwestern has just been inaugurated. The “SCALE” curriculum concept, which is a pioneering type of fast-track method, is utilized in this program. Through a rigorous and year-round curriculum, it is possible for students to graduate in just two years, and it is accredited by the American Bar Association. For high-achievers who are looking for a traditional JD but don’t want to wait three years, this is the perfect option.
2. Albany Law School (Flex JD):
For students who are committed to their studies, Albany University has a “Flex JD” program that can become a two-year program. Despite the fact that it is mostly conducted online, it keeps a “hybrid” touch by holding brief residencies in person on a yearly basis. All those individuals who are looking for a prestigious and long-standing school that has embraced current delivery methods will find this program to be an ideal option.
3. Arizona State University (ASU) – MLS Online:
An online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program is available through the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. This program can be finished in as little as one year (full-time) or two years (part-time) as it is fully online. Although this does not result in a license to practice law, it is considered to be a highly regarded “law degree” for individuals working in highly regulated fields.
4. Purdue Global Law School:
Both a Juris Doctor (JD) and an Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) are available to students at Purdue Global. The JD program is a part-time curriculum that lasts for four years, while the full-time track can be completed in around two and a half to three years. More crucially, their EJD program is a concentrated three-year program that may frequently be advanced to two years for individuals who have prior relevant credits or greater course loads. This program is designed for individuals who are not attorneys.
5. University of Arizona (Advanced JD):
An International Lawyers’ Two-Year Juris Doctor program is available through the University of Arizona. It is possible to get a Juris Doctor degree in the United States of America online (in a hybrid format) in just two years if you already possess a law degree from another country. You can receive up to one year of “advanced standing” credit for your legal education that was completed in another country.
6. Drexel University (Accelerated JD):
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University provides an Accelerated Juris Doctor program. This program is meant to bring students through the JD curriculum in a period of twenty-four months by utilizing summer sessions as full semesters. Although it does incorporate some hybrid or online components, the primary goal is to do this.
7. California School of Law:
This online law school is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). It provides a JD curriculum that can be finished in around two and a half to three years, but it also provides flexible “fast-track” options for students who desire to take greater unit loads. For individuals who are explicitly planning to practice in the state of California, this is a more cost-effective alternative.
8. Suffolk University Law School:
A JD for Advanced Professionals is available online through Suffolk. This is a program that is designed primarily for professionals who already possess a large amount of experience or advanced degrees. It is possible to achieve a completion rate that is more flexible and speedier than that of a conventional four-year evening program that is part-time, typically reaching the mark of two to three years.
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9. Northwestern California University School of Law:
They are one of the earliest online law schools, and they provide a JD curriculum that is very economical. Although the typical time frame for the program is four years (part-time), the structure of the program provides for rapid advancement for students who are able to devote full-time hours to the course of study. However, students are required to comply with the requirements of the “First Year Law Students’ Examination” (FYLSX) administered by the California Bar.
10. Pepperdine University (Online MLS):
Pepperdine University has a Master of Legal Studies program that can be taken online and is intended to be finished in between sixteen and twenty-four months. Because it focuses on conflict resolution, human resources, and compliance, it might be considered a “law degree” for individuals who are interested in the prestige of Pepperdine University but do not wish to commit to a three-year JD program.
12. St. Mary’s University School of Law:
A fully online, ABA-accredited JD program was the first of its kind to be offered by St. Mary’s. There are “accelerated summers” that allow students to shave off substantial time, typically nearing a 2.5 to 3-year finish for the most determined students. While their standard track is 3.5 to 4 years (part-time), they have opened the way for “accelerated summers” that allow students to take off significant time.
FAQs
Does it truly take only two years to become a lawyer if I study online?
Yes, but only if you are a foreign-trained lawyer obtaining “advanced standing” credits or if you exclusively participate in certain accelerated programs that have been accredited by the American Bar Association (such as Southwestern’s SCALE). The majority of online JDs still take between three and four years to complete.
What are the key distinctions between a JD and an MLS qualification?
Legal practice and the ability to take the bar test are both possible with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Obtaining a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree will provide you with the legal knowledge necessary for administrative or business positions, but it will not allow you to practice law.
Is it “easier” to earn a legal degree “online” than it is to earn one in person?
No. It is a reality that many students find it more difficult. It is required that you have a high level of self-motivation, and the curriculum is the same as that of in-person classes. Accelerated 2 year law degree online programs are especially rigorous in their requirements.
Will a 2 year law degree online be respected by companies?
Employers typically treat the degree in the same manner as if it were earned in person if the school from which it was awarded has an ABA accreditation. It is not uncommon for the diploma to not include the words “online” or “accelerated.”
Does it matter if I go to campus or not?
It is dependent on the organization. “Hybrid” implies that you could be required to visit school for three to five days once or twice a year for intense seminars. “Fully online” means that you will not visit the campus at any time.
Conclusion
A testament to the development of higher education is the 2 year law degree online. The “time-served” structure of the standard JD is challenged by this approach, which replaces it with a “competency-based” intensity that gives preference to the professional who observes discipline. The doors to the legal profession, like the 2 year law degree online sorts, are no longer guarded by physical campus limits.Â
This is true regardless of whether you pick the tough road of an accelerated justice degree (JD) at a school like as Southwestern or the specific expertise of an online master’s degree in law from Arizona State University. When the correct student enrolls in these programs, they provide an unrivaled return on investment (ROI) in the form of the opportunity to get a prestigious certification and enter the workforce one year earlier than their peers.
As you make your decision, it is important to keep in mind that you must strike a balance between your desire for speed and the legal reality of accreditation. This will ensure that your 2 year law degree online will lead you exactly where you want to go.
