What’s the Deal with Online Law School?

In 2021, the American Bar Association approved the first full-virtual JD program at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Given the gradual embrace of remote work in the wake of COVID-19, we will likely see more of these fully online programs proliferate in the future. For the moment, however, applicants interested in attending law school online are best off considering hybrid programs that have part-time or low-residency options.

Hybrid programs tend to skew toward mid-career applicants or those who may find it hard to attend class daily. Such applicants may already have a career that they don't want to interrupt, for example, or family obligations that preclude attendance. Other students with disabilities or health vulnerabilities may find the accommodations of remote learning beneficial for their daily needs.

These are a few motivations for pursuing a law degree in an online environment. Below we’ll consider the chief hallmarks, benefits, and downsides of online law schools.

The Benefits of Online Law School

The main benefit of attending law school online is flexibility. The opportunity to attend law school from the comfort of your own home, anywhere in the world, will no doubt expand access to legal education and create space for more students wishing to obtain a law degree.

Online programs also tend to be less selective, and therefore less competitive. These programs attract students who are more interested in earning a JD as a professional credential and less concerned about a school’s prestige.

For example, an accountant who regularly works alongside lawyers may want to earn an online JD to deepen their understanding of tax law. They’d also gain the credibility to give legal advice and provide legal services to clients, all while building an organic network of clients from their own law school class. 

A more substantial law career aspiration, like becoming a partner at a major firm, may be best fulfilled by attending a high-ranked law school in person, either full-time or part-time.

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The Drawbacks of Online Law School

Online law school has considerable drawbacks, partly because the online model is still being tested. As recently as the last decade, the ABA had strict rules limiting online instruction.

One major drawback for law students who attend online is the loss of a physical community that many students cherish. Resources such as clinics, student activities, and research libraries are limited for online students, as are the "soft" benefits of connecting in-person with professors and peers.

For those intending to pursue a career in law, the prestige and value of an online law degree may be lower than those of in-person programs. Additionally, the value proposition of an online law school is harder to assess. Law schools see online programs as cash cows because of their low administrative costs.

Does a student attending an online or hybrid program get their money's worth? That depends on what the students wants from a law school education. But given the high cost of tuition, students would be well-advised to carefully weigh the return on investment of untested online programs. 

Be particularly cautious about any online law program offered by a for-profit institution. These programs tend to accept most, if not all, who apply, without concern for graduation rates. They generate revenue for their investors but questionable outcomes for their graduates. 

Additionally, be wary of any unranked or unaccredited law schools. Like for-profit institutions, many target underserved and minority communities. While attending a for-profit, unranked, or unaccredited law school is not always a bad move, do your research before committing.

Conclusion

Online law programs are a new frontier in legal education. In the next few years, I suspect we'll see more programs introduced, along with data about their efficacy, job placement rate, and student experience. Before jumping to conclusions, it's worth watching as the ABA approves more online and hybrid programs and existing institutions work out their own programs’ kinks.

[Next Read: Should I Apply to Low-Ranked or Unaccredited Law Schools?]