Understand the significance of studying law remotely. Currently, one of the only options for studying law through correspondence is to get a law degree online. However, to practice law in most states, you will need an American Bar Association credited degree, and no online law school is accredited by the ABA. The one state which will accept non-ABA accredited programs is California. Therefore, if you plan to study law through correspondence, you should prepare to relocate to California to pass the bar and work for your first few years, until you have accrued enough time working to transfer to another state (regulations vary by location).
Determine your availability. Depending on the amount of time you have to devote to your studies, your choice of law schools may be limited. Therefore, if you plan on working full time or part time throughout your studies, you may consider attending law school by correspondence part-time as well. Not all online programs offer this option, and you should know ahead of time about how many years your legal education will take.
Complete the pre-law requirements. To eventually pass the California Bar Exam, you will have to have at least two years of college coursework, or 60 credits, with a passing GPA. Most online law programs will also require proof of an undergraduate degree. However, you can get around this requirement by taking subject tests in several different areas to prove your intellectual ability, though this may not satisfy the prerequisites for the law programs you wish to attend.
Select a school and enroll. The California Bar requires 864 hours of studies per year, and requires that programs be registered with them for students to be eligible to take the bar. Currently, these registered schools include: Abraham Lincoln University School of Law, American Heritage University School of Law, California School of Law, Concord School of Law, Esquire College, MD Kirk School of Law, Newport University, Northwestern California University, Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy, Southern California University for Professional Studies, University of Honolulu, West Coast School of Law Inc., West Haven University, and William Howard Taft University.
Complete your first-year coursework. As in most residency programs, first-year law coursework by correspondence will involve a set of prerequisite courses that must be taken with passing grades to move on to second-year studies, which involves many more electives. Work by correspondence will include some mixture of independent study, video or online instruction by professors, correspondence by email, and various assignments and projects. Be prepared to devote a significant amount of time to your studies, even if you are attending only half-time.
Pass the first-year California legal examination. After your first year of coursework, you will need to sit for the first-year law student's examination, which is a requirement for students who eventually wish to take the California Bar. This exam covers subjects taught in first-year programs, including contracts, criminal law, and torts. You can take this exam either in June or in October.
Continue your coursework. As you continue your studies, you will have more options for electives, particularly those related to the area of law in which you wish to specialize (criminal law, international law, and so on). Your grades and class rank, if your school provides them, will be important factors in determining your work placement and career after graduation, so excelling in these courses is important to your success as a lawyer later on.