Know the facts. There are no accredited online law schools in the United States, so it is impossible to obtain a license to practice law solely through the internet. Though many online schools offer law degrees, graduates of these programs are almost always unable to practice law. However, there are online legal schools and degree programs that will help you prepare for the LSAT or get a career in a related field. For example, many online universities offer Criminal Justice degrees online. The only way to become a practicing lawyer upon graduating from an Internet law school is to earn a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and to get a J.D., you must obtain a law degree from an accredited law school.
California is the only exception to this law. California allows you to sit for the bar exam after you have earned a degree from an accredited distance learning school. All other states mandate that a lawyer must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association before they can take their state's bar exam. Therefore, in order to become a lawyer via an online law school, you must get a Bachelor's degree (your major doesn't really matter) from any accredited university, earn an online law degree, then sit for the California Bar Exam. If you pass the exam, you may practice law in California only.
Practice in California for 5 years. If you wish to pursue an online law degree and practice law in any other state besides California, there is an option. Most other states will allow California lawyers to sit for their state's Bar Exam after at least 5 years of consecutive law practice. If you don't have 5 years of experience you may be able to appeal to the state you wish to practice law in for approval to sit for their bar exam. However, appeals are rarely successful.
Apply for a reputable online program. Now that you know the facts, you must apply to a reputable online law school. Many schools maintain open enrollment during the entire year, and you will be notified immediately upon your acceptance. However, it is paramount that you do thorough research before applying to get in the best school possible. When choosing a school consider credentials, percentage of students who sit for the Bar Exam and those who pass the Bar Exam. A few reputable online programs include Northwestern California School of Law, Taft University and Concord Law School.