Online law students access the syllabus, assignments and pertinent links for their classes through a centralized educational tool like Blackboard. Every student is expected to complete legal briefs, essays and research papers by uploading files to the class website. Law professors may ask students to participate in online forums, instant messaging and video conferences if mock trials or speeches are necessary for course evaluation.
The price tag for an online legal education often runs upward of $5,000 per semester at the lower end of the spectrum. Returning students can reduce the financial burden of legal education through financial aid, student loan deferrals and tax credits. In addition to federal loan programs, accredited online schools, such as Taft Law School, can defer a students' past loans as long as they maintain a full credit load. The IRS offers a tax credit for educational costs, including tuition and books.
Law students taking online courses benefit from the flexibility of studying over the Internet. The lack of a set schedule for constitutional law, procedure and contracts courses allows a student to work and take care of children. As major universities like Marquette offer online law courses, a new crop of highly trained lawyers will emerge with a significant amount of real-world experiences.
A prospective law student has to look carefully at a law school's reputation before pursuing an online law degree. Graduates of law schools without accreditation or good reputations have difficulty finding work at law firms. After finding a law school with the proper accreditation, an applicant should dig deeper into the qualifications of the school's faculty. The ideal school has faculty members with academic and professional experience reflective of an applicant's career goals. An applicant looking to become an environmental lawyer should find a law school with faculty working with conservancy groups, state environmental agencies and the EPA.
Every online law student who works hard and who has curiosity and intelligence reaps positive results after graduation. A student who wants to get a good knowledge base beyond her specialty should take as many electives as possible before picking a specialty. Law students learning about constitutional law, torts and legal history will be better rounded than their colleagues who choose the bare minimum of courses. Online law programs highlight notable alumni on their websites, offering networking opportunities for ambitious students who want to pave the way for their future careers.