ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technology has changed everything—from the way we communicate to the way we shop, travel, date, and learn.
And now, even the staid institution of legal education has embraced the interactivity, excitement and energy that technology brings to the classroom.
Last year, the American Bar Association approved a variance to allow William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., to offer a new type of J.D. program—a hybrid enrollment option that’s part on-campus, part online.
Now that it’s possible to earn a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school through courses offered largely online, it’s likely that more people will consider the option.
Here are three things you need to know before you apply to an online (or hybrid) J.D. program:
ABA Accreditation Matters
Earning your J.D. from an
ABA-accredited law school is important. It means that you are eligible
to sit for the bar in nearly every jurisdiction in the U.S. It also
assures that you’ll receive a sound program of legal education.
Currently, William Mitchell College of Law is the only ABA-accredited
law school in the country to offer a hybrid, on-campus/online J.D.
program.
Experiential Learning is Important
Opportunities for
hands-on learning enhance your law school experience and make you better
prepared to hit the ground running once you graduate. The William
Mitchell hybrid program, for example, allows you to complete the
majority of your coursework online (which is largely self-scheduled) and
then come to campus at least once a semester for intensive experiential
learning.
Online Courses are Rigorous
Completing your courses online
will offer you the flexibility to study the law from anywhere in the
country—without relocating, quitting your job, or having to commute long
distances—but that doesn’t mean they are any less rigorous than
traditional courses. You’ll still have to keep up with your reading,
participate in group projects, and interact with your professors
regularly.
You can learn more about the new on-campus/online J.D. program at William Mitchell College of Law by visiting wmitchell.edu/practical-way.
About William Mitchell College of Law
- Founded in 1900
- Located in St. Paul, Minn.
- More than 11,000 alumni across the country
- The law school of Warren E. Burger, the 15th chief justice of the United States
- Robust scholarship program
- Committed to practical wisdom—teaching legal theory and skills
